**1. Introduction**

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases worldwide including Malaysia. Increasing prevalence of the disease both in developed and developing countries is of major concern. Based on the previous global statistical analysis, DM is

Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons

expected to increase more than 400 million in the year 2030, which leads the disease to be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide [1]. DM is characterized as chronic hyperglycemia resulting due to insulin deficiency (type 1) or resistance (type 2). Both types of diabetes mellitus eventually develop various problems such as microvascular and macrovascular complications.

cardiac dysfunction and atherosclerosis [4]. In addition, it also causes foot ulcers, impaired wound healing in association with peripheral neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction, and later results in limb amputation [5]. Amputation in diabetic patients is believed as global

Savior of Diabetes: Antioxidants

109

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.71748

In diabetic state, glucose combines with longer lasting proteins in blood-vessel walls and in the interstitial tissues. Following the event, the returning irreversible products called advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) are formed. DM is associated with increased formation of free radicals such as superoxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) [7]. Therefore, the disturbance in oxidant and antioxidant activities, the increased formation of free radicals, and accumulation of AGEs lead to cause oxidative damage to multiple organs and systems of

Over the years, the oxidative stress served as a common pathway for the pathogenesis of DM. Long-term DM leads to damages of the multiple organs like pancreas, liver, kidney, eyes, heart, and great vessels especially aorta and skin. Diabetic cardiomyopathy or cardiac dysfunction, microangiopathy, diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, cataract, pancreatic β cell destruction, nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, poor wound healing, and erectile dysfunctions are the common complications that diabetic patients encountered to date [8]. Therefore, the stability and capacity of antioxidant status during the phase of DM seriously influence the outcome oxidative stress disorders like DM. Moreover, life-long treatment with high-cost modern drugs (biguanides, sulphonylurea, etc.) for DM is considered as a universal burden as well as believed to have several side effects [9]. Depending on the incidences of DM and its complications, it is important to explore the alternative source of antidiabetic supplement,

**Figure 2.** Diagram showing mechanism by which AGEs induce cardiovascular changes in DM [3].

health burden in the current society [6].

human body (**Figure 2**).

Chronic hyperglycemia is a multifaceted, progressive oxidative stress disorder results from imbalance between free radical formation and the antioxidant defense activity [2]. Several complications arise from diabetes mellitus (**Figure 1**). According to statistic, the high mortality rate among diabetic patients is due to the cardiovascular complications [3]. Numerous clinical and in vivo studies showed that diabetic state itself is responsible for developing

**Figure 1.** Flow chart shows the process of DM and its complications.

cardiac dysfunction and atherosclerosis [4]. In addition, it also causes foot ulcers, impaired wound healing in association with peripheral neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction, and later results in limb amputation [5]. Amputation in diabetic patients is believed as global health burden in the current society [6].

expected to increase more than 400 million in the year 2030, which leads the disease to be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide [1]. DM is characterized as chronic hyperglycemia resulting due to insulin deficiency (type 1) or resistance (type 2). Both types of diabetes mellitus eventually develop various problems such as microvascular and macrovascular

Chronic hyperglycemia is a multifaceted, progressive oxidative stress disorder results from imbalance between free radical formation and the antioxidant defense activity [2]. Several complications arise from diabetes mellitus (**Figure 1**). According to statistic, the high mortality rate among diabetic patients is due to the cardiovascular complications [3]. Numerous clinical and in vivo studies showed that diabetic state itself is responsible for developing

**Figure 1.** Flow chart shows the process of DM and its complications.

complications.

108 Diabetes Food Plan

In diabetic state, glucose combines with longer lasting proteins in blood-vessel walls and in the interstitial tissues. Following the event, the returning irreversible products called advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) are formed. DM is associated with increased formation of free radicals such as superoxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS) [7]. Therefore, the disturbance in oxidant and antioxidant activities, the increased formation of free radicals, and accumulation of AGEs lead to cause oxidative damage to multiple organs and systems of human body (**Figure 2**).

Over the years, the oxidative stress served as a common pathway for the pathogenesis of DM. Long-term DM leads to damages of the multiple organs like pancreas, liver, kidney, eyes, heart, and great vessels especially aorta and skin. Diabetic cardiomyopathy or cardiac dysfunction, microangiopathy, diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, cataract, pancreatic β cell destruction, nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis, poor wound healing, and erectile dysfunctions are the common complications that diabetic patients encountered to date [8]. Therefore, the stability and capacity of antioxidant status during the phase of DM seriously influence the outcome oxidative stress disorders like DM. Moreover, life-long treatment with high-cost modern drugs (biguanides, sulphonylurea, etc.) for DM is considered as a universal burden as well as believed to have several side effects [9]. Depending on the incidences of DM and its complications, it is important to explore the alternative source of antidiabetic supplement,

**Figure 2.** Diagram showing mechanism by which AGEs induce cardiovascular changes in DM [3].

which is enriched with antioxidant properties. We agreed the fact that there are plenty of natural products which have antioxidant property; however, only a few are highlighted in this chapter. Herein with, we present some common herbs and active compounds that are enriched with antioxidant activity.
