Compositions for diabetes treatment and prophylaxis

Abstract

Gurmarin containing compositions are useful for modulation of glucose metabolism and the treatment of diabetes. Glucose metabolism in a human patient is regulated by isolated gurmarin-containing dosage forms that optionally contain a non-metabolizable polysaccharide such as the exudate of Sterculia urens.

1 . A method for treating a human patient genetically predisposed toward diabetes or suffering from Type I diabetes and receiving insulin therapy, which comprises orally administering to the patient, in an amount and at a frequency sufficient to maintain the patient's blood glucose level at a predetermined value, a composition comprising isolated gurmarin and  Sterculia urens  exudate in a respective weight ratio in a range of about 1:50 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the daily dose is in the range of about 100 milligrams to about 600 milligrams. 
     
     
         3 . A method for treating a human patient predisposed toward cholesterolemia, which comprises orally administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of the dosage form of a composition comprising isolated gurmarin and  Sterculia urens  exudate in a respective weight ratio in a range of about 1:50 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         4 . A method for treating a human patient predisposed toward obesity, which comprises orally administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising isolated gurmarin and  Sterculia urens  exudate in a respective weight ratio in a range of about 1:50 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         5 . A method for treating diabetic retinopathy in a human patient, which comprises orally administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising isolated gurmarin and  Sterculia urens  exudate in a respective weight ratio in a range of about 1:50 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         6 . A method for modulating glucose metabolism in a human patient, which comprises orally administering to the patient, in an amount and at a frequency sufficient to maintain the patient's blood glucose level at a predetermined value, a composition comprising isolated gurmarin.