Introduction:Type 1 (formerly Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus), usually juvenile onset but may occur at any age. Cause: Insulin deficiency due to selective destruction of secreting pancreatic beta cells. Patients always need Insulin and are prone to ketoacidosis and weight loss. It is associated with other auto immune disease (> 90% carry HLADR 3 and/or DR4).

Analysis of the patient: A 13 yr old school girl suffering from this disease for 8 years, was referred to me. Her parents were both nurses and very worried about their daughter’s condition. She was very alert and cooperative. Spells of nightly hypoglycemia, her hopelessness of improvement which had led her to disregarding her diabetic diet and controlling her FBS regularly and a high HA1c of 10 and a 230 mg/dl FBS revealed the family’s poor control and their tiredness and aversion to regular supervision of their duties. She used to reproach her brothers before other people and was aggressive towards them when she got angry; cramped states especially during sleep was another symptom. After taking the case, Nux vomica was found to be the most similar remedy. Prescription: Nux-v. 30c in liquid form, 20 drops was prescribed and taken by the patient.

Report of course of treatment: After prescribing the remedy, her Insulin was continued and not tapered, until her FBS decreased from 230 mg/dl to the normal range of 110 mg/dl after 60 days of taking the remedy. Of course she had experienced an aggravation of her blood sugar which had risen to 290 mg/dl after 3 days of taking the first dose of Nux-v. Thereafter it began to decrease, coming close to the normal range of 110mg/dl after about 2 months on the 13th of December 2008. Her remedy was repeated every other day after potentizing. I started to decrease her Insulin one unit by one unit along with strictly monitoring her FBS and evening BS for about 3 more months. Of course I talked to her and suggested her to try to follow her diabetic and homeopathic diets ,too. Her second remedy was Sulphur according to her new situation after taking Nux-v. Fortunately she helped me by following her diets. She had become more energetic and more hopeful to continue her good cooperation. I promised to give her a gift for her nice effort and cooperation. After one year of treatment, I called her up and asked about her condition and her feelings. She was happy and content with her treatment .She had not experienced hypoglycemic spells after taking Sulphur. Her father said that her last tests have been: FBS of 135, HA1c of 8 and blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg. They were all happy about her significant healing and cure. She is taking 10 units of NPH Insulin in mornings and 4 in the afternoon. i.e. 4 units have been tapered during the last year and a decrease of 95 mg/dl has been earned.

Discussion: I prescribed 20 drops of the remedy with potency of 30c and recommended a special diet appropriate for a juvenile diabetic patient. First she experienced an aggravation in her blood sugar but an inner calmness. So I waited until her FBS decreased to 110 mg/dl in 2 months by repeating the first remedy. She continued to take 18 units of NPH Insulin, without any change until 13th of December 2008 when she came with a normal FBS of 110. Sometimes she experienced even lower FBS in the mornings. So I started to decrease her NPH Insulin carefully and gradually . After about 2 months of taking Nux-v, again I took her case and prescribed Sulphur 30c to be taken 2 drops biweekly and after dynamizing, by shaking it vigorously. It continued for about 2 months and no other remedy was prescribed. Her last FBS has been 135, with a HA1c of 8 and her blood pressure 110/70 mmHg.

Conclusion: The results of this case report, as an observational study, reveal multi- potential characteristics and capabilities of the prescribed homeopathic remedies , Nux-v. and Sulphur. They not only decreased the patient’s FBS but also improved her mental situation especially her hopelessness altered to being hopeful and cooperative, as well as some physical symptoms. The homeopathic treatment has not only been effective in decreasing her blood sugar, but also has improved part of her totality of symptoms and changed her mood condition from low mood to good mood which is very significant.

References:

1- The Organon of Medicine 6th edition,2006, by Dr.Samuel Hahnemann compiled by Dr.Kamran Jalali
2- The Science of Homeopathy, by George Vithoulkas Translated by M.Asefi, 2003
3- Boericke’ s new manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica, 9th edition, 2000 by William Boericke
4- Synoptic Materia Medica, , 2006 by Vermeulen F. compiled by Dr.Kamran Jalali
5- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine, 7th edition, 2007 by Longmore et al