Alternative und integrative Medizin

Factors Contributing to Irritability in Diabetes Mellitus Type-2 Patients

Abstract

Mohd Fazil, Mohd Akram

Diabetes Mellitus type-2 encompasses a widespread clinical syndrome associated with several metabolic abnormalities associated with a range of complications over a period of time. Since the disease is practically incurable, the continued adaptations and restriction imposed by the disease cause a variety of psychological problems in patients, which are associated with several factors such as chronicity, severity, personal characteristics and several others. According to the concept of mizaj (temperament) in Unani medicine, the persons having a cold temperament which may be balghami (phlegmatic) or saudavi (melancholic) are more likely to be depressed, anxious and irritable than others. It was postulated that the same psychic reactions may determine their illness behaviour. With this background, the present clinical study explored the factors associated with irritable behaviour in 100 diabetic subjects. It was observed that diabetic subjects having a saudavi temperament were most likely to be irritable (p<0.01, highly significant). Also, irritability was associated with taking injectable medication and those having higher blood glucose (p<0.0001, extremely significant). It was concluded that diabetes-related management and therapeutics must take into account these factors along with other clinical and biochemical parameters.