Alternative Medicines for Diabetes Management

Dr Varma H. Rambaran is currently employed as an Associate Professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Office of the Vice President of Research and Student Affairs (VP-RASA). He graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1999, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, and in 2005, obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Inorganic Chemistry. During his years as a post-graduate student, he developed a keen interest in the behaviour of coordination complexes in biological systems. However, it was during his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Southern Mississippi that the ameliorative effects of vanadium-based complexes in diabetes therapy caught his attention. Through the support of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), he was able to successfully explore and develop his idea of using a family of novel vanadyl complexes (PDOV and PYTOV) as insulinenhancing agents. The findings from his studies were awarded a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office in March 2021.

While working on his project, Dr Rambaran noticed a partiality to certain medicines that were being prescribed to diabetic patients. The seemingly undying controversy over the superiority of allopathic medicines, versus their ethno-pharmaceutical counterparts has resulted in the polarization of many groups, due to their lack of awareness and understanding of the different forms of therapies. To further complicate matters, the majority of reference books on the market commonly lack the supporting scientific data of compound identity, mechanism of action, and safety in use. Unfortunately, this has led to a bias against the use of herbal medicines by insinuating that the claims being made are more witchcraft than science. Inspired by this, Dr Rambaran saw a need to furnish a comprehensive book of this nature, which would impartially and holistically educate its readers on the oral therapeutic options that are available to them.

Nalini Kathleen Singh is currently employed at UTT as a Research Assistant, under the Office of VP-RASA. Ms Singh's research interests fall under the umbrella of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), focusing mainly on the epidemiology and etiology of hypothyroidism. Her extended interest in natural medicines used in NCD-therapies has warranted her invaluable contributions in this book.

Ms. Singh holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Process Engineering, which she obtained from the University of the West Indies (UWI, St Augustine Campus) in 2013. She also completed an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) general industry training course at the School of Business and Computer Science (SBSC) in 2014, and participates in short courses on a regular basis to improve her professional skills. Since 2016, she has been an active member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT) in both the electrical and chemical divisions, with her current grade being Associate Member. Ms Singh has also received awards in leadership and good citizenship owing to her involvement in volunteer programmes since 2002. Due to her positive attitude, her desire to learn, and her passion for scientific research, Ms Nalini Singh continues to take steps to continuously improve, both professionally and personally.