Abstract Ninety non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects
were selected from Punjab Agricultural University and
Civil hospitals of Ludhiana. The selected subjects were
divided into three groups viz. Group I, II and III having
thirty subjects each. The subjects of group I were not given
any treatment. The subjects of group II and III were
supplemented with 100 mg and 200 mg of Aloe vera L. gel
powder respectively for a period of 3 months and
supplementation was continued along with nutrition
counselling for the next 3 months. The nutrition education
was given for 3 months after 15 days interval to the
subjects of group II and III through individual and group
contact. The blood glucose and lipid profile were analyzed.
The blood pressure of the subjects was also measured. It
was seen that there was a significant (p≤0.01) reduction in
fasting blood glucose level by 11.4% and 15.4% and post
prandial glucose level 18.5% and 27.8% in the subjects of
group II and III respectively after the study. Significant (p≤
0.01) reduction in total cholesterol 8.6% and 10.1%,
triglycerides 9.6% and 12.2%, low density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C) 12.8% and 14.6%, very low density
lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) 9.6% and 12.2% and an
increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
7.3% and 9.4% was observed in the subjects of group II and
III respectively. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C
reduced from 5.6 to 4.8 and 6.1 to 5.0 and LDL-C to HDLC
from 3.7 to 3.0 and 4.1 to 3.1 in the subjects of group II
and III respectively after the study. There was also a
significant decrease (p≤0.01) in the blood pressure of the
subjects of group II and III and a non significant decrease
(p≤0.01) was seen in the subjects of group I. With the
intervention of Aloe vera L., significant reduction was
observed in blood glucose, lipid profile and blood pressure
of the diabetic patients.