Herbs and Supplements to help diabetics Lower Blood sugars
In recent times, Type 2 diabetes has been affecting children more than ever before. Individuals are at a high risk of type 2 diabetes when their body does not produce enough insulin or resist getting one, and ultimately it leads to unbalanced sugar levels in the body.
Unfortunately, there is no cure right now, but the good news is that people can control their sugar levels with the right type of diet and exercise. However, if this doesn’t work, a doctor will prescribe medications to control sugar levels. Some of the medicines are as follows:
- Meglitinides.
- Insulin therapy.
- Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others).
- Sulfonylureas.
In addition to these treatments, people with diabetes have tried a couple of herbs and supplements to improve their diabetes. These treatment methods are designed to help stabilize blood sugar levels, decrease insulin resistance and avoid complications associated with diabetes.
Some of the supplements have already shown promise in studies on animals. At this moment, there is little indication that they provide the benefits listed above in humans.
Supplements for Diabetes Treatment
It is always in your best interest to get minerals and vitamins from the food you eat. According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetic patients are more likely to use supplements than people without the condition. However, supplements should never be used to replace standard treatment for diabetes. Doing this could put your health at considerable risk.
Before taking any supplements, it is necessary to speak to your doctor. Many of these items can clash with other drugs and treatments. Just because the product is organic doesn’t really mean that it is safe to use.
Several supplements showed promising results in diabetes treatments. Some of them are as follows.
Cinnamon
Studies showed that cinnamon, in whole form or extract, encourages lower blood sugar levels. Besides, it has been part of Chinese medications for thousands of years for similar reasons. Cinnamon has shown some excellent results in diabetic patients, and more research is underway.
Chromium
Research about the use of chromium in the treatment of diabetes is not straightforward. Small doses are generally safe, although there is a risk that chromium could cause blood sugar to go quite low. High doses are also likely to cause kidney damage.
Vitamin B-1
Vitamin B-1 is also identified as thiamin. Most people with diabetes have thiamine deficiency. This can lead to some problems with diabetic patients. Lower thiamine has been associated with heart disease and damage to blood vessels.
Thiamine is soluble in water. It’s hard to get into the cells where it’s deemed necessary. Luckily, benfotiamine, an additional form of thiamine, is lipid-soluble. It penetrates cell membranes more easily. Some research indicates that benfotiamine could avoid diabetic complications. However, no positive findings have been demonstrated in other studies.
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is often used to cure diabetes-related disorders in places such as Asia and South America. There is evidence of its effectiveness as a therapy for diabetes in animal and laboratory research. However, there are not enough studies to prove its results in humans.
Green Tea
The primary antioxidant in green tea is indeed the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Laboratory tests have shown that EGCG can have several health benefits, including:
- Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
- Preventing type 2 diabetes
- Better regulation of glucose
- Improved insulin activity
Studies in diabetic patients seem to have no health benefits. Green tea is considered safe and shows no side effects.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a compound present in grapes and wine. In animal studies, it prevents high blood sugar levels. Animal studies have even shown that oxidative stress can be reduced. However, there are minimal human records. It’s too early to say if supplementation will help with diabetes.
Final Words
While some supplements can surely help in improving your sugar levels, a variety of popular supplements may cause negative interactions with prescription medications. Even for those supplements on this list, you must consult a doctor before you add any supplements or vitamins to your diabetes plan.
