The Best Herbs and Supplements for DiabetesCan herbs or supplements help you control your diabetes? These 10 have
shown some promise in lowering blood sugar, boosting insulin
sensitivity, reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol, and more.
Talk to you doctor before adding any new pill to your regimen,
especially if it has the potential to lower your blood sugar. You may
need to check your blood sugar more often and possibly have your doctor
adjust your medication dosage. If you don’t see results after a month or
two, stop wasting your money.
* 1. Gymnema Sylvestre Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage:
200 to 250 milligrams twice daily. This plant’s Hindi name translates as
“sugar destroyer,” and the plant is said to reduce the ability to detect
sweetness. It’s regarded as one of the most powerful herbs for
blood-sugar control. It may work by boosting the activity of enzymes
that help cells use glucose or by stimulating the production of insulin.
Though it hasn’t been studied extensively, it’s not known to cause
serious side effects.* 2. Bitter Melon Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage: 50 to
100 milliliters (approximately 3 to 6 tablespoons) of the juice daily.
The aptly named bitter melon is thought to help cells use glucose more
effectively and block sugar absorption in the intestine. When Philippine
researchers had men and women take bitter melon in capsule form for
three months, they had slight, but consistently, lower blood sugar than
those taking a placebo. Gastrointestinal problems are possible side
effects.* 3. Magnesium Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage: 250 to 350
milligrams once a day. Magnesium deficiency is not uncommon in people
with diabetes, and it can worsen high blood sugar and insulin
resistance. Some studies suggest that supplementing with magnesium may
improve insulin function and lower blood sugar levels, but other studies
have shown no benefit. Have your doctor check you for deficiency before
supplementing with magnesium.* 4. Prickly Pear Cactus Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage:
If you eat it as a food, aim for 1?2 cup of cooked cactus fruit a day.
Otherwise, follow label directions. The ripe fruit of this cactus has
been shown in some small studies to lower blood sugar levels. You may
be able to find the fruit in your grocery store, but if not, look for it
as a juice or powder at health food stores. Researchers speculate that
the fruit may possibly lower blood sugar because it contains components
that work similarly to insulin. The fruit is also high in fiber.* 5. Gamma-Linolenic Acid Main use: Easing nerve pain Typical dosage:
270 to 540 milligrams once a day. Gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, is a
fatty acid found in evening primrose oil. Some research suggests that
people with diabetes have lower than optimal levels of GLA, and studies
have found that the supplement can reduce and prevent nerve pain
associated with diabetes.* 6. Chromium Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage: 200
micrograms once daily. This trace mineral is thought to enhance the
action of insulin as well as being involved in carbohydrate, fat, and
protein metabolism. Some research shows that it helps normalize blood
sugar — but only in people who are deficient in chromium. **7. Billberry Main use: Protecting the eyes and nerves Typical dosage:
80 to 120 milligrams two times per day of standardized bilberry extract.
This relative of the blueberry contains powerful antioxidants in its
fruit and leaves. These antioxidants, called anthocyanidins, seem to
help prevent damage to tiny blood vessels that can result in nerve pain
and retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina). Animal studies have also
dsuggested that bilberry may lower blood sugar.* 8. Alpha-Lipoic Acid Main uses: Easing nerve pain, lowering blood
sugar Typical dosage: 600 to 800 milligrams a day. Called ALA for short,
this vitamin-like substance neutralizes many types of free radicals. A
build-up of free radicals, caused in part by high blood sugar, can lead
to nerve damage and other problems. ALA may also help muscle cells take
up blood sugar. In a German study, a team of scientists had 40 adults
take either an ALA supplement or a placebo. At the end of the four-week
study, the ALA group had improved their insulin sensitivity 27 percent.
The placebo group showed no improvement. Other studies have shown a
decrease in nerve pain, numbness, and burning.* 1. Fenugreek Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage: 5 to 30
grams with each meal or 15 to 90 grams with one meal per day. These
seeds, used in Indian cooking, have been found to lower blood sugar,
increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce high cholesterol, according to
several animal and human studies. The effect may be partly due to the
seeds’ high fiber content. The seeds also contain an amino acid that
appears to boost the release of insulin. In one of the largest studies
on fenugreek, 60 people who took 25 grams daily showed significant
improvements in blood sugar control and post-meal spikes.* 10. Ginseng Main use: Lowering blood sugar Typical dosage: 1 to 3
grams a day in capsule or tablet form, or 3 to 5 milliliters of tincture
three times a day. Known for its immune-boosting and disease-fighting
benefits, this Chinese herb has several positive diabetes studies behind
it. Researchers have found that ginseng slows carbohydrate absorption;
increases cells’ ability to use glucose; and increases insulin secretion
from the pancreas. A team from the University of Toronto has repeatedly
demonstrated that ginseng capsules lower blood glucose 15 to 20 percent
compared to placebo pills.