Natural Supplements That Help Regulate Blood Sugar

Natural Supplements and Diabetes - updated July 2021

MType 2 diabetes was previously known as adult-onset diabetes, although it is becoming increasingly prevalent in children. This type of diabetes is caused by your body's resistance to insulin or a lack of insulin production. It produces an imbalance in your blood glucose levels.

Managing Diabetes

There is no way to stop it. Several people, however, can control their blood glucose levels through exercise and diet. If not, a doctor can give blood sugar-controlling drugs.

The first, and sometimes most important, element of diabetes management is eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and keeping a healthy weight. However, if these methods are insufficient to keep your blood sugar levels stable, your doctor can determine which medicines will be most effective for you.

Along with these treatments, diabetics have explored a variety of medicines and supplements to help them manage their condition. These alternative treatments are intended to aid in insulin resistance reduction, blood sugar control, and the prevention of diabetes-related complications. In animal experiments, certain supplements have shown promise. However, there is now only minimal proof in people that they provide the above-mentioned benefits

Using Natural Supplements for diabetes

It's ideal to get your vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat. Alternative medicines and supplements, on the other hand, are becoming increasingly popular. Diabetics are more prone than non-diabetics to utilize supplements, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Supplements should not be used as a substitute for normal diabetes care. This can jeopardize your health. Before using any supplements, you should consult your doctor. Other treatments and drugs may be affected by some of these products. The fact that a product is natural does not guarantee that it is safe to use.

White kidney bean extract

White kidney bean extract is also getting increased attention for its ability to aid persons with diabetes and those who are pre-diabetic. This is assumed to be accomplished by lowering blood sugar and insulin levels in the body.

Higher doses of white kidney bean extract, in particular, were proven to lower the glycaemic index of meals like white bread. It appears to be able to stop long-chain carbs from being absorbed into the bloodstream, and there is some evidence that it can also stop blood sugar from rising. However, anyone with diabetes or pre-diabetes should not eat a diet with sugar levels that differ from what their doctor suggests.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera juice or supplements may provide several potential benefits for diabetics, according to research: Glucose levels in fasting blood are lower. According to a 2015 study, aloe vera gel can help people improve their fasting blood glucose levels while also reducing body fat and weight. The herb, which is native to Africa, has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes patients may have a cause to take aloe vera regularly, since this succulent plant has been discovered to help control blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years for therapeutic purposes. Numerous research has been conducted to investigate its influence on blood glucose levels. Cinnamon, in whole or extract form, helps reduce fasting blood glucose levels, according to a 2011 study trusted Source. More research is needed, but cinnamon appears to have potential in the treatment of diabetes.

Probiotics

Gut bacterial damage, such as that caused by antibiotics, has been linked to an increased risk of various diseases, including diabetes. Probiotic supplements, that include good bacteria or other microorganisms, have a variety of health benefits and may help your body handle carbohydrates more effectively.

In a study of seven trials in persons with type 2 diabetes, all who took probiotics for at least two months had a 16-mg/dl lower fasting blood sugar and a 0.53 percent lower A1C than those who took a placebo. People who took probiotics that contained more than one species of bacteria saw a 35-milligram-per-dl drop in fasting blood sugar.

Berberine

Berberine is a bitter-tasting chemical extracted from the roots and stems of a variety of plants, including phellodendron and goldenseal. Berberine may help reduce blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity and increasing sugar uptake from the blood into the muscles.

Bitter melon

Bitter melon is used to treat diabetes in Asia, South America, and other parts of the world. There is a lot of evidence that it works as a diabetic medication in animal and lab tests. There is, however, a scarcity of human data on bitter melon. There aren't enough human clinical trials. Human studies that are currently available are of poor quality. Bitter melon has been associated with a reduction in blood sugar levels. This is because bitter melon contains characteristics that mimic insulin, which aids in the transport of glucose into cells for energy. Vitamin C, an important micronutrient involved in disease prevention, bone development, and wound healing, is particularly abundant in bitter melon. It also contains a lot of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that helps with skin health and vision.

Green Tea

Green tea has polyphenols, which are antioxidants, are found in green tea. Epigallocatechin gallate is the major antioxidant in green tea (EGCG).

EGCG has been shown in lab research to offer a variety of health advantages, including:

Decreased cardiovascular disease risk, type 2 diabetes prevention, enhanced glucose control, and improved insulin activity
Health advantages have not been demonstrated in diabetes patients in studies. Green tea, on the other hand, is generally thought to be harmless.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a substance found in grapes and wine. It prevents elevated blood sugar in animal models. Experiments on animals It has also been proved by Trusted Source to minimize oxidative stress. Human data, on the other hand, is restricted. It's too early to say whether supplements can help with diabetes.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a nutrient that is required for good health. It aids in the control of blood pressure. Insulin sensitivity is also controlled by it. Magnesium supplementation may help diabetics increase their insulin sensitivity.

A diet strong in magnesium may also lower the risk of diabetes. A relationship has been discovered between higher magnesium intake and reduced rates of insulin resistance and diabetes, according to researchers.

Milk thistle

Milk thistle, when used in conjunction with other treatments, has been shown to help people with diabetes. In persons with type 2 diabetes, studies have demonstrated a reduction in blood sugar levels and an improvement in cholesterol.

Milk thistle has been shown in several trials to be beneficial to persons with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. The findings show that silymarin may lessen the oxidative stress linked with diabetes complications, according to the study.

American Ginseng

These trials demonstrate that using American ginseng extract as a supplementary treatment for type 2 diabetes is both effective and safe. These human studies suggest that both Asian and American ginseng can help type 2 diabetics lower their blood glucose levels. The herbal remedy proved to be completely safe, with no side effects.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant with a lot of power.

According to certain studies, it could:

Oxidative stress should be reduced
Decreased blood sugar levels after a fast
Insulin resistance is reduced

More research, however, is required. Furthermore, ALA should be used with caution because it has the potential to cause dangerously low blood sugar levels.

Gymnema Sylvestre

In Africa and India, it's a common plant. For millennia, the leaves of this plant have been used to treat diabetes in Ayurvedic therapy, a type of alternative medicine. Although Gymnema Sylvestre has been shown to reduce blood glucose in rats, no placebo-controlled human studies have been conducted. There is no proof that it benefits persons with diabetes other than decreasing the taste of sugary meals

Conclusion

There are a variety of natural supplements that can help with diabetes management. Even if you're on this list, you should see your doctor before adding any supplement or vitamin to your diabetes treatment regimen. Several popular supplements can interact negatively with diabetes treatments and blood sugar levels. Zinc is one of the popular vitamins that can have a detrimental impact on your blood glucose levels. Even those on this list that can benefit a lot of people with diabetes may interact negatively with some of your drugs.

FAQ

Is there a drink that lowers Blood Sugar?

Fenugreek water can help diabetics lower their blood sugar levels. It contains fiber, which aids in the slowing of digestion and the regulation of carbohydrate and sugar absorption. Fenugreek water also aids in the betterment of your body's sugar metabolism.

What is a good breakfast for prediabetes?

A nutritious prediabetes breakfast can help to keep blood sugar stable and insulin activity better for hours, and it doesn't have to take long to prepare

Greek-Style Scrambled Eggs
Cereal and Yogurt
Superfoods Breakfast Bowl
Overnight Spiced Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Cottage Cheese Roll-Up

What snacks are good for high blood sugar?

Hard-Boiled Eggs
A Handful of Almonds
Yogurt with Berries
Avocado
Veggies and Hummus
Beef Sticks
Sliced Apples with Peanut Butter
Roasted Chickpeas