Herbal medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, plus a healthy eating plan and daily physical activity, can help you to keep your blood sugar levels under control. Herbs have been used as part of traditional medicine by the vast majority of people on earth for thousands of years. Herbs can do more than just reduce your blood sugar levels, they are also capable of reducing the damaging affects of type 2 diabetes itself.
These are not the only solution that will help you to say goodbye to type 2 diabetes, but why not consider them as a supplement to a healthy eating plan and exercising? Certainly, before you start using some of these herbs, you should consult with your health care provider for direction as to which ones will suit your specific situation.
Natural Herbs Commonly Used by Type 2 Diabetics:
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is one of the best “fighters” against high blood sugar levels and is also highly researched by modern science. Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugars by up to 29 per cent and has a measurable impact on making insulin more effective in your body.
Cinnamon contains no calories, makes insulin more effective and helps food to taste good… why not use it liberally?
Bitter Melon: Bitter melon is a cucumber-like plant that grows in Asia, Africa and South America. From a scientific investigation it has been shown to have the ability to lower blood sugar levels. 15 grams of an extract from bitter melon produced a 54% drop in after meal blood sugar levels… so it should be taken with caution in order to avoid hypoglycemia.
Gymnema Sylvestra: Gymnema sylvestra is a plant native to tropical regions of India and has been used extensively to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This herb works in several areas to improve diabetes. It has been shown to slow absorption of sugar in the gastrointestinal tract and to also have revitalizing effects on the pancreas. Gymnema sylvestra is one of the most powerful herbs for improving blood sugar control… so you will need to closely monitor your blood sugar levels and discuss what you are doing with your health care provider.
Ginseng: Ginseng is one of the world’s oldest herbs… it is almost a “cure it all”. It works on so many different aspects of the bodily processes. If a person has high blood pressure, then ginseng will often help lower it. If the blood pressure is too low, ginseng will often help raise it to a normal level. It appears to have the ability to correct the body’s processes whichever way they need to go.
Studies on type 1 and type 2 diabetics have shown improvement in both their blood sugar level and their HbA1c percentage.
Posts Tagged ‘Type 2 Diabetes’
Type 2 diabetes, at first glance appears to be a simple condition. Simply too much sugar in your bloodstream… but that actually creates an avalanche of problems in your body if you continue to have poor regulation of your blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels can be helped with natural products… here are just a few of the hundreds of herbs that can help you regulate your blood sugar levels:
1. Stevia: Stevia is extracted from the leaves of a plant called Stevia rebaudiana and this herb not only lowers blood sugar levels; it even tastes great. The sweetness in Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar.
For diabetics, Stevia is a great way to sweeten foods while accomplishing health goals.
Although Stevia is safe and has been widely used around the world since 1931, it usually can only be found in Health Food Stores.
2. Gymnema sylvestre: If you have a taste for chocolate… the type of taste that drives you to finish every bit of the entire pound of chocolate, then Gymnema is the herb for you. If you eat a bite of chocolate, then follow that mouthful with Gymnema sylvestre, the desire to continue eating the chocolate will automatically stop. You will not finish eating the pound of chocolate.
Gymnema sylvestre blocks the taste of sugar in your mouth… using gymnema tea with any of those sugary snacks will reduce the amount of sugar you crave.
Extracts or capsules of Gymnema can lower your blood sugar levels and your glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test results as well.
3. Cinnamon: Not only does cinnamon lower your blood sugar levels, it also lowers cholesterol levels. You will need at least half a teaspoon if you are using cinnamon direct from your spice jar, but the extract works a lot more effectively.
When researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA) investigated the effects of several spices reported to improve diabetes, they found: cinnamon, cloves, tumeric and bay leaves actually had a measurable impact on making insulin more effective in the diabetic’s body. But of all these herbs, cinnamon is the most effective.
4. American Ginseng: Ginseng is one of the world’s oldest herbs, used by many cultures over the past 5,000 years. About 2 to 3 grams of the herb can be taken daily, and the best time to take it is 40 minutes prior to a meal or actually with your meal.
5. Bitter Melon: With a name like bitter melon, you know the taste is not going to be that great! It is really a good thing that it comes in capsules. Bitter melon has three medicinal constituents that lower blood sugar levels: charantin, Polypeptide P, and gurmarin. Gurmarin is very similar to bovine insulin in chemical structure.
The juice and extracts of this bitter fruit have been shown in clinical trials to lower blood sugar levels in many patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The above is just touching on some of the best known and studied of the hundreds of herbs that benefit people with type 2 diabetes.
It is well known that people with a condition called hemochromatosis, where the body absorbs and accumulates unusually high amounts of iron, are at a greater risk of developing diabetes. Recent medical research however suggests that there may be a link between iron levels and diabetes even among people that do not suffer from hemochromatosis.
A 2004 study published in the American Medical Association involving over 32,000 women found that those with high levels of iron in their bodies were as much as three times more likely to develop diabetes than women with low iron levels.
A separate 2006 study found that women with high intakes of a type of iron known as heme, found mainly in meat, had a 28% higher risk of type-2 diabetes than those with a low intake. The study found no association between intake of the non-heme variety of iron and diabetes. Sources rich in non-heme iron include tofu, soybeans, spinach, potatoes and cashew nuts.
A third Finnish study of over 1000 men aged between 42 and 60 found that men with high iron stores were 2.4 times more likely to get diabetes compared to men with lower stores.
The findings raise the possibility that a simple iron blood test could determine whether an individual is at an increased risk of developing diabetes.
It is thought that iron may raise diabetes risk by increasing free radical production which increases inflammation levels n the body, possibly damaging the pancreas which is responsible for insulin production. Another possibility is that high iron levels cause cells to gradually become resistant to insulin, thus reducing the ability of insulin to reduce blood sugar levels.
The research suggests that both men and women considered at risk of developing diabetes should avoid iron supplements and consider limiting red meat consumption to a maximum of 2-3 servings a week.
While iron is an essential mineral in the body and is needed to prevent anemia, excess iron has been linked to various other diseases in the past such as an increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease, liver damage, some forms of cancer and even Parkinson’s disease.
The current recommended daily intake (RDA) for iron is 8 milligrams a day for men and post-menopausal women while the RDA for pre-menopausal women is 18 milligrams. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, most men generally exceed the RDA for iron although some women consume slightly less than the RDA.
First let’s know what Cinnamon is. The cinnamon is obtained from an evergreen tree which is harvested in the rainy season. The actual cinnamon is produced by drying inner howl of such trees. The cinnamomum zelyanicum tree produces the high quality cinnamon. The cassia cinnamon is another type of cinnamon which is slightly different form the zelyanicum cinnamon. The original and true cinnamon can be found in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. The cinnamon is mostly used in baking and also in cooking. Due to its mind blowing aroma and unusual flavor it is very popular all around the world.
The ‘insulin’ in the human body controls and reduces the blood sugar level. The blood sugar problem occurs when the insulin works irregularly. According to some people the cinnamon helps insulin to perform its duty.
Can cinnamon lower blood sugar? It is a controversial question. Some people say that the cinnamon does not help to lower the blood sugar. Some people say that the cinnamon can be effective with type-2 diabetes. According to a group of researchers, a little amount of cinnamon can help the type-2 diabetic patients. These researchers performed the cinnamon test on type-2 diabetic patients. The researchers supplied 1 gram of cinnamon for 90 days. These patients continued their regular care while using cinnamon. Hemoglobin A1c is the type of blood cell which is measured to recognize the blood glucose levels. The researchers found 0.83% of hemoglobin A1c decrease in these patients. The researchers concluded that the cinnamon can effect doubly than regular blood sugar treatment. This study makes some people to believe that the cinnamon can be used for blood sugar control.
According to another study which was done in Pakistan in 2003, researchers found that the cinnamon can help to maintain the blood sugar level. They performed cinnamon test on 60 people having type-2 diabetes for 40 days. They found the effect of cinnamon even after 20 days. For this study they used the true cinnamon. They also used the cassia cinnamon for their study. The researchers divided 60 peoples in two groups. They supplied cinnamon capsules 3 times a day for one group and placebo (dummy medication) capsules for another group. The results from both the group made researchers to believe that the 1 gram of daily cinnamon can help to lower the blood sugar with type-2 diabetes patients.
Due to lack of enough evidences and some previous studies the use of cinnamon against diabetes makes it disputable.
I will call them rumors, referring to the stories I have heard about how cinnamon is supposed to help control blood sugars for diabetics. I have heard them for years. Every once in a while I even put cinnamon in my Starbucks thinking it’ll help. I finally got around to checking it out first hand.
First I did a little research and found that none other than our own USDA Agriculture Research Service has done exhaustive studies on a natural way to keep blood sugar levels normal beginning as far back as 1990. Why bother you ask?
Diabetes is a disease that affects 7% or 21 Million Americans and claims 240 million victims worldwide. Type 2 Diabetes is the biggest portion of those at 95 %. Another 14 million Americans have pre-diabetes where their blood sugars are elevated but below Diabetic levels. They are on the way to getting it and probably don’t have a clue.
Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism–the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.
After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.
In people with type 2 diabetes the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced.
So in short it is HUGE.
WHAT THEY FOUND. Chemist Richard A. Anderson looked at plants and spices that came out of folk medicine tales. They found that a few spices, notably cinnamon, made fat cells more responsive to insulin.
They discovered that cinnamon’s main ingredient increased glucose metabolism about 20 times normal in a test tube test of fat cells. They found this ingredient (MHCP) also was effective in preventing the formation of damaging free radicals-a bonus. Cinnamon is very inexpensive and is widely available.
So the next time you are at your favorite health food store get some water soluble cinnamon not the oil variety and give it a try. I did and it works!!
As with anything you do with the ‘big D’-check with your doc first.
To find out more about Diabetes check the link below.
Type 2 diabetes is getting increasingly common in developed countries. Other developing countries are seeing a fast emerging trend of the disease. Diabetes type 2 is caused by insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. Although this disease is more common in adults over 40, it is increasingly seen in young teenagers and even children. This worrying trend is linked to the rising rates of obesity as well as inactivity.
MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES
Here are some of the major risk factors for type 2 diabetes:
1) Age – As people age, the chances of getting diabetes type 2 is considerably higher. So for those who are older than 45 years, they are at a higher risk of getting the disease.
2) Overweight – Being overweight is another strong risk factor especially the person is heavier in the center.
3) Genetic factors – Having someone with diabetes in the family puts you at a higher risk.
4) Certain ethnic groups such as such as native americans, african americans, Latino americans, pacific islanders and Asian individuals who are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
5) People with high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
6) Women at risk – women who have had a big baby of more than 9lbs are at higher risk of having type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include women who had gestational diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, irregular menstrual cycles and developing facial hair.
Of all these common risk factors, the most common are those who have family history as well as those who are gaining weight in the middle.
HOW TO CONTROL TYPE 2 DIABETES
Diabetes can be one of the hardest diseases to treat as it does not go away. It is always there with you, day in and day out. It will affect your daily life in what you do and what you eat. You have to be always conscious of your blood sugar as you can’t let it go too high to avoid complications. The next best thing you can do to help yourself is to control the disease.
The main cause of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. So the first thing you want to do is to help reduce the resistance of insulin. Exercising and losing weight can help reducing resistance to insulin and thus control type 2 diabetes. The other way is using pills which your doctor will recommend to you. However,due to the advance technology as well as rising awareness of using alternative way to treat type 2 diabetes, herbal and natural supplements are increasingly popular.
Here are a few of the natural/alternative herbs which have worked for many diabetics:
1. Bitter melon has long been regarded as the natural cure for diabetes. This fruit is known for its abilities to regulate blood glucose level. In fact, bitter melon is recommended by the Dept of Philippines as one of the best herbal medicines for managing diabetes.
2. Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a naturopathic treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia. This herb has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels when used for an extended period of time. The active ingredient is thought to be gurmenic acid which has structure similar to saccharose. Extracts of Gymnema is not only claimed to curb sweet tooths but also for treatment of as varied problems as hyperglycemia, obesity, high cholesterol levels, anemia and digestion.
3. Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum or Chinese cinnamon) is a close relative to cinnamon. In fact, when cinnamon is said to be beneficial for diabetes, it is actually cassia, a less delicate version of the true cinnamon. A 2003 study published in the DiabetesCare journal followed Type 2 diabetics ingesting 1, 3 or 6 grams of cassia daily. Those taking 6 grams shows changes after 20 days, and those taking lesser doses showed changes after 40 days. Regardless of the amount of cassia taken, they reduced their mean fasting serum glucose levels 18-29%, their triglyceride levels 23-30%, their LDL cholesterol 7-27%, and their total cholesterol 12-26%, over others taking placebos. The effects, which may even be produced by brewing a tea from cassia bark, may also be beneficial for non-diabetics to prevent and control elevated glucose and blood lipid levels.
4. Chromium – Starting in the 1960s reports have shown that Chromium helps cells respond properly to naturally produced insulin. Current estimates show that 90% of Americans are lacking in this essential mineral nutrient.
5. Helps to improve circulation in the little capillaries in the hands and feet. Also valuable in balancing the digestion and strengthening the immune system.
6. Mulberry leaves is know to effectively help regulate blood sugar levels. Drink as tea can help to reduce absorption of sugar and carbohydrates. It is also a good source of antioxidants, vitamin C and carotene.
Beside these, there are others less known herbs for controlling diabetes. These herbs when combine together in the right balance can be very powerful in helping you manage diabetes. However, it is important to research on these supplements to ensure they indeed do what they claim. ProvenHealthCare.com provides informative reviews and articles on alternative methods of controlling diabetes.
Diabetes, the disease which was once considered the wealthy man’s burden, is no longer affiliated to the rich. It has become a common malady that is spreading its vicious tentacles far and wide day by day. It is a major abetting factor for heart attacks, kidney failures and stroke. As time goes, diabetes causes vision impairment too.
The complexity of diagnosis and treatment is further increased by the various types of diabetes and the exclusive medication required for each type. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the inability of the body to produce insulin altogether which results in increased blood sugar levels because insulin aids in the proper dissipation of glucose into the blood. This type necessitates total dependence on insulin injections. The other type of diabetes, type 2 is the most commonly occurring form of the disease. It is caused by the insulin deficiency and the failure of the body to utilize the insulin secreted by pancreas. The stark effect of this is obesity.
We cannot feel relieved by the fact that type 2 is not as bad as type 1 because, type 2 gradually morphs into type 1 diabetes as we age and our immune system becomes weak and ultimately results in total dependence on insulin. The ray of hope in this case is that with proper exercise, healthy lifestyle and balanced diet, the type 2 diabetes can be controlled. Herbal alternatives are most sought after, due to their very minimal side effects. Cinnamon is considered as the herbal panacea for the type 2 diabetes because of its ability to reduce LDL cholesterol and glucose. Research has shown that a daily intake of minimum 1g of cinnamon reduces the serum glucose level significantly in the long run.
To understand the effectiveness of cinnamon, it is essential to understand the factors that increase the blood sugar levels. Heavy consumption of unsaturated fatty acids, in other words, hydrogenated oils result in clogging of arteries with cholesterol which makes the cell wall and artery passage thin, preventing the glucose from reaching the cells. The key substance in cinnamon, methylhydroxy-chalcone polymer (MHCP), reduces this cholesterol level resulting in better absorption of glucose. It also improves the ability of the fat cells to respond to insulin which is a key benefit for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes also triggers multiple undesirable effects. One such defect is the malabsorption of necessary salts. One such salt whose absorption is prevented is magnesium. Cinnamon is a vital source of magnesium, hence supplementing our body with the necessary nutrients. MHCP in cinnamon reduce the insulin resistance in our body and triggers the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase.
Excessive quantities of anything result in negative effect. The research world is polarized on the benefits of cinnamon in reducing blood sugar levels. A particular research even says that MHCP is just a water-soluble polymer and does not have any additional qualities. The side-effects of cinnamon are mostly restricted to a specific set of conditions and there are no definite side effects affecting everybody. Studies have shown that excessive usage of cinnamon results in oral erythema multiforme which is lip swelling and mouth ulcer. It is not advisable for persons with haemophilic problems because its anti-clotting properties will cause profuse bleeding. Due to this reason, cinnamon intake is not recommended during menstruation too. Cinnamon is also a common allergy food so it cannot be recommended for everyone.
It is proven that cinnamon is greatly beneficial for people suffering from type 2 diabetes and its side effects are pronounced only in specific conditions of health like pregnancy. But it is always recommended and advised to consult the physician before trying out alternative remedy.
Certain spices might be helpful for controlling type 2 diabetes… so who says healthful diets for diabetes have to be dull? Think again! And some spices could help you to have lower blood sugar levels.
Let’s look at some helpful spices for type 2 diabetes:
Cinnamon: Although study results are mixed, some recent research shows that the this popular spice contains certain water-soluble polyphenolic compounds called procyanidins (type A) which mimic the actions of insulin, chromium and polyphenols. A 2008 report in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society written by USDA researchers, looked at glucose control and cinnamon.
Cinnamon supplementation reportedly was shown to improve the metabolic syndrome. People with type 2 diabetes showed improvements in:
Blood glucose levels Insulin sensitivity Cholesterol levels Blood thinning and Their HbA1c level… which is a measure of blood glucose control over a three month period.
Cinnamon reportedly reduced fasting blood sugar 18 to 29%, total cholesterol 12 to 26%, and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol 7 to 27%. It is not time to throw away your medications and substitute them with cinnamon sticks but cinnamon might be a tasty way to help gain control of type 2 diabetes.
The history of cinnamon shows it to be one of the oldest used treatments in Chinese medicine. A therapeutic dose of cinnamon is between 1 and 6 grams a day… and the minimum time frame to show results is often about 40 days.
Ground cloves: These also contain anti-inflammatory polyphenols, so it might be an idea to include these on your grocery list also.
Oregano: Another herb found to be high in polyphenols.
Different spices have different kinds of polyphenols, so way not add a wide variety of spices to your eating plan? Having a healthy diet and lifestyle are the most important factors in preventing or reversing type 2 diabetes. However, there are several herbs and spices that have been shown to help people with diabetes.
Add Spices To:
Vegan eating plans, probably the best kind for diabetics, are best with liberal doses of spices, so try some new spices with your veggies, brown rice, and whole wheat pastas. Oregano has long been an important spice in Italian foods. Try some on your whole wheat spaghetti or linguine. When you cook brown rice, try to see which new and interesting combinations of spices you can come up with each time.
Curry powders are made up of different combinations of spices, so try various kinds of curry until you find some that you like.
Another way to use spices is in salad dressings. Mix your favorite herbs and spices with some olive oil and vinegar and see what you can come up with. Or simply buy the ready-made Italian or vinaigrette dressings after reading the labels to find the ones with the best quantity and variety of spices. Fresh herbs such as cilantro are great when added to a salad of lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, chopped carrots, chopped onions, and chopped walnuts.
There are may cookbooks available which cover a wide variety of ethnic cooking including Indian vegan recipes or even a taste of Thai vegan foods. There are many recipes from around the world which show you how to combine spices with your diabetic eating plan.
Combining a healthy eating plan with the right spices will give you a good chance of reversing type 2 diabetes and having lower blood sugar levels.
Have you ever noticed that numbers are important in health? Your date of birth is important. The age women started their menstrual cycle is important. The year you had surgery is important. How many days it takes you to recover from the flu is important. The age you first started smoking is important.
Your heart rate should be 60-72 beats per minute. Your blood pressure is two numbers such as 120/80 and the top number is usually 100 plus your age. (It’s best to keep that number to no higher than 140.) The bottom number is 70 to 80; if it goes past 90, your health care provider is concerned about your blood pressure and he will look to put you on medication.
Blood sugar levels are also important to know. The range is 70 to 110 mg/dl (3.9 to 6 mmol/l) or 80 to 120 mg/dl (4.4 to 6.7 mmol/l) depending on the clinical laboratory that does the testing. When blood sugar is measured, it is taken either after a meal or after a long overnight period of fasting. To determine whether or not someone has diabetes, doctors look at fasting blood sugar levels. When the level is between 100 to 125 mg/dl (5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l), health care providers say you are pre-diabetic. When the level is greater than 125 mg/dl (7 mmol/l) you have type 2 diabetes.
When a person with type 2 diabetes is monitoring his own fasting blood sugar, he should aim for 83 to 87 mg/dl (4.6 to 4.8 mmol/l). This is the ideal fasting blood sugar level. If the level is less than 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/l), the health care provider would say that the person had hypoglycemia or low blood sugar at that particular point in time.
There’s one additional number that is important for diabetics: the Hemoglobin A1C value (HbA1c). This number tells the doctor how well you, the patient, has been regulating your blood sugar levels over the last two to three months. This means that anyone who is a diabetic really can’t cheat on their diet and eat meals filled with carbohydrates, (such as pasta, pretzels, ice cream, and doughnuts all at the same meal) and expect that their health care provider won’t figure out that they have been cheating! But actually you would be cheating yourself!
Normal Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels are less than 6.5%. Diabetics usually have levels 7% or higher; sometimes more than 11%!
Stay true to your goal to maintain good health and reverse your type 2 diabetes. Do it with proven methods. Join the ranks of those who have beaten this condition called type 2 diabetes.








