HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS FOR DIABETES

        Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.

Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. One type of test, the A1C, can also check on how you are managing your diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. 

     

        1.   ALOEVERA  (കറ്റാർവാഴ)

Aloe vera is a common plant with many different uses. Many people are aware of its benefits for skin care, but it may also have other benefits, including slowing the progress of type 2 diabetes.

One review, published in 2013, looked at the use of aloe vera to treat symptoms of diabetes in rats. Findings suggested that aloe vera might help protect and repair the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The researchers believed this might be due to aloe's antioxidant effects.

The researchers called for more research into aloe and its extracts to be sure of these effects.

Ways of taking aloe include:

adding juiced pulp to a drink or smoothie

taking capsules that contain aloe as supplements

People should not eat aloe vera skin care products.

Aloe vera juice may offer a number of health benefits. Find out more here.

  2.CINNAMON (കറുവപ്പട്ട)

Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that comes from the bark of a tree. It is a popular ingredient in sweets, baked goods, and other dishes.

It has a taste that can add sweetness without any additional sugar. It is popular with people with type 2 diabetes for this reason alone, but it may also offer other benefits.

A 2010 review found evidence from studies involving humans that cinnamon may improve levels of:

glucose

insulin and insulin sensitivity

lipids, or fats, in the blood

antioxidant status

blood pressure

lean body mass

digestion

In another review published in 2013, researchers concluded that cinnamon might lead to:

lower fasting blood glucose levels

less total cholesterol and "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol

higher levels of "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

a reduction in triglycerides, or fat, in the blood

increased insulin sensitivity

It did not appear to have a significant impact on hemoglobin A1C. The A1C test is a standard test for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes.

Nevertheless, lipids, cholesterol, and insulin sensitivity are all important markers for people with diabetes.

In both studies, the researchers note that the results may depend on:

the type of cinnamon, as the amount of active ingredient depends on the type

the amount or dose

the individual's response to cinnamon

other medications the person may be taking

3.      3. BITTER MELON (പാവക്ക)

Momordica charantia, or bitter melon, is a medicinal fruit. Practitioners of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine have used bitter melon for centuries. People can cook the fruit and use it in many dishes. Some scientists have been looking into its potential medicinal uses.

There is some evidence that bitter melon may help with the symptoms of diabetes. One review has noted that people have used many parts of the plant to help treat diabetes.

Research has shown that taking bitter melon in the following forms can lead to a reduction in blood sugar levels in some people:

seeds

blended vegetable pulp

juice

supplements

Eating or drinking the bitter melon can be an acquired taste, but taking supplements may make it more palatable.

There is not enough evidence to support using bitter melon instead of insulin or medication for diabetes.

However, it may help people rely less on those medications or lower their dosages.

Learn more here about the impact bitter melon can have on blood sugar levels.

Bitter melon capsules are available for purchase online.

4. MILK THISTLE  (കീഴാർനെല്ലി )

 

People have used milk thistle since ancient times for many different ailments, and especially as a tonic for the liver.

Silymarin, the extract from milk thistle that has received the most attention from scientists, is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These are the properties that may make milk thistle a useful herb for people with diabetes.

Many of the studies on silymarin are promising, but the research is not strong enough to recommend the herb or extract alone for diabetes care, according to one review published in 2016.

There appear to be no reports of significant side effects, and many people take milk thistle as a supplement. However, it is best to speak to a doctor first before using any supplements.

5. FENUGREEK SEED  (ഉലുവ )

 Fenugreek is another seed that may help lower blood sugar levels.

The seeds contain fibers and chemicals that help to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and sugar.

There is also some evidence that the seeds may help delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Findings of a 3-year investigation published in 2015 noted that people with prediabetes were less likely to receive a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes while taking powdered fenugreek seed.

The researchers concluded that taking the seed led to:

increased levels of insulin in the body, leading to a reduction in blood sugar

lower cholesterol levels

The study involved 66 people with diabetes who took 5 grams (g) of the seed preparation twice a day before meals, and 74 controls, who did not take it.

A person can:

include fenugreek as a herb in certain dishes

add it to warm water

grind into a powder

take it as a supplement in capsule form

A range of fenugreek capsules is available for purchase here.



6. GYMNEMA (ചക്കരക്കൊല്ലി)

Gymnema sylvestre is a herb that comes from India. Its name means "sugar destroyer."

A 2013 review noted that people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes who took gymnema showed signs of improvement.

In people with type 1 diabetes who took the leaf extract for 18 months, fasting blood sugar levels fell significantly, compared with a group who received only insulin.

Other tests using gymnema found that people with type 2 diabetes responded well to both the leaf and its extract over various periods.

Some people experienced:

lower blood sugar levels
higher insulin levels
Using either the ground leaf or leaf extract may be beneficial. But once again, talk to your doctor about using it before starting.



7. GINGER  (ഇഞ്ചി)

Ginger is another herb that people have used for thousands of years in traditional medicine systems.

People often use ginger to help treat digestive and inflammatory issues.

However, in 2015, a review suggested that it may also help treat diabetes. The results showed that ginger lowered blood sugar levels, but did not lower blood insulin levels.

Because of this, they suggest that ginger may reduce insulin resistance in the body for type 2 diabetes.

However, the researchers were uncertain as to how ginger might do this, and they called for more research to confirm these findings.

People can take ginger:

by adding ginger powder or chopped, fresh ginger root to raw or cooked food
brewed into tea
as a supplement in capsule form

by drinking it in a ginger ale