Herbs: Nutraceutical Supplements for Diabetes
Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders associated with chronic hyperglycemia in the blood due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin function, or both. Diabetes mellitus is linked with cardiovascular diseases and kidney and liver failures.
Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, researchers follow some natural healers such as Adjunct Therapy for diabetes.
However, more and more people are turning to alternative medicine and supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Trusted Source, few supplements have enough evidence to support their use for preventing or treating diabetes.
Supplements should not be used to replace standard diabetes treatment. Doing so can put your health ahead.
It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before using any supplements. Some of these products can interfere with other treatments and medications. Just because a product is natural does not mean it’s safe to use.
The following supplements have shown promise in improving blood sugar management and other diabetes-related complications.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds lower blood glucose in diabetic patients, improve glucose tolerance in human subjects, and are available as a nutraceutical to reduce hyperglycemia.
The studies reported in type 2 diabetes that Fenugreek increases insulin resistance in prediabetes.
Fenugreek may exert its hypoglycemic effect through its alkaloid content by modulating insulin secretion.
Dietary supplementation of 10 g Fenugreek/day in prediabetes subjects was associated with lower conversion to diabetes with no adverse effects, possibly due to decreased insulin resistance.
Cinnamon extract has an increasing effect on the phosphorylation activity of insulin receptors and a decreasing impact on tyrosine phosphatase activity, showing insulin-like properties.
The effect of cinnamon on the blood glucose of 25 people with type II diabetes showed no significant difference in FBS, glycosylated hemoglobin, glucose tolerance, insulin concentration, and serum lipids concentration by using 1.5 g of cinnamon for six weeks.
Using 2g cinnamon significantly decreased the blood glucose of type II diabetics after 40 days in diabetic patients.
Effects of 1, 3, and 6 g day of whole cinnamon powder on FBG and serum lipids in 60 people with poorly controlled type II diabetes from Pakistan proved.
After 40 days of supplementation, FBG decreased by 18-29%.
Some studies used more than 1 g of cinnamon daily and reported significant effects.
Ginger
Ginger contains various bioactive substances such as gingerols, shogaols, zingerone, and paradol.
Type 2 diabetic rats fed ginger or gingerol exhibit improved glucose regulation, insulin secretion, and lipid profiles.
Ginger is effective for controlling blood glucose levels, and its effects are preventive and therapeutic for Type 2 diabetes.
Findings suggest that ginger can directly increase glucose uptake in an insulin-independent manner that may be beneficial in managing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Many studies provide convincing evidence to support the efficacy of ginger in the management of Type 2 diabetes (3 g/day,1.6 g/day)
In one study, using 1 g of cinnamon for 60 days did not decrease the blood glucose of type II diabetes patients.
Mature ginger rhizomes are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from ginger roots is often used as a seasoning in Indian recipes. It is a common ingredient in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and many South Asian cuisines for flavoring seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes.
Two varieties of ginger in China
In Indian cuisine, ginger is a key ingredient, especially in thicker gravies and many other vegetarian and meat-based dishes. Ginger is also used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and is an ingredient in standard Indian cold and hot drinks, including spiced masala chai.
Colocynth
Colocynth is prescribed in traditional medicine to lower blood sugar in treating type 2 diabetes patients.
Colocynth was administered (100 mg) thrice daily to diabetic cases.
Antioxidant and inhibitory properties on fat oxida
Consumption of 100 mg colocynth three times a day in type 2 diabetes for two months reduced fasting blood sugar and HbA1C, and no gastrointestinal complications or hepatic or renal side effects were observed.
Nettle
Nettle tea controls blood sugar and improves cardiovascular function in type 2 diabetes patients.
Due to the side effects and temporary effects of chemical drugs in treating diabetes, herbal medicines such as nettle as a complementary drug and chemical drugs are recommended for people with diabetes.
Nettle contains compounds that increase insulin sensitivity in muscle and fat cells, thereby improving glucose uptake into these cells and lowering blood sugar.
Hydroalcoholic nettle extract positively affected blood glucose index and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes patients.
Nettle tea controls blood sugar and improves cardiovascular function in type 2 diabetes patients.
Nettle aqueous extract reduced serum insulin levels in the insulin-resistant group.
The effective components of cumin are aldehyde, γ-Terpinine, α-Sabinin, α-Flandren and α-Kadinin, which Cumin aldehyde is the most effective.
This component is the enzyme inhibitor for α-glycoside
And aldose reductase in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway.
The anti-diabetic property may be due to the existence of these enzyme inhibitors.
Daily 50 and 100 mg of essential oil of C. cyminum supplements during eight weeks decreased glucose and HbA1c, and green cumin significantly increased serum insulin.
The reductive effect of green cumin was greater than that of treatment with glibenclamide.
It should be stated that this dose-dependent effect is more effective in improved glycemic indices at higher doses of cumin.
Although the proper treatment of diabetes includes insulin injection continuously to maintain blood glucose levels, nowadays, researchers follow some herbal and natural healers as Adjunct Therapy for diabetes.
Cumin seed is used as a spice for its distinctive flavor and aroma. It can be found in some cheeses, such as Leyden cheese, and in some traditional bread from France. Cumin can be an ingredient in chili powder (often Tex-Mex or Mexican-style) and is found in achiote blends, adobos, sofrito, garam masala, curry powder, and baccarat. It is used to flavor numerous commercial food products. In South Asian cooking, it is often combined with coriander seeds in a powdered mixture called dhana jeera.
Cumin can be used as a ground or as whole seeds. It imparts an earthy, warming, and aromatic character to food, making it a staple in certain stews, soups, and spiced gravies such as curry and chili. It is also used as an ingredient in some pickles and pastries.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamine. Many people with diabetes are thiamine deficient. This may contribute to some diabetes complications. Increasing evidence also links low thiamine to heart disease and blood vessel damage.
Thiamine is water-soluble. However, benfotiamine, a supplemental form of thiamine, is lipid-soluble. It more easily penetrates cell membranes. Some research suggests that benfotiamine can prevent diabetic complications. However, other studies have not shown any positive effects.
Alpha-lipoic acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant. Research suggests that the Source may:
- reduce oxidative stress
- improve vision
- improve neuropathic symptoms
- decrease fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
However, more research is needed. Furthermore, ALA must be taken with caution, as it can potentially lower blood sugar levels to dangerous levels.
Green tea
Green tea contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants.
The main antioxidant in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Laboratory studies have suggested that EGCG may have numerous health benefits Source, including:
- lower cardiovascular disease risk
- improved glucose management
- better insulin activity
Traditional
In India, the seeds are powdered and used in different forms, such as kashaya (decoction), arista (fermented decoction), and vati (tablet/pills), and processed with ghee (a semifluid clarified butter). In traditional medicine practices of several countries, dried cumin seeds are believed to have medicinal purposes, although there is no scientific evidence for any use as a drug or medicine.
References
Fallah Huseini H, Heshmat R, Larijani B, Fakhrzadeh H, Jafariazar Z, Darvishzadeh F, et al . The clinical investigation of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Fruit in treatment of type II diabetic patients a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. J. Med. Plants 2006; 5 (S2) :31-35
Namazi N, Tarighat Esfanjani A, Avari M, Heshmati J. Effects of Hydroalcoholic Nettle Extract on Insulin Sensitivity and Some Inflammatory Indicator in type 2 Diabetic Patients. Avicenna J Clin Med 2012; 18 (4) :10-14
Mirfeizi M, Mehdizadeh Tourzani Z, Mirfeizi Seyedeh Z, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Rezvani H, Shoghi M, 1393. Effects of cinnamon on controlling blood glucose and lipids in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Medical Journal of Mashad University of Medical Sciences, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 533 541.
Nazila Kasaian, Badr al-Maluk Farghani, Maryam Zare, Taj al-Maluk Emami, and Masoud “Amini, “Investigation of the effect of fenugreek seed consumption on fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood lipids in type II diabetic p” patient”s,” Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, vol. 37, no. 58, pp. 55-58, 1382
Dashtban R, Mansouri A. A Comparative Study on the Effect of Garlic and Cumin on Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Patients with Type II Diabetes. J Diabetes Nurs 2017; 5 (3) :186-179
Talaei B, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali B, Mahammadi M, Najarzadeh A, Fallahzadeh H. The Effect of Ginger on Blood Glucose, Lipid, and Lipoproteins in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-blind Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial. JSSU 2012; 20 (3) :383-95
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