Sugar Replacement Herbs For Diabetics

Certain herbs may be substituted for conventional table sugar to help treat your diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, if you have diabetes, your pancreas produces little or no insulin. Without sufficient insulin, sugar in your blood remains high, eventually leading to organ damage and other health problems. Before using sugar replacement herbs, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.

Stevia

Stevia, also known as Stevia rebaudiana, is an herbal sugar replacement that may be helpful in treating your diabetes. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, stevia, a member of the sunflower family, is used to help treat diabetes, weight gain, inflammation and hypertension. Stevia is also used as a sweetener, as it is 200 to 300 times sweeter than white sugar. However, unlike white sugar, the effects of stevia on your blood sugar levels are negligible. Stevia is an herb native to certain parts of North and South America and has a sweetish taste. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that the raw leaves and purified extracts of the plant have been promoted as a sugar substitute for diabetics. One of the principle constituents of stevia is stevioside. If you are pregnant, you should avoid taking stevia or herbal supplements containing stevia.

Gymnema

Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that gymnema, also known as Gymnema sylvestre, is an anti-atherosclerotic, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic, or a substance that lowers your blood sugar. Tilgner notes that gymnema is one of the few hypogylcemic herbs that may help regenerate your pancreatic cells when used for prolonged periods and is specific for diabetes. Gymnema is an herb native to certain parts of tropical India, where it has been used for centuries to help treat diabetes. Gymnema belongs to the milkweed family, has a sweetish taste and possesses cooling tendencies. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the aerial parts of the plant for medicinal purposes. Tilgner cautions that you should avoid taking this herb if you have hypoglycemia, as it can cause a rapid decline in your blood sugar levels.

Licorice

Licorice is a perennial plant that grows in certain parts of Europe and Asia and belongs to the legume family. The roots of the plant, which are used medicinally, are wrinkled, fibrous wood that grow horizontally underground. Licorice, also known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, has a branching root system, possesses a sweet, nutritious taste and moistening tendencies and can grow to a maximum height of 7 feet. According to Dr. Michael T. Murray, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "The Healing Power of Herbs," licorice is an effective sugar substitute for diabetics, as it is 50 to 100 times sweeter than conventional table sugar and causes minimal fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Murray states that licorice has been used as a sweetening and flavoring agent to help cover up the bitter taste of other medications. If you have elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, you should avoid taking licorice as a sugar substitute.