Diabetes is a disease that causes high blood sugar, or glucose levels in the body. In type 1-diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, the hormone responsible for removing sugar from the blood. In type-2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin or cells become non-responsive to insulin. High blood sugar levels can increase the risk for other serious health conditions, including obesity, stroke and heart disease. Taking specific supplements can be part of an effective treatment plan for those suffering from diabetes. Consult with your health care provider before taking any supplements.
Cinnamon Extract
In research reported in the December 2003 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care," scientists examined the effects of cinnamon on blood sugar levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. Dr. Alam Khan randomly assigned patients one, three or six grams of cinnamon or a placebo for 40 days. Participants glucose levels, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured before and after the study. At the end of the study, scientists observed that all three groups taking cinnamon experienced significant reductions in glucose levels, triglyceride and cholesterol levels compared to the placebo group
Bitter Melon Extract
The vegetable bitter melon may prove effective in treating type-2 diabetes. Professor David James, Director of the Diabetes and Obesity Program at Garvan, led a team of researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica who examined the impact of bitter melon extract on diabetes. They discovered that bitter melon contains four compounds that activate AMPK in muscles, which enhances glucose or blood sugar uptake by cells. This prevents high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes, according to research published in the March 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Chemistry and Biology."
Chromium Picolinate
Researchers from the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland investigated the impact of the mineral chromium on type-2 diabetes. Participants were assigned to one of the following groups: placebo; 100 micrograms of chromium picolinate; or 500 micrograms of chromium picolinate. At the end of the four month study, scientists observed that both chromium groups experienced significant decreases in glucose levels compared to the placebo group, according to findings published in the November 1997 issue of the journal "Diabetes."
American Ginseng
Researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada studied the impact of American ginseng on glucose levels after meals in type-2 diabetics. Participants received American ginseng or a placebo 40 minutes before meals on four separate occasions. Scientists found that the ginseng group had significant reductions in glucose levels after meals, according to research reported in the April 2000 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine."
Psyllium
The soluble fiber psyllium has shown positive effects on glucose levels. University of Kentucky researchers assigned type-2 diabetics psyllium or a placebo for eight weeks. At the end of the study, researchers found that the psyllium group experienced improvements in glucose levels compared to the placebo group, according to research published in the October 1999 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
References
- Diabetes Care: Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes
- Science Daily: A Ton Of Bitter Melon Produces Sweet Results For Diabetes
- PubMed: Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes
- PubMed: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- PubMed: Effects of psyllium on glucose and serum lipid responses in men with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia
