Physicians diagnose approximately 1.6 million new cases of diabetes in people aged 20 and older every year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes can often require many types of prescription medications in order to keep insulin levels in check. If you, like many people, are concerned about the adverse reactions and side effects of some prescription medications, you may be contemplating using herbal supplements instead. Bilberry may help stabilize insulin levels. However, you should always consult your physician before using this or any other herbal supplement.
Bilberry
For centuries, herbalists have used bilberry for food as well as medicine. The perennial shrub has sharp-edged, green branches and their berries have a wrinkled appearance. Bilberry contains vitamin C and antioxidants known as anthocyanosides, which can help fight damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Antioxidants may help prevent long-term illnesses such as cancer, macular degeneration and heart disease. Bilberry extracts are used to treat chronic venous insufficiency, diarrhea, vision problems, atherosclerosis and wounds as well as diabetes.
Diabetes
Diabetes refers to a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. Your body needs glucose because it is your body's main energy source. Glucose comes from the liver as well as from foods you eat. As you digest food, your body absorbs sugar into the bloodstream. Sugar then enters your cells with the help of insulin secreted by your pancreas. The liver manufactures and stores glucose in your body.
There are two types of diabetes, type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Type-1 diabetes occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas causing sugar to build in the bloodstream. Type-2 diabetes occurs when the cells become resistant to insulin. Diabetes can lead to complications such as cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin conditions and bone and joint problems.
Bilberry for Diabetes
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that herbalists have used bilberry to control blood sugar in diabetic patients for many years. However, researchers have not performed human clinical trials so scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking, so people with diabetes should not use bilberry to control blood sugar levels. Consult your physician before using bilberry for any reason.
Warnings
There is a risk of bilberry interacting with anticoagulant medications such as warfarin thereby increasing the risk of bleeding. Because there is a potential for bilberry to lower blood sugar, you should not take the perennial with any other diabetes medications as it may cause excessively low blood sugar levels.
