Diabetes is a long-term metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels. It occurs when the body does not make enough insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, or when it cannot use insulin properly. Treatment is important to prevent potentially life-threatening complications, such as heart disease and stroke. If you suffer from diabetes, you will probably need to take insulin and other drugs to stabilize your blood glucose levels. Fenugreek may help to regulate blood glucose levels, but evidence to show it is effective is limited. Do not use it in place of medicines prescribed by your doctor and get medical clearance before using it.
Properties and Dosage
Fenugreek, sometimes known as bird's foot, comes from the dried seeds of a plant used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is used to treat a number of ailments, including diabetes, arthritis, muscle pain, cancer and arthritis. Fenugreek contains a host of biologically active compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins, which may confer therapeutic effects. The amount needed to regulate your blood sugar levels may vary according to your age, overall health and other medicines you are taking. Your doctor may be able to advise you on a suitable dose.
Efficacy
The results of a clinical trial published in the January 2009 issue of the "International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research" found that taking 10g of powdered fenugreek seeds mixed with yogurt or soaked in hot water, daily for eight weeks, lowered blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. The authors conclude that fenugreek seeds can be used as an adjuvant in the control of type 2 diabetes. Research published in the November 2010 issue of the "Indian Journal of Experimental Biology" found that a compound found in fenugreek may be used as intermittent therapy for diabetes and may hold potential as an oral anti-diabetic drug.
Side Effects
RxList states that fenugreek might be safe but may cause side effects, including diarrhea, bloating and a stomach upset. Fenugreek may cause asthmatic or allergic-type reactions such as nasal congestion, wheezing and coughing in some people. It may lower your blood sugar levels too much so ensure that you get your blood glucose levels checked regularly. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center adds that it may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.
Contraindications
Avoid fenugreek if you are allergic to similar plant products such as chickpeas, soybeans and peanuts. Do not use fenugreek if you are pregnant, because it may increase the risk of a miscarriage. Fenugreek interacts with several other drugs, including anticoagulants and diabetes medicines. Ask you doctor whether it is OK for you to use fenugreek alongside your current diabetes drugs.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Fenugreek
- RxList: Fenugreek
- International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research: Effect of Fenugreek Seeds on Blood Glucose and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
- Indian Journal of Experimental Biology: Anti-Hyperglycemic Compound (GII) from Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Linn.) Seeds, its Purification and Effect in Diabetes Mellitus
