Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, affects 20.8 million Americans. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your pancreas does not produce enough insulin, the hormone responsible for keeping blood glucose levels stable. Type 2 diabetes arises when you produce enough insulin but your body cannot use it properly. Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to serious health problems, including blindness, heart disease and stroke. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be controlled with insulin and other prescription medicines. Bitter melon may help to stabilize blood sugar levels, but it should never be used in place of your diabetes drugs.
Properties and Required Dosage
Bitter melon, or Momordica charantia, is a tropical plant, the fruit of which may be eaten or used to make medicines for a variety of conditions, including HIV and AIDS, menstrual disorders, and infections. It contains a number of compounds, which according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, increase glucose uptake and improve glucose tolerance. RxList notes that there is not enough scientific information to determine the ideal dose of bitter melon. In addition, the quantity needed to control blood sugar levels may vary from person to person. Ask your doctor for advice.
Efficacy
Research by M.J. Tan et al., published in the March 2008 issue of "Chemistry and Biology," found that bitter melon helped cellular uptake of glucose and improved glucose disposal, causing the authors to conclude that bitter melon compounds may provide leads as a class of therapeutics for diabetes. The results of a four-week, randomized, double-blind trial by A. Fuangchan and colleagues, published in the January 2011 of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," found that bitter melon had a modest hypoglycemic effect and significantly reduced blood sugar levels among patients with Type 2 diabetes who took 2000mg daily. However, the authors note that it was less effective than the diabetes drug metformin.
Side Effects and Contraindications
RxList states that short-term use of bitter melon may be safe, but adds that the safety of long-term use is not known. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center warns that it may add to the effect of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, therefore, check with your doctor that it is safe for you to use bitter melon alongside your diabetes medicines.
Other Potentially Helpful Herbs
The UMMC website cites several other herbs that may aid the treatment of diabetes, including cinnamon and American ginseng. UMMC notes that cinnamon has been shown to lower glucose levels and therefore may play an important role in the treatment of diabetes. Meanwhile, taking American ginseng before a meal may help to lower post-meal glucose levels, notes UMMC. Talk to your doctor before including either of these herbs in your diabetes treatment plan.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bitter Melon
- RxList: Bitter Melon
- "Chemistry and Biology"; Antidiabetic Activities of Triterpenoids Isolated From Bitter Melon Associated With Activation of the AMPK Pathway; M.J. Tan et al.; March 2008
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Hypoglycemic Effect of Bitter Melon Compared With Metformin in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients; A. Fuangchan et al.; January 2011
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