Diabetes is a condition characterized by chronic high blood glucose levels. Insulin is the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose, and type-1 diabetics do not produce insulin and are dependant on insulin drugs. Type-2 diabetics produce insulin but they are either insensitive to it, or they do not produce enough if it. Gymnema is an herbal supplement that may help to manage diabetes symptoms. However, it can interact with diabetic medications and you should talk to your doctor before self-medicating with the herb.
Mechanism of Action
Gymnema, also known as gumar, is a plant with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, and researchers have begun to investigate it for the management of diabetes. The medicinally active part of the gymnema plant is the leaves. The leaves contain various constituents and the most active one is believed to be gymnemic acid. "The American Diabetes Association Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements" states that gymnema may help the body's cells take up and properly utilize glucose. "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" adds that gymnema appears to also help block the absorption of glucose from the intestines into the blood stream, where it would cause elevated glucose levels. Preliminary research suggests that the herb may also stimulate the growth of the pancreatic cells that are responsible for the production of insulin and it may thereby help to increase the production and release of insulin in type-2 diabetics.
Type-1 Diabetes
A placebo controlled study done on 27 type-1 diabetic patients and cited in the October 1990 issue of "Journal of Ethnopharmacology," investigated the effect of 200 mg of gymnema, taken twice a day for six to 30 months. The patients experienced a drop in A1C, which is the test used to gauge how well you're managing your diabetes and it reflects your average blood glucose levels over a three month period. The patients also experienced a decline in fasting glucose levels, with an average drop of 212 mg/dl to 150 mg/dl after 16 months. The amount of insulin drugs required by the patients also declined and the patients who took the gymnema for the full 30 months experienced a decline from 60 to 30 units per day.
Type-2 Diabetes
A separate placebo controlled study was conducted on type-2 diabetics and also cited in the October 1990 issue of "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The patients were given 400 mg of gymnema a day for 20 months in addition to sulfonylurea, which is a class of diabetes medications. After 20 months, the patients experienced an average A1C decline from 11.9 percent to 8.5 percent. The average fasting glucose levels decreased from 174 to 124 mg/dl. In addition, five of the 22 test subjects were able to stop the sulfonylurea medication altogether.
Additional Benefits
Gymnema may have additional benefits for the management of diabetes. Weight gain is common in diabetics, which can increase insulin requirements. Preliminary research on animals found that the herb helped to reduce appetite and decrease weight gain. Finally, gymnema may help to lower triglyceride levels, which are a type of fat that contributes to heart disease, which is another common secondary condition in diabetics. More research needs to be done to confirm the efficacy of gymnema for these purposes, however.
References
- "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database"; Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2011
- "The American Diabetes Association: Guide to Herbs and Nutritional Supplements"; Laura Shane-Mcwhorter; 2009
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Use of Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract in The Control Of Blood Glucose in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus; Baskaran K et al October, 1990
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Antidiabetic Effect Of A Leaf Extract From Gymnema Sylvestre in Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Patients; Baskaran K et al October, 1990
