It is extremely important to keep your blood sugar levels -- the amount of glucose in your blood -- at a healthy level. Monitoring your blood glucose levels is particularly important for diabetics. If you have diabetes and do not manage your condition properly, your elevated blood sugar levels may cause serious health complications later in life. Ask your physician if dietary supplements can help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Elevated Blood Sugar Levels
The medical term used to describe prolonged elevated blood sugar levels is hyperglycemia. High blood sugar levels may develop if your pancreas does not make enough insulin or if your cells do not respond to insulin. Insulin, a hormone, is your cells' signal to let glucose enter, where it is used to generate energy. Because diabetics do not produce enough insulin or have cells that are insensitive to insulin, glucose may build up in your blood and cause numerous health problems.
Blood Sugar Stabilizing Supplements
Many dietary supplements have historically been used to stabilize your blood sugar levels. In her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant, reports that alpha-lipoic acid, chromium picolinate, bitter melon, fenugreek, juniper, huckleberry, milk thistle, ginseng, bilberry, maitake extract and garlic may all help stabilize your blood sugar levels. Further scientific testing may be necessary to validate the purported blood sugar stabilizing effects of these commonly used dietary supplements.
A Useful Supplement
Juniper berries may be a useful supplement for stabilizing your blood sugar. According to Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician, master herbalist and author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," juniper berry possesses hypoglycemic action, which means that it helps lower your blood sugar levels. This dietary supplement may also be helpful in treating long-term bladder and kidney infections, gout, sciatica, arthritis and kidney, or renal, congestion. You should not take this supplement if you are pregnant.
Warning
Elevated blood sugar levels, if not treated in a timely manner, can lead to long-term health complications, including organ damage. If you have been diagnosed with hyperglycemia, meet with your physician to discuss natural and conventional treatment strategies and how both might help improve your condition. Like prescription drugs, nutritional supplements should only be used under the care and guidance of a licensed healthcare professional. A clinical nutrition specialist may provide you with the most relevant information about supplements for this health problem.
References
- FamilyDoctor.org: Diabetes: Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Levels
- Kids Health: When Blood Sugar is Too High
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
