Diabetes, a metabolic disease, keeps your body from using glucose, the body's most important source of energy. According to Tennessee Department of Education, there are about 20.8 million people who have diabetes in the United States. Diabetes is a serious disease and, if left untreated, gets worse over time. In animal studies, garlic has been shown to improve blood sugar control. No human trials so far have confirmed garlic's glucose-lowering activity. If you want to use garlic, talk to you doctor first.
Blood Sugar Control
Garlic has been recommended as a treatment for diabetes for centuries; however, its anti-diabetic action has not been well defined. Veterinarians at the College of Veterinary Medicine of Shiraz University, Iran, investigated the effect of garlic on blood sugar control and histopathological changes in rat pancreas. The study results, published in "Indian Journal of Medical Sciences" in February 2005, suggest that garlic was able to lower plasma glucose significantly in diabetic rats.
Glucose-lowering Effect
M. Thomson, a professor of biological sciences at Kuwait University, and colleagues evaluated the effect of raw and boiled aqueous garlic extracts in diabetic rats. Rats treated with boiled garlic extracts exhibited no significant reduction in blood glucose levels. However, the researchers found that raw garlic had a significant glucose-lowering effect.
Insulin Metabolism
Long-term treatment with garlic improves glucose and insulin metabolism in animal models, according to a study by C.T. Liu and colleagues of the Department of Nutrition at Chun Shan Medical University, Taiwan, published in the August 2004 edition of the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology". This research, however, confirmed that diallyl disulfide, the active ingredient of garlic, had no role in modulating glucose regulation in diabetic rats.
Precautions
Garlic interferes with the blood-clotting process, which may prolong bleeding time in surgery. Stop eating garlic weeks before surgery. Garlic may affect thyroid hormone production and create a hypothyroid state. People with impaired thyroid function should not consume garlic in large amounts. The safety and effectiveness of garlic for pregnant and lactating women has not been confirmed, so it's recommended to avoid use.
References
- Herbal Safety: Garlic
- Tennessee Department of Education: Diabetes
- "Indian Journal of Medical Sciences"; Effect of Fenugreek, Onion and Garlic on Blood Glucose and Histopathology of Pancreas of Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats; G.A. Jelodar, et al.; February 2005
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Including Garlic in the Diet may Help Lower Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, and Triglycerides; M. Thomson, et al.; March 2006
- Antidiabetic effect of garlic oil but not diallyl disulfide in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; C.T. Liu, et al.; August 2006
- Net Wellness: Diabetes; Robert M. Cohen and Laurie Sadler; September 08, 2006
