You are probably familiar with garlic used as an herb to flavor food, but you may not realize that garlic has a long history as an herbal medicine. People often take garlic to treat a variety of health conditions, including diabetes. While much of the evidence supporting this use is anecdotal, preliminary data from clinical trials suggests that garlic may be beneficial for diabetes patients. As with other health supplements, consult a qualified health-care provider before attempting to treat a disease with garlic supplements.
Blood Sugar
Garlic supplements may help diabetes patients control their blood sugar, according to a study published in the March 2008 issue of the medical journal "Acta Diabetologica." In this small clinical trial of 60 patients with type 2 diabetes, a time-release garlic supplement called allicor was effective in lowering fasting blood glucose levels. However, this trial was rather small, and other studies have found no effect on blood sugar levels from garlic, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Additional research is needed to confirm the role of garlic in controlling blood sugar.
Metabolic Control
In addition to lower blood sugar levels, the patients taking allicor in the 2008 "Acta Diabetologica" study also experienced reductions in other chemical markers of diabetes, including serum fructosamine and triglycerides. Reductions in these markers indicate improved overall metabolic control in diabetes patients, meaning that garlic supplements may help re-establish regulation of the metabolic pathways that go haywire during diabetes.
Cholesterol
Patients with diabetes often also develop a dangerous condition called dyslipidemia, in which levels of fats in the blood, including cholesterol, reach elevated levels that can contribute to heart disease. Garlic supplements may reduce the effects of dyslipidemia in diabetes patients, according to a study published in the July-September issue of the "Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad." This small trial involving 70 patients with type 2 diabetes found that garlic supplements effectively reduced total cholesterol as well as LDL, or bad, cholesterol. Levels of good, or HDL cholesterol, were also increased. Additional research is needed to confirm these results.
Additional Heart Disease
Diabetes can increase the risk of other conditions leading to cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Garlic may lower blood pressure and slow the progression of atherosclerosis, reports the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Taking garlic supplements may help diabetes patients reduce their risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
References
- Medline Plus; Garlic; December 2010
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Garlic; July 2010
- "Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad"; Effects of Garlic on Dyslipidemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; R. Ashraf et al.; July-September 2005
- "Acta Diabetologica"; Metabolic Effects of Time-Released Garlic Powder Tablets in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Results of Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Study; I.A. Sobenin et al.; March 2008
