You may see several aloe vera plant products in your health food store including aloe vera gel for sunburns and aloe vera juice to drink. Aloe vera has traditionally been used to heal skin disorders and constipation. In addition to these uses, aloe vera is also consumed for osteoarthritis, epilepsy, asthma and diabetes. Taking aloe vera gel internally has been researched and considered beneficial for Type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, becoming a greater health concern for millions of Americans. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body may not be producing enough insulin or your cells may be ignoring the insulin your body is producing. When your body breaks down starches and sugar, it turns them into glucose, which needs to be transported from your blood to your cells. The reason you need insulin is to deliver glucose to your cells to create energy.
Aloe Vera Gel
The aloe vera plant comes from the desert region and has prickly, thick leaves. The most valuable parts of the plant is the clear gel inside the leaves for topical use and the leaf skins for internal use. Known for its topical use on dermatological conditions, aloe vera gel can also be consumed orally and may decrease fasting glucose levels.
Research
Research shows aloe vera gel to be a promising supplement for people with Type 2 diabetes. In a study published in the 1986 issue of "Hormone Research," both mice and humans were given dried sap from the aloe plant to study its effects on blood glucose levels. The mice had alloxan-induced diabetes and the five human participants had non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The human participants took a half tsp. of dried aloe vera sap for four to 14 weeks and each experienced a drop in fasting serum glucose levels. The April 2011 issue of "Current Diabetes Reports" also confirmed that aloe vera is a promising supplement for the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Caution
While aloe vera gel may be beneficial for lowering glucose levels, some caution should be taken. If you are taking glucose-lowering medication, taking aloe vera orally could further lower your glucose levels, causing complications. Oral aloe vera juice can create a laxative effect that can cause malabsorption of many drugs. Consult with your physician before taking supplements as part of a prevention or treatment plan for diabetes.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Clinical Diabetes: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Diabetes: A Clinical Review: Gurjeet S. Birdee, et al.: October 2010
- Current Diabetes Reports: Nutritional Supplements and Their Effect on Glucose Control: T. Lee, et al.: April 2011
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Basics: Type 2
- Hormone Research: The Antidiabetic Activity of Aloes: Preliminary Clinical and Experimental Observations: N. Ghannam, et al.: 1986
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Aloe Vera: April 2011
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