According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, diabetes affects 25.8 million Americans, with 1.9 million newly diagnosed in 2010. If you have diabetes, learning to control and regulate your blood sugar is essential. Blood sugar control can be accomplished through dietary changes, medication and the use of complementary medicine, such as cranberry supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 38 percent of American adults are now using some form of complementary medicine.
Cranberry
Cranberry, or Vaccinium macrocarpon, is a fruit that has been used as both a food and medicine for centuries. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Native Americans used cranberries to treat bladder and kidney infections. It grows mostly in North America. Cranberries are high in antioxidants. They contain high levels of salicylic acid, which works to prevent blood clotting. According to the Institutes of Health, IOH, cranberry supplements can be taken for type 2 diabetes by taking six capsules, or 240 mL of cranberry juice, daily for 12 weeks. However, the IOH also says that the supplements do not seem to lower blood sugar levels.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. Patients with diabetes do not produce enough insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar, or their body is unable to use insulin in the normal manner. This causes blood sugar levels to rise. Because of this, diabetics must learn to control their blood sugar levels through the use of dietary changes or insulin injections. There are three main types of diabetes. Type 1 is where the body makes little or no insulin and is usually diagnosed in childhood. Type 2 is where the body does not make enough insulin or the body does not respond to it correctly. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. The third type, gestational diabetes, develops during pregnancy and puts women at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy.
Medical Research
Researchers have looked at the possible effects of cranberry juice and supplements on blood sugar levels. A 2008 study published in "The Journal of Food Science" looked at the glycemic response of type 2 diabetics to low-calorie cranberry juice and found that unsweetened cranberry juice enabled diabetics to avoid a significant rise in blood sugar values. A 2008 study published in "Diabetic Medicine" looked at cranberry supplements and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes. It discovered that cranberry supplements reduced cholesterol levels and had neutral effects on blood sugar levels in patients taking oral glucose-lowering agents.
Considerations
While the effects of cranberry juice or supplements on lowering blood sugar are not clear, the use of cranberry juice does have benefits for patients with diabetes. Many fruits cause a dramatic increase in blood sugar levels, while the cranberry does not, allowing diabetics to acquire a fruit source in their diets. Cranberries, however, also act as a natural blood thinner and should be taken with caution by patients who are on blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin, as it increases bleeding risks. Consult with your physician or alternative health-care provider before adding cranberry supplements to your daily routine.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; National Diabetes Statistics, 2011; February 2011
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States; December 2008
- MedlinePlus; Cranberry; June 17, 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cranberry; November 17, 2008
- "The Journal of Food Science"; Favorable Glycemic Response of Type 2 Diabetics to Low-Calorie Cranberry Juice; T. Wilson et al.; November 2008
- "Diabetic Medicine"; Effect of Cranberry Extracts on Lipid Profiles in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes; IT Lee, et al.; December 2008
