Ginseng is a classic herbal remedy that is sometimes used to improve concentration, stamina and athletic endurance. One of the biochemical reactions ginseng causes in the body is the reduction of blood sugar, an effect that is identical to the action of insulin therapies. Talk to your doctor before considering adding ginseng to your insulin treatment, and maintain a close observation of your blood sugar levels to prevent them from dropping too far.
Types
According to MedlinePlus, ginseng comes in two basic varieties: American and Panax, or Korean. Although Siberian ginseng is technically a pseudoginseng of the Panax variety, it has different properties and is more commonly referred to as eleuthero. Ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including depression, anxiety, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, gastritis, fever, anemia, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome. Although American ginseng and Panax ginseng differ slightly, they both interfere with insulin by lowering blood sugar levels.
Ginseng and Insulin
Insulin and other diabetes medications are primarily used to decrease blood sugar levels to regulate the effects of hyperglycemia. Both American and Panax ginseng varieties may lower blood sugar levels, potentially interfering with the effectiveness of insulin shots and prescription drugs for diabetes. This can be problematic since your doctor has prescribed a dosage based on the amount of blood glucose you need to reduce, and you may therefore have the effect of lowering your blood sugar too much by adding ginseng to the regimen.
Choosing to Combine
Since your insulin dosage may need to be altered, talk to your doctor before choosing to add ginseng to your diabetes therapy. Keep your daily ginseng intake below the recommended 2 g to prevent lowering your blood sugar levels too rapidly, and monitor your blood sugar closely to prevent unpleasant symptoms. Diabetes medications that may interfere with ginseng products include insulin, glimepiride, glyburide, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, chlorpropamide, glipizide and tolbutamide.
Safety Concerns
Holding off on the ginseng until after your insulin therapy may be a safer alternative to combining the two medicines. Unlike insulin, ginseng is relatively inexpensive and may be used as a dietary supplement to help stabilize your blood sugar levels in the long term. For best results, talk to your doctor before making any decision to combine ginseng with your currently prescribed medication.
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