Herbs and Supplements and Diabetes

June 24, 2008

Amy Tenderich

Natural herbs and dietary supplements certainly sound like the panacea of good health. Many of them even promise to “cure” or “reverse” your diabetes. While science tells us that no herb can do that, some are documented to help control blood glucose (BG) levels.

Personally, I receive a torrent of emails pushing various herbal remedies for diabetes. There’s so much hype that it’s hard to know which herbs or supplements offer any real value at all. So I decided it was time to do a little homework. I discovered the following interesting bits of information about some herbal substances that seem to have a legitimate effect on diabetes and/or your overall health.

(NOTE: This information is compiled from various reputable websites and from the research of diabetes author Gretchen Becker. A great comprehensive overview is also available from Diabetes Self-Management magazine.)

* Cinnamon -- well-documented studies show that cinnamon helps lower BG levels and "normalize" lipids in Type 2 diabetics. Experts have even gone so far as to call cinnamon (and its water-soluble extract) "a natural version of insulin" because the effects were so profound. Apparently this common and tasty spice is truly helpful. (Who knew? Too bad I'm not a cinnamon fan.)

* Ginseng -- one of the most popular supplements in the US, sold in tablet form and in herbal teas, primarily as an energy booster. It has been reported to lower BG levels, but the many varieties have different effects, therefore you may end up raising your BG, sources say.

* Bilberry -- (not blueberry) leaves have also been reported to help with BG control, consumed in an anti-diabetic tea. The berries are a rich source of antioxidants (compounds that may decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases) and may improve circulation, thus have been suggested as a treatment for diabetic retinopathy. But use in small quantities, please, as too much bilberry can be toxic.

* Gymnema Sylvestre -- an Indian herb used in Ayurveda, the ancient Hindi medicine system of India. Ingesting the leaves causes gradual hypoglycemic actions, and also helps lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides. A 2001 study by diabetes educators in Nebraska confirmed that this herb improves glycemic control in Type 2 patients, significantly reducing postprandial (after-meal) BG levels and decreasing A1c results.

* Gingko Biloba -- used primarily to increase circulation. But since it is a blood thinner, it should be used with caution, especially if you're already taking any other type of blood-thinning substance.

* Evening Primrose Oil -- studies indicate that the GLA (gammalinolenic acid) in evening primrose oil can help prevent -- and potentially reverse -- the nerve damage (neuropathy) commonly caused by diabetes. General recommended dose: 1,000 mg evening primrose oil three times a day.

* Saw Palmetto -- a spiky-looking bush with berries, recommended for everything from enlarged prostate problems to breast enlargement. Its use in "peripheral" diabetes treatment is apparently for treating infections of the gastro-urinary tract, and also increasing the strength and function of the bladder.

Proceed with Caution
The thing to keep in mind is that most doctors and medical authorities are luke-warm at best on the value of taking much of this stuff, especially in the form of drugstore-marketed "solutions." They remind us that many mass-marketed substances are ineffective or even potentially harmful.

One prominent endocrinologist whom I interviewed recently had this to say when queried about nutritional supplements (the packaged kind), including beta complex, omega complex, and creatine: "Most of them are just hype... However, if you came to me on one of these supplements, and you believe in it, I'd say OK. I wouldn't protest unless it's hurting you in some way – damaging your liver or putting an extra strain on your kidneys."

In other words, there’s nothing wrong with consuming many of these items in the interest of wellness, but the bottom line is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The scams targeting diabetics got so bad in recent years, in fact, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created its own phony Internet ad for a phony product called Glucobate, supposedly an “all-natural diabetes breakthrough.” It’s actually a bait-and-switch ad campaign in the US, Mexico, and Canada to alert consumers about protecting themselves from diabetes-related health fraud.

The FTC attorneys also sent warning letters to 180 websites peddling bogus diabetes "cures" -- herbs, teas, supplements, and the like. Their goal is to remind us that while all-natural products aren’t necessarily all bad, it’s our job stop and think before we shell out a lot of money for false promises, i.e. follow the Glucobate tagline: "be smart, be skeptical."

From	Comment
Robert C. H.	September 16, 2008 5:23 PM I was just questioning the use oh herbs in a discussion article this afternoonand came across this article tonight. There seem to be quite a few people that swear by them, and against Medications,The thing that I question is that there is no control over these products, As far as purity,or the claims these products make, it reminds me of the old snake oil salesman, in this countries movement to the West.It seems they found some kind of weed, mixed it in with therefavorite hootch, put it in a bottle with a nice name, DR.Samuels Cureall and sold it for a dollar. How long did these things last for on the market, who ever thought to examine the real content, and exactly what did it cure?Even in your descriptions of some of the Herbs You listed,some are dangerous if taken in the wrong dosages, but not being tested, or supervised in any way who set the dose?I, due to my many health issues, take thirteen differn't Medications a day.Not to my liking, but I can"t concieve of adding these products to my list, how do I know how they will interact or react to the meds I TAKE, tHANKS FOR A VERY GOOD ARTICLE, jOHN
Robert C. H.	September 16, 2008 5:23 PM I was just questioning the use oh herbs in a discussion article this afternoonand came across this article tonight. There seem to be quite a few people that swear by them, and against Medications,The thing that I question is that there is no control over these products, As far as purity,or the claims these products make, it reminds me of the old snake oil salesman, in this countries movement to the West.It seems they found some kind of weed, mixed it in with therefavorite hootch, put it in a bottle with a nice name, DR.Samuels Cureall and sold it for a dollar. How long did these things last for on the market, who ever thought to examine the real content, and exactly what did it cure?Even in your descriptions of some of the Herbs You listed,some are dangerous if taken in the wrong dosages, but not being tested, or supervised in any way who set the dose?I, due to my many health issues, take thirteen differn't Medications a day.Not to my liking, but I can"t concieve of adding these products to my list, how do I know how they will interact or react to the meds I TAKE, tHANKS FOR A VERY GOOD ARTICLE, jOHN
MAMA J	August 31, 2008 7:13 PM great information. thanx
Avera	August 25, 2008 7:42 PM Glad to have this information from this site. A diabetic friend and I were talking about helpful herbs this week. Will be sure to send her a copy of this.
Anna 7	August 12, 2008 6:41 AM This is great information. I would like to check out the Bilberry Tea and Evening Primrose Oil. Being a type 1 diabetic some of the others mentioned wouldn't do much for me.