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
Elfin	July 26, 2008 10:23 AM Ooops that should read 1.5 years instead of 15. Darn it my fingers seem to forget how to spell sometimes. ;-) Lee
Elfin	July 26, 2008 10:21 AM I quit using a statin 15 years ago and still suffer pain and weakness from just 2 weeks taking it. Then I tried Zetia and it made me so tired I could hardly get around.Quit Zetia and now I am taking red yeast rice instead. While it doesn't reduce my total cholersterol level as much as the statin did (low of 125 total from 180 in 2 weeks)my total is around 145 to 160 which is pretty good though not as low as some doc's advocate. Another example of how individual each of our bodies and our responses to medications differ. I also take cinnamon 3 x daily, and 1 Tbs vinegar 3 X a day. I have added each to my diet, one at a time and tested to see if the effects included reduced BG levels before and after meals. So overall the three supplements have helped me. I know docs poo-poo anecdotal histories, but I think if you add things slowly check the results and keep what works for you, you are taking charge of at least part of your treatment program.Lee
azmisty	July 22, 2008 1:44 PM Amy: Thanks for the rundown....as I am always looking for the natural solution. For me personally, I always have such side effects to drugs that I am always looking for a natural approach. I recently discoved that eliminating the medication that I was taking for lowering cholesterol has put an end to the severe joint aches that I was experiencing. I'm a big advocate of the cinnamon but mostly because I love the flavor...I can't seem to determine if it helps my BG or not. But, my question to you is whether you have done any research on ACAI berry and what effects that it has on diabetes. Thanks for your excellent articles....Misty
rj	July 22, 2008 1:33 PM This article falls in line with what I have been reading about herbs. The cinnamon has got me intrigued...I guess I need to comb the recipie section again
morris.js	July 8, 2008 4:21 AM Lito, Though I have heard similar stories about this, I do not think I would be one to try it. It does not seem concievable to me that our bodies waste holds the cure for Diabetes. As far as the other things working, I believe that they too may work for some, but not all. Just as all the medications and insulins work for people, we all have experienced where something that works for someone does not for us. But like the Endocrinologist in Amy's article stated, it probably will not hurt to try them. I tried Cinnamon for a time, and kept very acurate records of my readings, and I did not see any change in them. Having said that though, I have 2 very close friends who did the same and seemed to have very good success with it. I like Diabetes Self-Management magazine. It does seem to cover this topic very well, along with the latest news on insulins and other medications. So, only thing I can say is try them and see what happens... LOL I pray they are the answer for you.