One of the most underrated truths about type 2 diabetes is that it is caused by ‘diet’ and ‘lifestyle.’ What most traditional medical groups working on diabetes don’t tell you is that drugs are only “biochemical band-aids.” So why should you exclusively and primarily be dependent on the pharmaceutical approach? While it’s not incorrect to take medications (sometimes you have to), without nutritional support, you cannot expect to impact the progression of the disease.
In fact, people with diabetes today are taking the ‘natural’ route to manage their condition. And why not? Several studies have proved the link between improved blood glucose level and herbal (natural) therapies. Compared to drug therapy with metformin which reduced diabetes risk by 31%, the Diabetes Prevention Program study showed the effectiveness of physical activity with the similar intensity of brisk walking on the disease where diabetes risk was reduced by 58%, almost twice as effective.1
Another finding proves how important are diet and lifestyle in the management of diabetes. The third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) revealed that of all the diabetics surveyed, 82% were obese, 69% did not exercise at all, and 62% ate fewer fruits and veggies each day.
10 Natural Remedies To Manage Diabetes
When your diet is right, you are benefited in four areas while managing your diabetic condition: controlling elevations in blood glucose levels after meals, ensuring optimal nutrient status, avoiding oxidative and nutritional stress, and bettering insulin sensitivity and function.
1. Cinnamon For Bioactive Components
It helps to fight diabetes by stimulating insulin activity to lower blood sugar levels. However, excess consumption of cinnamon can cause liver damage from a toxic compound called coumarin present in it.
2. Garlic For Antioxidant Properties And Microcirculatory Effects
Positive results have been achieved after using garlic for insulin and blood glucose levels. Although not much information is available to support this remedy, garlic may help to increase secretion of insulin and slow its degradation.
3. Bitter Gourd For Preventing Insulin Resistance
Although it cannot be used to replace the complete insulin treatment, you can expect great assistance to control both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Also known as bitter melon, it can influence glucose metabolism of the entire body. It has got extraordinary blood glucose lowering effects.
4. Coccinia Indica For Insulin-Mimetic (Insulin Mimicking ) Properties
Studies that involved the use of this herb have reported significant changes in glycemic control. It grows wildly across the Indian subcontinent and was traditionally used in ayurvedic remedies.
5. Fenugreek For Improving Glucose Tolerance
It helps to slow down carbohydrate and sugar absorption with its high fiber content. Eat overnight soaked fenugreek seeds on an empty stomach in the morning or drink milk with two tablespoons of powdered fenugreek seeds.
6. Ginseng For ‘Cure-All’ Benefits
Among the different varieties of ginseng, American ginseng has helped to achieve decreases in fasting blood glucose according to few studies. Ginseng is not limited to any one plant species; the Panax species is particularly looked upon as a cure for almost all ailments.
7. Indian Gooseberry For Rich Vitamin C Content
It helps your pancreas to function in the right way, which is very important for your body to produce enough insulin and for proper insulin secretion to keep glucose level in the bloodstream at optimum.
8. Gymnema Sylvestre For Lowering Blood Glucose
There are few studies in animals where improvement in beta-cell function and islet cell regeneration has been reported. The native herb of southern and central India may help in blood sugar control, if not as a replacement for insulin.
9. Black Plum For Reducing Sugar Levels In Blood And Urine
A diabetic can use every part of the plant as a cure for the disease. The fruits and seeds have phenomenal hypoglycemic effects. It contains anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and hydrolysable tannins which help to control blood sugar.
10. Okra For Antidiabetic And Antihyperlipidemic Properties
These properties in okra were revealed by a study in the Journal of Pharmacy and BioAllied Sciences. The polyphenolic molecules contained in okra, aka ladies’ fingers, help with diabetes and blood glucose levels.
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