You can live a full, active and enjoyable life even if you have diabetes. With a good diet, exercise, and constant coordination with your doctor, you can manage your insulin levels and your health. And there are more and more tools for diabetic to help control blood sugar level. You may want to talk to your doctor about recent research on herbs and supplements (mever take them without his advice).
In Hindi, ‘Gymnema Sylvestre’ means ‘sugar destroyer.’ It helps body use glucose more efficiently and can stimulate the production of insulin. It has no known serious side effects.
Another natural way of controlling blood sugar is the vegetable bitter melon. Though its taste takes some getting used to, it can block the body’s sugar absorption. Bitter melon supplements are available for those who don’t like the taste.
Magnesium tablets, about 250 milligrams a day, can help manage the common side effect of diabetes, magnesium deficiency.
Eating half a cup of prickly pear cactus can lower your blood sugar. It is sometimes sold as a juice or powder. It contains chemicals that behave a lot like insulin and can thus lower blood sugar levels. It is also high in fiber which can help in weight loss.
Chromium can help the body metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins, and improve the body’s insulin. Studies also show that chromium deficiency can affect blood sugar levels.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid is an anti oxidant that can improve insulin sensitivity by as much as 30%. It can also lower the levels of free radicals that run rampant in high blood sugar.
Fenugreek seeds can also lower blood sugar. It is often used in Indian dishes. Positive benefits include controlling blood sugar levels, reducing blood cholesterol, and improving insulin sensitivity. It can also boost the body’s levels of insulin because of a special amino acid.
Ginseng, long known for its ability to fight disease, can also lower blood sugar because it slows down the body’s absorption of carbohydrates and maximizes the cell’s ability to use glucose. It can improve sugar levels by as much as 20%.
Photo from fruitsfordiabetic.com