There are hundreds of diabetic supplements and some of them actually help to lower your blood sugar. But, at the end of the day, you’re still diabetic. WHY? Because there is more to defeating and reversing your diabetes than just lowering your blood sugar.
It’s useless like using an umbrella inside your house, when the roof leaks, instead of fixing the roof.
Instead of just lowering your blood sugar, if any Ayurvedic supplements will help you to eliminate the root cause of diabetes, like by fixing the roof rather than being an umbrella, then they can be very beneficial.
Studies have shown that stress not only results from, but may help cause or worsen diabetes: Chronic elevated stress has been shown to elevate blood glucose levels and has been implicated in insulin resistance, a chief characteristic of Type 2 diabetes.
If any Ayurvedic supplements are beneficial in alleviating stress and fatigue, then they can be used.
We have developed Ayurvedic capsules which will help you to remove the root cause of Type 2 Diabetes and restore health. Most people who started taking them say they feel happier, calmer and more energetic and sleep well.
They will not lower your blood sugar and will not cure anything but will assist on raising the body’s adaptive energy level.
A good digestive system is the key to a long and disease-free life. Our Ayurvedic supplements will help balance your cravings and appetite, provide support for balanced digestion, assimilation and elimination. And because you’ll be digesting your food, not just ingesting it, these herbs support a renewed sense of vitality.
They are designed to help support the body’s natural functioning and enhance your journey to healing.
The core principle of being healthy is gently and gradually restoring balance by moving the body and mind into harmony with Nature’s laws and rhythms. Do not be surprised if after taking these Ayurvedic capsules, you will find peace of mind, and return to peace, harmony and joy.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTS?
Don’t mistake these supplements for medications that you will need to be on for life. They are to be used for a specific period at specific doses to help support you on the journey of becoming non-diabetic.
These are not drugs that can lower your blood sugar in an hour, but contain natural herbal extracts, which will help gradually regulate your WHOLE BODY sugar levels naturally. It isn’t an overnight process, but 4-6 months will be enough time for you to know and realize optimal benefits, which can be measured by blood tests.
They may not add YEARS TO YOUR LIFE, but will surely add LIFE TO YOUR YEARS.
Imagine waking up each morning and feeling like you’re 25 years old again. Imagine, slowing down the ageing process and having the cognition, esthetics and mobility at 75 years old, that you had at 35!
How would that change your life? Your plans? How much impact you could create in the world?
If, after taking the morning capsules, you feel energetic and can EASILY go without any food for MORE THAN 6 HOURS FOR 45 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, then it is a sign that your diabetes is reversed.
Congratulation! You no longer need to take our supplements. Please maintain your current healthy lifestyle which you have developed.
Will you continue to use crutches after your broken ankle is healed?
Caution! If you revert to your previous lifestyle, then you will have to use the crutches again.
In a tightly controlled lab study, 24 healthy participants who had their sleep shifted by one hour each day (simulating jet lag) started to look prediabetic after a three-week trial. Their resting metabolic rates dropped 8 percent. “Assuming no changes in activity or food intake,” that “would translate into ~12.5 pounds increase in weight over a single year,” the study, published in Science Translational Medicine in 2012, concluded.
What is the best supplement to lower blood sugar?
Scientists are testing many different supplements to determine if they help lower blood sugar.
Such supplements could benefit people with prediabetes or diabetes — particularly type 2.
Over time, taking a supplement alongside diabetes medication may enable your doctor to decrease your medication dose — though supplements likely can’t replace medication entirely.
Here are 10 supplements that may help lower blood sugar.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon supplements are either made from whole cinnamon powder or an extract. Many studies suggest it helps lower blood sugar and improves diabetes control (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).
When people with prediabetes — meaning a fasting blood sugar of 100–125 mg/dl — took 250 mg of cinnamon extract before breakfast and dinner for three months, they experienced an 8.4% decrease in fasting blood sugar compared to those on a placebo (3Trusted Source).
In another three-month study, people with type 2 diabetes who took either 120 or 360 mg of cinnamon extract before breakfast saw an 11% or 14% decrease in fasting blood sugar, respectively, compared to those on a placebo (2Trusted Source).
Additionally, their hemoglobin A1C — a three-month average of blood sugar levels — decreased by 0.67% or 0.92%, respectively. All participants took the same diabetes drug during the study (2Trusted Source).
How it works: Cinnamon may help your body’s cells better respond to insulin. In turn, this allows sugar into your cells, lowering blood sugar (4Trusted Source).
Taking it: The recommended dose of cinnamon extract is 250 mg twice a day before meals. For a regular (non-extract) cinnamon supplement, 500 mg twice a day may be best (2Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Precautions: The common Cassia variety of cinnamon contains more coumarin, a compound that may harm your liver in high amounts. Ceylon cinnamon, on the other hand, is low in coumarin (6Trusted Source).
You can find Ceylon cinnamon supplements online.
Summary Cinnamon
may help lower blood sugar by making your cells more responsive to insulin.
2. American Ginseng
American ginseng, a variety grown primarily in North America, has been shown to decrease post-meal blood sugar by about 20% in healthy individuals and those with type 2 diabetes (7Trusted Source).
Additionally, when people with type 2 diabetes took 1 gram of American ginseng 40 minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner for two months while maintaining their regular treatment, their fasting blood sugar decreased 10% compared to those on a placebo (7Trusted Source).
How it works: American ginseng may improve your cells’ response to and increase your body’s secretion of insulin (6Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
Taking it: Take 1 gram up to two hours before each main meal — taking it sooner may cause your blood sugar to dip too low. Daily doses higher than 3 grams don’t appear to offer additional benefits (6Trusted Source).
Precautions: Ginseng can decrease the effectiveness of warfarin, a blood thinner, so avoid this combination. It may also stimulate your immune system, which could interfere with immunosuppressant drugs (6Trusted Source).
You can purchase American ginseng online.
Summary Taking
up to 3 grams of American ginseng daily may help lower fasting blood sugar and
blood sugar after meals. Note that ginseng may interact with warfarin and other
drugs.
3. Probiotics
Damage to your gut bacteria — such as from taking antibiotics — is associated with an increased risk of several diseases, including diabetes (9).
Probiotic supplements, which contain beneficial bacteria or other microbes, offer numerous health benefits and may improve your body’s handling of carbohydrates (10Trusted Source).
In a review of seven studies in people with type 2 diabetes, those who took probiotics for at least two months had a 16-mg/dl decrease in fasting blood sugar and a 0.53% decrease in A1C compared to those on a placebo (10Trusted Source).
People who took probiotics containing more than one species of bacteria had an even greater decrease in fasting blood sugar of 35 mg/dl (10Trusted Source).
How it works: Animal studies suggest that probiotics may decrease blood sugar by reducing inflammation and preventing the destruction of pancreatic cells that make insulin. Several other mechanisms may be involved as well (9, 10Trusted Source).
Taking it: Try a probiotic with more than one beneficial species, such as a combination of L. acidophilus, B. bifidum and L. rhamnosus. It’s unknown whether there’s an ideal mix of microbes for diabetes(10Trusted Source).
Precautions: Probiotics are unlikely to cause harm, but in certain rare circumstances they could lead to serious infections in people with significantly impaired immune systems (11).
You can purchase probiotic supplements online.
Summary Probiotic
supplements — especially those containing more than one species of beneficial
bacteria — may help lower fasting blood sugar and A1C.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera may also help those trying to lower their blood sugar.
Supplements or juice made from the leaves of this cactus-like plant could help lower fasting blood sugar and A1C in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (6Trusted Source).
In a review of nine studies in people with type 2 diabetes, supplementing with aloe for 4–14 weeks decreased fasting blood sugar by 46.6 mg/dl and A1C by 1.05% (12Trusted Source).
People who had fasting blood sugar above 200 mg/dl before taking aloe experienced even stronger benefits (12Trusted Source).
How it works: Mouse studies indicate that aloe may stimulate insulin production in pancreatic cells, but this hasn’t been confirmed. Several other mechanisms may be involved (6Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Taking it: The best dose and form are unknown. Common doses tested in studies include 1,000 mg daily in capsules or 2 tablespoons (30 ml) daily of aloe juice in split doses (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
Precautions: Aloe can interact with several medications, so check with your doctor before using it. It should never be taken with the heart medicine digoxin (15).
Aloe vera is available online.
Summary Capsules
or juice made from aloe leaves may help lower fasting blood sugar and A1C in
people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Yet, aloe may interact with several
medications, most notably digoxin.
5. Berberine
Berberine isn’t a specific herb, but rather a bitter-tasting compound taken from the roots and stems of certain plants, including goldenseal and phellodendron (16Trusted Source).
A review of 27 studies in people with type 2 diabetes observed that taking berberine in combination with diet and lifestyle changes reduced fasting blood sugar by 15.5 mg/dl and A1C by 0.71% compared to diet and lifestyle changes alone or a placebo (16Trusted Source).
The review also noted that berberine supplements taken alongside diabetes medication helped lower blood sugar more than medication alone (16Trusted Source).
How it works: Berberine may improve insulin sensitivity and enhance sugar uptake from your blood into your muscles, which helps lower blood sugar (17Trusted Source).
Taking it: A typical dose is 300–500 mg taken 2–3 times daily with major meals (17Trusted Source).
Precautions: Berberine may cause digestive disturbances, such as constipation, diarrhea or gas, which may be improved with a lower (300 mg) dose. Berberine may interact with several medications, so check with your doctor before taking this supplement (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
You can find berberine online.
Summary Berberine,
which is made from the roots and stems of certain plants, may help lower
fasting blood sugar and A1C. Side effects include digestive upset, which may
improve with a lower dose.
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6. Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is considered a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes (19Trusted Source).
In one study, 72% of participants with type 2 diabetes were deficient in vitamin D at the start of the study (20Trusted Source).
After two months of taking a 4,500-IU supplement of vitamin D daily, both fasting blood sugar and A1C improved. In fact, 48% of participants had an A1C that showed good blood sugar control, compared to only 32% before the study (20Trusted Source).
How it works: Vitamin D may improve the function of pancreatic cells that make insulin and increase your body’s responsiveness to insulin (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).
Taking it: Ask your doctor for a vitamin D blood test to determine the best dose for you. The active form is D3, or cholecalciferol, so look for this name on supplement bottles (23Trusted Source).
Precautions: Vitamin D may trigger mild to moderate reactions with several types of medications, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance (23Trusted Source).
Purchase vitamin D supplements online.
Supplements 101: Vitamin D
Summary Vitamin
D deficiency is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Supplementing with
vitamin D may improve overall blood sugar control, as reflected by A1C. Be
aware that vitamin D may interact with certain medications.
7. Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre is an herb used as a diabetes treatment in the Ayurvedic tradition of India. The Hindu name for the plant — gurmar — means “sugar destroyer” (6Trusted Source).
In one study, people with type 2 diabetes taking 400 mg of gymnema leaf extract daily for 18–20 months experienced a 29% decrease in fasting blood sugar. A1C decreased from 11.9% at the start of the study to 8.48% (24Trusted Source).
Further research suggests that this herb may help lower fasting blood sugar and A1C in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes and may reduce cravings for sweets by suppressing the sweet-taste sensation in your mouth (25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).
How it works: Gymnema sylvestre may reduce sugar absorption in your gut and promote cells’ uptake of sugar from your blood. Due to its impact on type 1 diabetes, it’s suspected that Gymnema sylvestre may somehow aid insulin-producing cells in your pancreas (6Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).
Taking it: The suggested dose is 200 mg of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract twice a day with meals (24Trusted Source).
Precautions: Gymnema sylvestre can enhance the blood sugar effects of insulin, so use it only with a doctor’s guidance if you take insulin injections. It may also affect blood levels of some drugs, and one case of liver damage has been reported (27Trusted Source).
You can find gymnema sylvestre supplements online.
Summary Gymnema
sylvestre may lower fasting blood sugar and A1C in both type 1 and type 2
diabetes, though more research is needed. If you require insulin injections,
it’s essential to consult your doctor before trying this supplement.
8. Magnesium
Low blood levels of magnesium have been observed in 25–38% of people with type 2 diabetes and are more common in those who don’t have their blood sugar under good control (28Trusted Source).
In a systematic review, eight of 12 studies indicated that giving magnesium supplements for 6–24 weeks to healthy people or those with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes helped reduce fasting blood sugar levels, compared to a placebo.
Furthermore, each 50-mg increase in magnesium intake produced a 3% decrease in fasting blood sugar in those who entered the studies with low blood magnesium levels (29Trusted Source).
How it works: Magnesium is involved in normal insulin secretion and insulin action in your body’s tissues (29Trusted Source)
Taking it: Doses provided to people with diabetes are typically 250–350 mg daily. Be sure to take magnesium with a meal to improve absorption (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).
Precautions: Avoid magnesium oxide, which can increase your risk of diarrhea. Magnesium supplements may interact with several medications, such as some diuretics and antibiotics, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it (31Trusted Source).
Magnesium supplements are available online.
Summary Magnesium
deficiency is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest that
magnesium supplements may help reduce your fasting blood sugar.
9. Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid, or ALA, is a vitamin-like compound and powerful antioxidant produced in your liver and found in some foods, such as spinach, broccoli and red meat (32Trusted Source).
When people with type 2 diabetes took 300, 600, 900 or 1,200 mg of ALA alongside their usual diabetes treatment for six months, fasting blood sugar and A1C decreased more as the dose increased (32Trusted Source).
How it works: ALA may improve insulin sensitivity and your cells’ uptake of sugar from your blood, though it may take a few months to experience these effects. It may also protect against oxidative damage caused by high blood sugar (32Trusted Source).
Taking it: Doses are generally 600–1,200 mg daily, taken in divided doses before meals (32Trusted Source).
Precautions: ALA may interfere with therapies for hyperthyroid or hypothyroid disease. Avoid very large doses of ALA if you have vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency or struggle with alcoholism (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).
You can purchase ALA online.
Summary ALA may
gradually help decrease fasting blood sugar and A1C, with greater effects at
daily doses up to 1,200 mg. It also exhibits antioxidant effects that may
reduce damage from high blood sugar. Still, it may interfere with therapies for
thyroid conditions.
10. Chromium
Chromium deficiency reduces your body’s ability to use carbs — converted into sugar — for energy and raises your insulin needs (35Trusted Source).
In a review of 25 studies, chromium supplements reduced A1C by about 0.6% in people with type 2 diabetes, and the average decrease in fasting blood sugar was around 21 mg/dl, compared to a placebo (6Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
A small amount of evidence suggests that chromium may also help lower blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes (37Trusted Source).
How it works: Chromium may enhance the effects of insulin or support the activity of pancreatic cells that produce insulin (6Trusted Source).
Taking it: A typical dose is 200 mcg per day, but doses up to 1,000 mcg per day have been tested in people with diabetes and may be more effective. The chromium picolinate form is likely absorbed best (6Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).
Precautions: Certain drugs — such as antacids and others prescribed for heartburn — can reduce chromium absorption (35Trusted Source).
Find chromium supplements online.
Summary Chromium
may improve insulin action in your body and lower blood sugar in people with
type 2 diabetes — and possibly those with type 1 — but it won’t cure the
disease.
The Bottom Line
Many supplements — including cinnamon, ginseng, other herbs, vitamin D, magnesium, probiotics and plant compounds like berberine — may help lower blood sugar.
Keep in mind that you may experience different results than what studies have found, based on factors such as duration, supplement quality and your individual diabetes status.
Discuss supplements with your doctor, especially if you’re taking medicine or insulin for diabetes, as some of the above supplements may interact with medications and raise the risk of blood sugar dropping too low.
In some cases, your doctor may need to decrease your diabetes medication dose at some point.
Try only one new supplement at a time and check your blood sugar regularly to follow any
Can vitamin D reverse diabetes?
Vitamin D treatment has also been shown to improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and in normal individuals. Increasing vitamin D levels from 25 to 75 nmol/L results in a 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity.
Can Dietary Supplements Help Control Diabetes?
So far, there is not enough research to support specific recommendations for diabetes and dietary supplements. Ongoing studies point to two minerals that may be linked to blood sugar control.
Magnesium is needed to help the body use glucose effectively. But more research is needed to see if taking a magnesium supplement will help control blood sugar levels in people who are not magnesium deficient. Currently, there are no recommendations for its use in diabetes management.
Magnesium levels are often low in people who have problems with insulin secretion and in people with complications of type 2 diabetes. Whether magnesium dietary supplements can help relieve or reduce these problems is still unknown.
A few studies have shown that vanadium, a supplement that comes from plants, can increase a person’s sensitivity to insulin. So far, there’s no recommendation for its use as a supplement for people with diabetes.
Can Dietary Supplements Hinder Diabetes Control?
f you aren’t cautious, diabetes and dietary supplements can be a dangerous mix. Here’s why:
Supplements aren’t regulated the same way as food and drug products. Some supplements have been found to be contaminated with substances other than those stated on the label.
Some supplements may interact with medication or other supplements, such as herbs, increasing or decreasing their effects. St. John’s wort, for example, is known to have many drug interactions and should be avoided with many other medications.
Should I Use Dietary Supplements for Diabetes?
The American Diabetes Association says there is no evidence that vitamin or mineral supplements will help people with type 2 diabetes who don’t have an actual deficiency.
Talk with your doctor. That’s the first step in deciding whether or not to mix diabetes and dietary supplements. Discuss the possible benefits and risks of dietary supplements.
Your doctor or pharmacist can also check that any supplements you take will not interact dangerously with your medications.
Be sure to include any dietary supplements you take when listing your medications for any doctor or health care professional you see.
Is B12 Good for diabetes?
Vitamin B12 replacement has been shown to cause symptomatic improvement among patients with severe diabetic neuropathy. One meta-analysis showed that if used either alone or in combination with vitamin B complex, there was a significant improvement in the somatic symptoms like pain and paraesthesias
What Supplements Can Help Lower Blood Sugar?
A variety of dietary supplements have proven effective at lowering blood sugar, which helps reduce the risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes symptoms. Supplements can also reduce the side effects of diabetes medication. Knowing which supplements help lower blood sugar can give patients a better chance of preventing diabetes.
renue rx What Supplements Can Help Lower Blood Sugar Diabetes Prevention
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that vitamin D-deficient individuals that took a supplement had improved blood sugar control. Vitamin D is thought to enhance the function of pancreatic cells that produce insulin and increase the body’s responsiveness to insulin.
Magnesium
Blood sugar irregularities are often associated with low blood levels of magnesium. Magnesium supplements have shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels. Every 50mg increase of magnesium dose produced an increasingly better result on blood sugar. Magnesium is responsible for insulin secretion and activity on body tissues.
Chromium
Low chromium levels are risk factors for disruption in carb production and an increase in insulin requirements. Chromium is thought to improve the effects of insulin and support pancreatic cell activity. Scant research has been performed on chromium; but the little evidence available suggests that chromium can lower blood sugar levels in people with type 1 diabetes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon supplements have also proven effective at reducing blood sugar concentration in prediabetes and diabetes patients. Cinnamon is believed to improve the body’s cell response to insulin, in turn, lowering blood sugar.
Probiotics
Gut health is critical to the prevention of many diseases, including diabetes. Probiotic supplements are made with helpful bacteria and microbes. Probiotics have shown to reduce fasting blood sugar. Scientists believe probiotics reduce inflammation and prevent damage to pancreatic cells that produce insulin.
American ginseng
American ginseng, in particular, is an effective blood sugar regulator in healthy individuals and individuals with type 2 diabetes. Researchers think American ginseng improves the body’s cell response to insulin and the ability to produce insulin.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera juice and supplements can help prevent diabetes and lower blood sugar. Aloe vera supplements are made by extracting compounds from the plant. Studies on animal models indicate an improvement in insulin production after taking aloe vera.
Results may vary
Dietary supplements can help along with diabetes medication. Studies aren’t conclusive, but many patients have found improvements after taking supplements. Patients should talk with a doctor to determine the right supplements needed to avoid medication interactions. In some cases, supplements can eventually reduce diabetes medication dosages overall.
Do Supplements Work for Diabetes?
Several supplements have been studied to determine if they can help people with diabetes. Chromium, magnesium, and cinnamon are a few of the popular supplements for diabetes.
Chromium is a mineral that is required by your body to use glucose. Your body needs very small amounts which you get from your diet. After reviewing 25 studies on chromium, researchers determined that it can slightly improve blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes when used in addition to diet, exercise, and medication recommendations. Chromium supplements can have negative side effects, including stomach pain, bloating, and kidney damage.
Magnesium is another mineral needed by your body to use glucose. People who have low levels of magnesium may be more likely to develop diabetes. However, research hasn’t show that magnesium supplements can help people with diabetes or prevent people from developing diabetes. Large doses of magnesium can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and in extreme cases, death.
Cinnamon is thought to improve blood sugar levels, possibly by decreasing insulin resistance. Some studies show cinnamon can reduce blood sugars and other studies show no effect. Since the results are so mixed, most diabetes organizations don’t recommend cinnamon supplements as part of a diabetes treatment plan. For people with liver disease, large doses of cinnamon supplements can be harmful.
Can Dietary Supplements Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes?
Dietary supplements are advertised to treat practically every disease known to man, many with little to no evidence of benefit. For example, diabetes is a common disease treated by supplementing with herbals, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and several other less familiar compounds. As of 2018, approximately 1 out of every 10 Americans was thought to have type 2 diabetes.1 That’s 33 million Americans looking for something to improve their condition. Another 88 million, or 1 in 3, have prediabetes, where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.2
While there are many supplements promoted to alleviate type 2 diabetes and its associated health complications, few have been studied extensively, results are decidedly mixed, and some are more commonly used than others. But not everyone is on board with treating diabetes with supplements.
“Supplements are largely unregulated, and the benefits are unclear,” says Jill Weisenberger, MS, RDN, CDE, CHWC, FAND, owner of Food & Nutrition Solutions by Jill, based in Newport News, Virginia.
When Today’s Dietitian spoke with Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, a certified diabetes educator and founder of DiabetesEveryDay.com, she said, “Ironically, one of my patients asked me yesterday if there were any supplements she could take to keep her blood glucose down.”
Smithson’s position aligns with Weisenberger’s (she doesn’t recommend supplements as a treatment for diabetes). Nevertheless, supplements still are widely used to help prevent or treat type 2 diabetes.
What follows is insight into some of the research conducted on five of the most commonly used and studied supplements positioned as treatments for type 2 diabetes.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
A sulfur-containing acid compound that occurs naturally in both plants and humans, ALA acts as an antioxidant. It also functions as an essential part of energy and amino acid metabolism.3 ALA supplements have been used to boost the body’s ability to use the insulin it produces normally to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
A 2014 study in mice found that giving 100 or 200 mg/kg per day of ALA, while on a high-fat diet, resulted in significantly reduced hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, similar to when mice were given the oral diabetes medication metformin.4
In a small study, 12 subjects with obesity and type 2 diabetes (average age 53) were given 600 mg ALA twice a day for four weeks and were compared with 12 subjects with normal glucose tolerance not given the supplement. Supplementation with oral ALA increased peripheral insulin sensitivity in the subjects with type 2 diabetes.5 In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on ALA supplementation, three studies examined postprandial blood glucose in subjects with uncomplicated diabetes and found no difference between the supplemented and unsupplemented groups.6
ALA also has been used as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy, nerve damage that occurs in over 50% of patients with diabetes, most often in the legs and feet, as a result of high blood sugar levels. A four-month study of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes, some with good glycemic management and some with poor glycemic management, found that ALA was significantly more effective at alleviating diabetic neuropathy symptoms in those with good glycemic control. In the study, ALA was given as an infusion of 600 mg for 21 days, 600 mg was taken orally for three months, and a maintenance dose of 300 mg per day was prescribed.7
Both animal and human studies suggest ALA supplements may reduce cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes, possibly by reducing oxidative stress.8-10 Human studies found 600 mg per day to improve systemic inflammation.
Chromium
A 2020 study found that serum chromium levels were lower in patients with type 2 diabetes who had higher serum glucose levels.11 Data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed that the odds of having type 2 diabetes were lower in those who took supplements containing chromium.12 But surveys such as NHANES don’t prove cause and effect.
However, the evidence for chromium supplements and type 2 diabetes is decidedly mixed. A 2016 review of 14 randomized controlled studies found that the source of chromium determined whether the mineral lowered fasting plasma glucose. Doses varied greatly among the studies, making comparisons difficult. Nevertheless, compared with controls, chromium chloride, chromium yeast, and chromium picolinate (the most common form found in supplements) showed no effect. On the other hand, brewer’s yeast, which is rich in chromium, showed a statistically significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose.13
A pooled analysis of 28 studies suggested that chromium supplementation with chromium chloride and chromium picolinate reduced fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and triglycerides in subjects with type 2 diabetes.14 Again, dosing varied, making conclusions difficult. However, the authors suggested that chromium supplementation might be a candidate as an adjunct to pharmacological management in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies of chromium supplementation found that supplementation of more than 200 mcg per day improved glycemic control. Supplementation also improved triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels.15
An earlier review of 20 randomized controlled trials of chromium supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes concluded that the existing evidence at that time showed limited efficacy and that there was little rationale to recommend chromium supplements for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.16
Data on combination supplements that contain chromium is limited and inconclusive. However, one four-month study of 62 subjects with elevated fasting blood glucose who received a dietary supplement containing chromium, cinnamon, and carnosine found that subjects with overweight and obesity experienced decreased fasting plasma glucose and increased fat-free mass.17 The researchers suggested that the combination supplement might be helpful in the prevention of diabetes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been used for centuries both as a spice and as a remedy for a wide variety of medical conditions, including bronchitis, gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, and diabetes.18 However, it’s promoted most widely for treating type 2 diabetes. Several studies have been conducted giving cinnamon supplements to mice with diabetes or to people with type 2 diabetes.
But while some studies show cinnamon’s benefit for reducing fasting blood glucose when used in addition to changes in diet and lifestyle—and sometimes in addition to hypoglycemic medications—most human studies have demonstrated only modest improvements, if any at all.
In 2004, one study demonstrated that cinnamon extract lowered blood glucose in mice with diabetes in a dose-dependent manner when given extremely high doses (200 mg/kg had the greatest effect).19
Most studies using cinnamon have been conducted overseas. However, in 2007, the first US study to evaluate the effects of cinnamon on blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes found that cinnamon taken at a dose of 1 g per day for three months produced no significant changes in fasting glucose in 30 subjects taking the supplement.20
In a recent randomized controlled trial, researchers gave 140 patients with type 2 diabetes either cinnamon bark powder (500 mg) or a placebo twice a day for three months.21 While researchers saw improvements in fasting plasma glucose, improvements were significantly greater in patients with a higher baseline BMI (27 kg/m2). In an earlier randomized controlled study, 105 patients with type 2 diabetes who were given 1 g of cinnamon per day for 90 days saw improvement in fasting blood glucose.22
Several review papers and meta-analyses have been published, providing mixed conclusions.23-25 One recent meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled studies found that cinnamon supplements reduced fasting blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes and those with prediabetes compared with placebo. However, the researchers emphasized that the studies varied considerably regarding the type of subjects included, the length of the studies, whether the subjects took oral medications, and the dosages of the cinnamon supplement.26 Moreover, there are many types of cinnamon, a factor seldom identified in studies that could affect outcomes.18
Fenugreek
Fenugreek has a long history of medical use in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Recently, preliminary animal and human trials suggest it has the potential to lower blood sugar levels. A meta-analysis of 10 such studies examining the effect of fenugreek on glycemia found that fenugreek seeds (about 5 g/day) significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, two-hour glucose, and HbA1c.27
In one study, researchers gave 10 g of fenugreek seeds daily for six months to 60 patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking either insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents as they followed a prescribed diet and regular exercise. The researchers found that by the fourth month there was a synergistic effect of diet, exercise, and fenugreek, resulting in a trend toward reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c, although the downward trend wasn’t significant.28
Research also has suggested that fenugreek may help delay or prevent diabetes from developing initially. A three-year randomized controlled trial found that supplementing with 10 g fenugreek per day reduced the conversion of prediabetes to diabetes among 66 subjects. The control group with prediabetes had a 4.2 times higher risk of developing diabetes during the study compared with those taking fenugreek supplements.29
Animal studies suggest that fenugreek seed may work to aid diabetes in several ways, including slowing digestion of carbohydrates, reducing gastrointestinal absorption of glucose, and stimulating glucose uptake in peripheral tissues.30
While there have been several human trials conducted to test the efficacy of fenugreek in type 2 diabetes, most haven’t been well controlled, were short-term, or involved small numbers of subjects.
Berberine
Berberine is the active component of an ancient Chinese herb used to treat diabetes.31 According to Jim Painter, PhD, RDN, emeritus professor at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, “There are an amazing number of clinical trials with berberine, but they are usually small.”
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies concluded that berberine exhibited efficacy comparable to that of conventional oral hypoglycemic agents.32 However, doses given to subjects varied among the studies and the authors of the study emphasized that the quality of the studies was low, making it difficult to develop recommendations for berberine.
Berberine also has been shown to lessen oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can result from diabetes and that can worsen the progression and complications of the disease.33
Despite the findings, Barbie Cervoni, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, former advanced nutrition coordinator for the diabetes alliance at Mount Sinai Diabetes and Cardiovascular Alliance in New York, says, “It’s important for people to understand that taking a supplement does not replace a medication and that too much can cause adverse side effects.”