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There are many non-drug therapies that have been proven to improve blood sugar control in clinical trials. Although every tradition in the world has its own bag of medicinal tricks, some of the most prominent are worth mentioning. You should always monitor your blood sugar closely with your doctor when using natural diabetes therapies, because excessive lowering of blood sugar can be dangerous.
Congratulations. Enjoy your chocolate. It is made from cacao, a bean that was considered the food of the Gods by the ancient Aztecs of central America. Chocolate is rich in antioxidants that make it a very good medicine that should be consumed every day. Avoid the processed junk in candy bars, of course, but look for large bars that contain 70% cacao or more. Controlled studies have found that as little as 6g of dark chocolate every day improved blood sugar,1 blood pressure2 and cholesterol – all three of which are linked to the deadly metabolic syndrome.
Cinnamon improves blood sugar, but it is not exactly clear how. It seems to have several effects on the body, including acting on enzymes that alter the insulin receptor, carry glucose and store glycogen. The first study to show that cinnamon improves blood sugar was done on 60 patients with Type 2 diabetes in Pakistan.3 It showed improvements of up to 30% in blood sugar levels and improved cholesterol as well. Since then, three of four other trials have shown similarly positive results. It is believed to be more effective in hot water.
Vanadium is a trace mineral. It was named after Vanadis, the Norse goddess of beauty, because it is naturally found in beautifully colored salts. The first study describing its benefits in diabetes was published in 1899, long before the discovery of insulin.4 It is still not totally clear how it lowers blood sugar, but multiple effects on liver and muscle cells and on the insulin receptor may play a role. Although none were placebo-controlled, four small studies have shown that vanadyl sulfate lowers blood sugar when given to type 2 diabetics.5 It is believed that the full benefit takes 3-4 weeks. Researchers are cautious because its long-term safety has not been proven, and it can cause loose stools in some patients.
Fenugreek has been a sacred plant for most of human history. It was found in a ritual burial site in Iraq dating to 4000 BC, and was even found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. Jews, Muslims and Christians in the Middle East all include it in meals during important festivals. Many healing traditions from Africa to China use the seeds to aid digestion, increase breast milk and treat diabetes. Dozens of clinical studies indicate that fengreek seed extract improves blood sugar in mice. It seems to improve the function of the GLUT4 transporter that shuttles glucose into cells. There have been a few small trials in humans that have consistently shown the same benefit, one of which was a double-blind study.6 It is difficult to recommend a dose because all the extracts are different.
One of the major problems with conventional nutritional advice given to people with type 2 diabetes concerns carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbohydrates are long chains of sugars found in starchy foods such as rice, potatoes, bread, pasta, root vegetables like carrots and turnips, and all flour-based foods such as cookies, cakes, pies, donuts, muffins, bagels and other baked goods. Diabetics have long been told to 'avoid sweets' but it is now known that starchy foods are just as much of a problem - sometimes moreso. The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of the insulin and blood sugar spike that occurs after eating a specific amount of a given food. Low-GI foods raise blood sugar less than high-GI foods. Find out more about this here. Remember, insulin is an unhealthy hormone, so your goal as a diabetic is to minimize insulin requirement in your body. Fruit is acceptable because it is high in fiber and phytochemicals, but fruit juice - even if it is unsweetened - leads to blood sugar spikes and should also be avoided.
Glucose is fuel for muscle. Type 2 diabetes is not a problem with insulin - it is a problem with the cells of the body. Their receptors lose their sensitivity to insulin, so the body has to make more hormone to get them to bind to it. Muscle cells that are challenged by exercise become more sensitive to insulin. Exercise also increases glucose consumption. So people with diabetes should exercise every day if possible, and should consider taking a brisk 5-10 minute walk after every meal. This often dramatically reduces insulin and medication requirements, and improves other cardiovascular risk factors. This effect is so powerful that when you decide to start exercising, you should be closely monitoring your blood sugar and reducing medication as needed to avoid problems with low blood sugar.
All diabetes drugs lower blood sugar, but not all are created equal. Glyburide actually increases the risk of dying from any cause, so no diabetic should use it. Metformin is the single best drug in terms of reducing the risk of death and disability. Many of the newer drugs have been associated with congestive heart failure. You should consult your physician or pharmacist to ask about your medication. Note that most of the natural medicines described above have been shown to lower blood sugar, but no studies have been done to find out if they prevent heart attacks, strokes or death. We advise all our patients of this, but still recommend their use.