Can one use herbs to treat diabetes?

First the facts. Type 1 diabetes has only treatment- insulin. There is no substitute for it. There is no herb, lotion, potion, cream, pill, or drug that can replace this vital medication. The consumer is well advised not to replace the insulin with herbs for type 1 diabetes because the consequences can be lethal.

The treatment of type 2 diabetes is quite varied and involves a multidisciplinary approach, including weight loss, eating proper foods and medications. The role of herbs in type 2 diabetes remains a puzzle. Every single day, there is a new herb that is claimed to lower blood sugar; there are thousands of such anecdotal reports.

Some of the common herbs which are presently being studied for their role in diabetes include stevia, bilberry gymnome, and jambul. Many other herbs including Konjac mannan, American ginseng, Ipomoea batatas, Momordica charantia, nopal, aloe Vera, and fenugreek have been reported to lower blood sugar. However, the results are neither consistent nor always reproducible. For most of these herbs, there is no scientific evidence that they actually work in diabetes. Most of the “medical benefits” of these herbs are offered by dealers and vendors of health supplements who have a vested financial interest.

While most herbs are safe and can be taken as supplements, one should not substitute them for their standard conventional anti diabetic medications without first discussing the issue with a health care professional.

For the moment, the American Diabetes Association has argued against the use of herbs because the industry is not regulated and the quality is not controlled. One cannot even be sure if the same supplement bought in different stores will have the same property. In the last few years, numerous Chinese herbal products have been found to contain actual prescription anti diabetic drugs. These were drugs banned more than 20 years ago. Given these uncertainties and problems with fake supplements, the consumers should be cautious when it comes to use of herbs for diabetes.

For a type 2 diabetic, the best medical advice is to exercise and reduce weight. This therapy alone has been shown to significantly reduce blood sugars, lower blood pressure and decrease cholesterol. This approach is not only cheap and safe but the results are guaranteed is one is dedicated and motivated.

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