In our fast-paced, instant gratification society, people are always looking for that “magic pill” to cure their ailments. There is no single substance that will cure diabetes, but diabetic capsules containing traditional herbs used for centuries may help to lower blood sugar levels and provide other benefits, along with a healthy diet and exercise. You should consult your doctor before taking any kind of herbal preparation. They are sold as dietary supplements and are generally safer than prescription drugs, but people with existing medical conditions, allergies or sensitivities may still have adverse reactions. There are many online sources for herbal anti-diabetes supplements. Here are a few common ingredients in these diabetic capsules.
Diabetic Capsules and China: Ancient Knowledge
For many centuries, plant substances have been used in China to treat a wide variety of medical conditions and symptoms, including diabetes. Often included in diabetic capsules, Solomon’s Seal, bitter melon, and garden sage have been used for many years to lower blood sugar (garden sage also helps with liver and pancreas function). A 2007 study in the Philippines showed that bitter melon was comparable to the anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide (glyburide) in improving glucose uptake and lowering blood sugar, as well as suppressing appetite. Glossy privet fruit and Fo-ti act as liver and kidney tonics (restorative agents). Another plant found in diabetic capsules is mulberry leaf; its chemical properties help to lower blood sugar after carbohydrate-rich meals. It is also an antioxidant, helpful for those with diabetes, as the disease can be caused by oxidative stress on vascular function. A human clinical study in India also looked at glyburide, comparing it with mulberry leaves. They found with the mulberry treatment a significant reduction of fasting blood glucose levels, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and an increase of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. The glyburide only lowered triglycerides. Chinese wolfberry root bark was found to improve insulin sensitivity and help glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19003954]. These are only a few examples of many beneficial natural substances found in diabetic capsules.
Diabetic Capsules and India: The Ayurvedic Approach
As in China, Traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India has been naturally treating ailments since ancient times. Gymnema Sylvestre is commonly found in diabetic capsules. It is an herb native to the tropical forests of India that has been used to treat diabetes for nearly two thousand years. The herb reduces sugar cravings by blocking the sugar receptors in the tongue. Research in India in 2006 demonstrated the link between obesity and diabetes, and found that gymnemic acids were effective in preventing the absorption of excess glucose in the body, reducing blood glucose levels [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2170951/]. Other herbs found in diabetic capsules include fenugreek, which stimulates insulin secretion and lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol (while helping liver function), and holy basil, which was found in a 1997 study published in the “Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine” to lower blood sugar levels by 20 percent after a month of treatment.
