Certain vitamins and supplements are thought to help lower bloodglucose (sugar)in people withdiabetesorprediabetes.
Aloe Vera
Aloe verahas long been thought to have blood sugar-lowering properties.
Precautions
Aloe vera juice can cause diarrhea, hives, and cramping.
Thana Prasongsin / Getty Images
Aloe vera can also interact with drugs like antidepressants and opioids.
How to Use Cinnamon
Cinnamon is taken by mouth as a supplement.
Most manufacturers recommend doses ranging from 250 mg to 500 mg twice daily.
When taken at high doses, cinnamon can cause heartburn, indigestion, burping, nausea, and diarrhea.
The researchers examined 680 women in Brazil from the ages of 35 to 74.
They found thatvitamin D supplementsdecrease glucose levels.
Regular sun exposure was also tied to lower blood sugar levels.
Another study from 2016 echoed these findings.
Additionally, too much vitamin D can result in renal failure, but only in extreme cases.
How to Use Magnesium
Magnesium supplements come in different forms.
Some includemagnesium oxideand citrate, as well as chloride.
Its recommended that you take magnesium with a meal each day for better absorption.
High doses of magnesium supplements can cause nausea, abdominal cramping, and bloating, as well as diarrhea.
Taking large doses of laxatives and antacids that contain magnesium are tied to magnesium toxicity.
This is said to break down cortisone to the active form cortisol, leading to hyperglycemia.
The authors theorize this inhibitory property might be why this fruit is said to possess anti-diabetic properties.
The sample sizes of most studies included in a separate 2013 review were incredibly small.
Bitter melon extract is also sold as an herbal supplement.
It is often used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Research has shown that this plant can diminish a persons craving for sugar.
Additionally, it can lower the rate of the bodys sugar absorptionplaying a role in the treatment of diabetes.
One study out of 2017 looked at the impact of taking 200 to 400 mg of gymnemic acid.
It showed that taking this substance reduced the intestines sugar absorption.
The researchers found that participants glucose levels, both fasting blood sugar and levels after meals, lowered.
There isnt enough research out there about whether people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should take extra precautions.
As always, consult with your provider before using any new supplement.
Consult your provider and let them know you are using this supplement before going in for any surgical procedure.
Be careful about how gymnema might interact with other blood sugar-lowering medications.
This might impact the recommended dosage of either gymnema or insulin.
It is believed the ginseng plants roots can prevent infections and treat conditions like cancer and diabetes.
That was the similar conclusion of the authors of a 2014 review of 16 different studies.
How to Use American Ginseng
you might get ginseng as an extract or in capsule form.
Consult your doctor or healthcare provider about best ways to incorporate this herbal supplement into your diet or regimen.
These interactions could result in hypoglycemia.
Ginseng products may also interfere with warfarin, a blood thinner.
Chromium
Chromium is a natural mineral found in certain foods.
It comes in two forms: hexavalent (chromium 6+) and trivalent (chromium 3+).
The trivalent form is what you will most likely encounter and is found in foods.
A 2014 review found favorable effects of chromium supplementation on glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
How to Use Chromium
There is no established Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for chromium.
Generally, multivitamin or mineral supplements that contain chromium have doses of 35-120 mcg.
Some can go as high as 1,000 mcg, but they are not as common.
Some medications may interact with chromium supplements.
Insulin is one, as taking it with chromium increases the risk of hypoglycemia.
Metformin and other diabetes medications taken together with chromium also carry this risk.
It’s been used in the treatment of jot down 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
The researchers concluded that berberine-based therapy regulated blood glucose and alleviated insulin resistance.
As with other herbal supplements, more research on the benefits of berberine needs to be conducted.
Berberine does have some interactions with medications you may already be taking.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a compound found inside each cell in the human body.
It converts your glucose into energy by way of oxygen.
This is called aerobic metabolism.
After treatment, the participants were monitored for their glucose status and oxidative biomarkers.
The researchers found that these individuals fasting blood sugar levels and A1C decreased in measure with dosage increase.
A 2019 review examined a series of studies on the effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid.
The analysis offers a mixed bag.
Overall, the authors suggested that more studies with larger sample sizes are needed to determine effectiveness.
How to Use Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Dosage of alpha-lipoic acid greatly varies.
One study cited a dosage range from 600 mg to as high as 1,200 mg daily before eating.
As always, consult with your healthcare provider before adding any new supplement to your treatment regimen.
In general, alpha-lipoic acid is fairly safe to take and side effects are rare.
It hasnt been studied in pregnant or breastfeeding people.
Known side effects include fatigue, diarrhea, skin rash, and insomnia.
The compound thought to effect these changes is an essential oil known asthymoquinone.
Despite the positive findings, the quality of the seven reviewed studies was poor.
How to Use Nigella
Nigella supplements are sold online and in many drugstores and supplement shops.
The manufacturer’s recommended daily intake is between 1,000 and 2,000 mg per day taken in a single dose.
The supplement is typically sold as a gel cap containing black cumin seed oil.
Nigella sativa is generally regarded as safe when used for culinary purposes or taken as a daily supplement.
Even so, it can cause stomach upset, gas, bloating.
nausea, vomiting, or constipation, especially when taken at higher doses.
It can also interact with certain drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
To date, the evidence of this remains mixed.
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