According to the American Diabetes Association, there were 30.3 million Americans that had diabetes in 2015. Of the 30.3 million Americans, it is estimated that 7.2 million of those were undiagnosed.
However, it is imperative for your health that you get diagnosed and receive the correct care and medication for your condition, because diabetes can lead to other serious health conditions.
Some people choose to use medicine for their treatment of diabetes, others choose to rely on herbal and natural remedies to help with their symptoms. And some people combine the two to help them with their diabetes. Keep reading to find out some herbal remedies you could try.
Herbal Remedies
There are many herbs and spices that are thought to aid with lowering blood sugar levels, which is why people with type 2 diabetes choose to include herbal remedies in their treatment plan.
Is there any evidence to support that herbal remedies work? Some studies do suggest that there are links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control.
Some experts argue that many pharmaceutical agents prescribed treatments which derive from natural compounds found in traditional medicinal plants. For example, biguanide metformin which is considered to be one of the first line agents used for treating type 2 diabetes, and its use can be traced to the traditional use of Galega officinalis.
Some common plant-based therapies that have shown anti-diabetic properties include:
- Aloe vera
- Bilberry extract
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Okra
Indian Herbal Remedies
Coccinia Indica is a plant that grows in the wild across the Indian subcontinent. The plant is known as the ivy gourd and was traditionally used in ayurvedic remedies.
Coccinia Indica contains properties that mimics the function of insulin. Experts believe that more studies should be carried out on this herbal plant, but so far the studies suggest that Coccinia Indica can significantly cause changes in glycemic control.
Brazilian Herbal Remedies
Bauhinia Forficata grows in South America and is used in Brazilian herbals cures for diabetes. The plant is known as one which provides vegetable insulin.
Another natural remedy used in Brazil and parts of South America is Myrcia Uniflora. These herbs can be used in tea infusions, however, some studies suggest that this way of utilizing herbs doesn’t provide the greatest hypoglycaemic effects.
“Brazilian indigenous people have been using traditional medicines grown in South America since the beginning, with many claiming that their herbal remedies can help treat hypertension and diabetes,” says Thiago Arias, from reviewbox.com.br. “One study found that the extraction of the plants has hypoglycemic properties and functions by regulating the glucose consumption by the liver.”
South-Western Europe Herbal Remedies
Ficus Carica, or fig-leaf, is a well-known diabetic remedy in parts of South-Western Europe and Spain. Unfortunately, the active component that helps to treat diabetes is unknown. Some suggest that the fig-leaf encourages glucose to be correctly used in the body.
