Diabetes and Dietary Supplements

The state of an individual’s diabetes, particularly if it is type 2, depends largely upon their diet. Several of the complementary therapies described in this section are based upon diets that help diabetics stay healthy and fight their disease. Certain supplements have been shown to aid the body and diminish the negative affects of diabetes.

Any one of these, or a combination, may or may not improve your individual condition. The effects will depend entirely on the individual, and it is therefore vital to consult professional medical staff before taking any herbal supplement. Supplements should be used to complement conventional medicines, and should on no account be substituted for insulin.

There are six major dietary supplements that are thought to complement the treatment of diabetes. These include alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, garlic and omega 3 fatty acids. Some evidence suggests that other compounds and herbal supplements may also help sufferers from diabetes, such as bitter-lemon, coccinia, ginseng, allium, vanadium, gymnema sylvestre, etc.

Recently, an industry has been spawned marketing miraculous herbal cures for diabetes. Thorough research has revealed no evidence that supports these claims, and interested parties are advised to proceed with caution only after consulting healthcare professionals.

More Information

• Comprehensive review of herbal effects on diabetes
  http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/26/4/1277