Type 2 berberine supplements

I recently got some Nutra Science 500mg 98% purity berberine capsules from Amazon. You have to be very careful where you buy it as some of brands have little or no berberine in them and the best have nearly 100% purity. See this comparison on some US berberine brands ...

As a result of watching that video I ordered some Natural Factors Berberine from iHerb.com. It seems to take a couple of weeks to arrive in the UK.

The benefits of berberine are described in this video ...

It is supposed to help lower blood sugars and help lower insulin resistance and reduce inflammation. It works similar to metformin by reducing gluconeogenesis in the liver. My morning fasting blood glucose was over 8.0 last May, but now it is averages about 5.7. On my Dexcom One+ CGM my average blood glucose is now 6.3 and my GMI (estimated HbA1C) has reduced from 6.5 in June to 6.0 now.

I started to notice significant lowering of fasting blood sugars after taking 2x300mg of benfotiamine every day, down from about 7.0 on June 23 to around 5.7 now. I also started taking 240mg of r-Alpha Lipoic Acid on 19 Jul and 500mg berberine on 2 Aug. I take the berberine 1/2hr before eating to help lower the glucose spike. My CGM average blood glucose level has dropped since taking berberine. I might try 2x500mg once I get the Natural Factors WellbetX beberine as that brand is is best seller in the USA and has a very high approval rating and known purity.

Some people also use berberine as an aid to help loose weight. It has helped me a little. I have also noticed some greater mental clarity.
I have seen some warnings that you should not take high doses of berberine for more than 3 months and you need to be careful if you take blood pressure medication as berberine also reduces high blood pressure.

jeano999 said:

Spent a couple of years on Metformin before getting fed up of gut issues so now diet controlled only (low carb/keto). Read reports that Berberine supplements can help with insulin resistance, blood sugar control and weight loss. Any one any experience of using this supplement?

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I am on insulin and used to take berberine with every meal. I did a good job lowering my blood sugar, but not sure how much berberine helped. It certainly didn’t help with the morning liver dump and eventually I asked to be prescribed metformin. I’m on 500mg am and pm and my basal has reduced 4 units instead of 12, and my bolus requirements have drastically reduced, and no morning liver dump. Hbac1 reduced from 5.8 (39) to 5.2 (33) after 3 months So no, although it may help a little, it is not in the same league as metformin

I tried Berberine (the brand mentioned in post two) and I got terrible intestinal pain. Tried again weeks later, easing up slowly in dose age, same thing. Was third time a charm, heck no…it made me sick again. I gave up and manage my glucose with diet alone (carnivore). Best of luck. I know it doesn’t affect everyone’s intestines so you may be a lucky one.

I have experimented with both metformin, and berberine, separately.

I changed over to berberine as I had an unfortunate couple of gastrointestinal and mood altering side effects with metformin, with minimal impact on my fasting blood glucose and therefore my HBA1c/lowering of my blood glucose. I no longer had the side effects with berberine which was good, but it had the same minimal impact on my FBGs (1 digit)

It is hard for me to know precisely as when my HBA1c is in the red zone I don't treat with only one thing, but due to extensive testing and recording over a ten year period I am pretty confident I'm in the ballpark at least, with BG lowering effect of both metformin and berberine being minimal. I would be delighted if it was the between 12 and 22 mmol/mol that is expected.

They have identified a gene or gene cluster which some people have that makes metformin (and for me - berberine as well) have very low or no impact. Myself, and my longterm doctor are assuming I am one of these people with this gene/cluster.

Welcome to the forum @jeano999;

Please bear in mind that as a food supplement, berberine has not undergone the same scientific scrutiny as medication like metformin. The dosage and quality will be less exact than regulated medication and there may be side effects that aren't documented. Just saying.

I am taking berberine as an experiment. I have my Hb1Ac later this week and will get the results later next week, then I will have some information to discuss.

Had blood test, and a very small discernable difference - though in the right direction - which could be due to many things including a natural progression of my existing regime. So - inconclusive for me, but should be seen in context, and there might be a much bigger improvement for someone who has only just started trying to lower BG, BP and abdominal fat. I did source an exceptionally pure medication, so if anyone is planning to try for themselves, be aware that a lot of supplements are full of fillers.

jeano999 said:

Spent a couple of years on Metformin before getting fed up of gut issues so now diet controlled only (low carb/keto). Read reports that Berberine supplements can help with insulin resistance, blood sugar control and weight loss. Any one any experience of using this supplement?

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I take Berberine twice day. I think it helps, my last A1c was 39. Look for good ones without extra fillers.

Hi @jeano999 , Re brands of berberine - I don't believe we can recommend as part of Forum rules? Not sure about that. But I would say - go with brands that you trust and have used successfully previously, is a good rule of thumb. And yeah - read the 'ingredients'.

I think you can start seeing effect before 2-3 months, in your BGs if testing/checking. It's just that HBA1cs get tested around the 3 month mark, and the 6 month mark. Basically, from my own experience, if it is affecting your HBA1c, it will definitely be showing up in your daily BG tests/checks. And always interesting to make a note of how quickly, or not....