Home Remedies for Diabetes

In my last article, I talked about ways to prevent diabetes, especially type two diabetes. Now I want to talk about home remedies diabetics can take along with their medications to keep their blood sugar under control.

Again, Watch Your Diet

In my last article, I told you about foods you can eat to prevent diabetes if you don't already have it and are at great risk of developing it later in life. Those foods are also for those who have diabetes and need to keep it under control. However, coffee and chocolate may not be good for diabetics because too much of them can de-stabilize blood sugar, and for most diabetics, coffee and chocolate should be kept to a minimum or be avoided altogether.

Cinnamon

Including ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cinnamon added to your food or drink can help lower blood sugar if the rest of your diet is sensible. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar. My mom uses it in her food and even takes a cinnamon capsule and it has helped lower her blood sugar. Be aware of what type of cinnamon to use. Cinnamon from the spice rack is the best way to go. Some grocery store cinnamon contains a compound called coumarone and can be toxic to the liver, if used regularly. It can also interact with the blood thinning medicine, Coumadin.

Cinnamon in the form of a capsule can be safer than regular Cinnamon but no matter what kind you try, make sure to watch for toxicity. Cinnamon capsules such as Cinnulin PF can be safely taken or people can put Cinnamon in a coffee filter and pour hot water over it to create their own water extract.

Vinegar

Yet another value of vinegar is reducing blood sugar and insulin levels. Researchers have reported that when vinegar is given with white bread it can lower blood sugar and helps people feel fuller for up to 2 hours.

One reader of the book, Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy, says that she gets better results by adding apple cider vinegar and cinnamon to a careful diet than by taking Glucotrol. The miracles of vinegar never cease to surprise me.

Oolong Tea

Research suggests that by sipping oolong tea with a meal can help lower blood glucose levels. Oolong tea is made from a fermented leaf, in-between green tea and black tea. Oolong tea is an acquired taste but by drinking 6 cups a day, it can really help lower your blood sugar.

Herbs and Supplements

Herbs and Supplements can help lower blood sugar but if you decide to try these, make sure to get your doctors approval. They can help but they cannot replace a diet that is designed to keep blood sugar under control. It is also important to monitor your blood sugar and keep good records to make sure you are using the right kind for you.

Some herbs and supplements to consider are Chinese herbal formulas, bitter melon, chromium, fenugreek, gymnema sylvestra, nopal, and stevia. It is important to remember, however, that if you plan to try the Chinese herbs you will need two doctors, one who specializes in traditional Chinese medicine and another who is up-to-date on endocrinology, especially diabetes treatment. Also, note that it is very important for children and pregnant women not to take bitter melon because it can be dangerous to them. Some children have died from eating the bright red seed coverings of bitter melon.

Fenugreek is a seed used to spice up Indian food. It has also been used as a medicine to treat symptoms that indicate diabetes. The side effects of fenugreek to watch out for are diarrhea, flatulence, and allergic reactions. It has also been said to interact with Coumadin and should be avoided by people who take it. Careful monitoring is necessary and the recommended dose is one or 2 grams of seeds, 3 times a day but also can be taken as a tea.

Nopal is a cactus found in Mexico. Nopal can be made into a tea called prickly pear tea and has shown to lower blood sugar. Close monitoring and medical supervision are advised.

Stevia is a non-sugar sweetener derived from the leaves of a South American shrub. It has not been approved as a sugar substitute in the United States but is often used in Japan. This plant can not only lower blood sugar, but also blood pressure.

Easing Stress

If you are a diabetic you need to watch your stress levels. In this day and age, it is rather hard to do this but it is important for diabetics because stress can raise your blood sugar and make your condition harder to control. Try the following to ease stress.

Listen to relaxation tapes. The authors of the book, Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy, suggest trying a relaxation tape by Dr. Emmett Miller. Miller has a soothing voice and has been in this business for a long time. It is recommended to listen to his tape, Letting Go of Stress.

If you suffer from diabetes, these home remedies may work very well with your current medications.