Do acupuncture, chromium supplements, guided imagery, etc., help people with diabetes?

by Specialist

From supplements to guided meditation, diabetes treatments include traditional medicines, alternative therapies, and natural therapies.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, defines “complementary and alternative medicine” as “a range of medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently classified as traditional medicine. Complementary medicine is used to supplement conventional treatment, while alternative medicine is used to replace conventional medicine.

While some may be effective, others are ineffective and may even be harmful. If you want to try complementary or alternative medicine, discuss the pros and cons and their applicability with your doctor.

Alternative therapies

  • Acupuncture: is a method in which professionals insert very fine needles into specific areas of the skin. Some scientists believe that acupuncture triggers the body to release natural painkillers. Acupuncture has been shown to relieve chronic pain, and is sometimes used to treat nerve disorders, namely painful nerve damage triggered by diabetes.

  • Biofeedback: An approach that helps people gain insight and learn to cope with their body’s response to pain, this therapy emphasizes relaxation and stress reduction techniques.

  • Guided imagery: A relaxation technique that is also used by some professionals who use biofeedback. Through guided imagery, people think of calming mental imagery, such as waves, or perhaps images of controlling or healing illnesses. People who use this technique believe that these positive images can alleviate their illnesses.

Natural dietary supplements

  • Chromium: The benefits of taking chromium have been studied and debated for many years. Patients need the mineral to produce a glucose tolerance factor, which helps insulin work better. Some studies have shown that chromium supplements can control diabetes, but there is not enough information to support the use of chromium for diabetes.

  • Ginseng: Studies have shown that American ginseng has a hypoglycemic effect. Researchers also found that the amount of glucose-lowering compounds in ginseng plants varied widely.

  • Magnesium: Although the relationship between magnesium and diabetes has been studied for decades, definitive results are still not available. However, low magnesium may affect glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that low magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and creates insulin resistance in body tissues, and there is evidence that magnesium deficiency can trigger some diabetic complications. People who consume more magnesium from their diet (consuming whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables) have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

  • Vanadium: A trace compound found in plants and animals. Early studies have shown that vanadium normalizes blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. When taking vanadium, people with diabetes have an appropriate increase in insulin sensitivity and are able to reduce their need for insulin. Researchers want to understand how vanadium works in the body and discover its potential side effects to ensure that a safe dose is set. Coenzyme Q10, often referred to as CoQ10 (other names include ubiquinone and ubiquinol), is a vitamin-like substance found in meat and seafood. CoQ10 helps cells produce energy and acts as an antioxidant, but CoQ10 has not been shown to affect blood sugar control.

Plant-based foods

Most plant-based foods are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Patients with type 2 diabetes can consume more of the following foods:

  • Brewer’s yeast;

  • Buckwheat;

  • Broccoli and other similar greens;

  • Cinnamon;

  • Clove;

  • Coffee;

  • Okra;

  • Green leafy vegetables;

  • Fenugreek seeds;

  • Sage.

Some research suggests that certain plant-based foods may help the body fight inflammation and utilize insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar. Cinnamon extract may improve glucose metabolism and stimulate insulin release, while promoting cholesterol metabolism. Clove oil extract (eugenol) has been shown to help insulin function and lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides. There is an unknown compound in coffee (not caffeine) that enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces the likelihood of type 2 diabetes.

To date, there is no scientific evidence that garlic, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn, or nettles work to control blood glucose in people with diabetes.

Consult your doctor first if you are considering consuming or using any phytotherapy.

Natural remedies to help with weight loss

Because being overweight is also associated with diabetes, many people with diabetes turn to so-called natural alternative therapies that claim to help with weight loss, including:

  • Chitosan;

  • garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid);

  • chromium;

  • Pyruvate;

  • Liriodendron species;

  • Bitter melon (Chinese bitter melon);

  • Keeper’s wood (sweet-leaved shrub);

  • Aristolochic acid.

There are also skin patches (transdermal) as well as mouth sprays that are said to suppress appetite and make weight loss easier!

But many of these so-called “weight loss treatments” have not been studied and are not effective or even safe, so consult your doctor before using them.

In 2003, ephedrine, also known as ephedrine, became the first herbal stimulant to be banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A common ingredient in over-the-counter diet pills, ephedrine has some benefits for weight loss, but it can also cause more harm, especially in high doses, leading to insomnia, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and urinary retention. This herbal supplement has also been linked to many strokes.

Chitosan comes from shells and can bind to fat and block absorption. To date, there are no studies proving good weight loss effects.

Liriodendron, bitter gourd, guardia and aristolochic acid have all been associated with liver, lung and kidney disease.

A survey of weight-loss herbal preparations found that many of these herbs contained other toxic metals such as lead or arsenic, some contained other ingredients not specified on the label, and some even had the wrong botanical name.

Cautions

There should be a discussion with your doctor about medications, herbal products, or alternative and complementary treatments to ensure that they do not interfere with treatment or cause other problems.

Beware of promotional medications that seem to do more good than harm, and look for science-based sources of information.

Choose natural product brands carefully and avoid medications that contain multiple herbal ingredients. Learn to read labels for common and scientific names of herbs, manufacturer names and addresses, batch and lot numbers, expiration dates, dosage references, and potential side effects.

Stop taking the product immediately and contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • nausea or vomiting;

  • Rapid heartbeat;

  • Anxiety, irritability, or restlessness;

  • Insomnia;

  • Diarrhea;

  • Rash.