Diabetes treatment can include a variety of options, with a variety of complementary and alternative therapies claiming to treat diabetes in addition to conventional treatment.
Complementary and alternative medicine include health care strategies that are not part of standard Western medical practice and include a variety of disciplines, including everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes.
But are the claims made about various products and therapies accurate? Here is some important information that should be known about diabetes and alternative treatments involving diet and supplements.
Supplements
- Chromium is widely touted as a therapy to improve diabetes control. Although several studies support chromium’s benefit in diabetes, other studies do not confirm this. The use of chromium for diabetes management has not been recommended.
- Magnesium, as a therapy to improve glycemic control in diabetes, has been studied for many years. Magnesium deficiency is associated with abnormal insulin secretion and has been linked to diabetic complications.
- Vanadium is of plant origin, and certain studies have shown that vanadium increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. To date, vanadium supplements have not been recommended for use in people with diabetes.
Plant-based foods
The following plant foods have been found to help people with type 2 diabetes.
- Brewer’s yeast;
- Buckwheat;
- Broccoli and other related greens;
- Okra;
- Peas;
- Fenugreek seeds;
- Sage.
Most plant-based foods are rich in fiber, and fiber helps control blood sugar levels.
For many of the other herbs recommended for diabetes, such as garlic, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn, or nettle, there have been few or no clinical trials with satisfactory results. If you have diabetes and are considering using these herbs, please consult your doctor first.