What herbal therapies are available?
Plant-based therapies that have been shown in some studies to have anti-diabetic properties include:
Aloe vera
- Preliminary research suggests that intake of aloe vera juice can help improve blood glucose levels and may therefore be useful in treating people with diabetes.
- Aloe has also been linked with:
- Decreased blood lipids (fats) in patients with abnormally high levels of these molecules in the blood (e.g. some people with type 2 diabetes) and/or acute hepatitis (liver disease)
- Decreased swelling and faster healing of wound injuries. Leg wounds and ulcers are common complications of diabetes, and they typically take longer time to heal than in healthy non-diabetic individuals. [67]
These positive effects are thought to be due to the presence of compounds such as lectins, mannans and anthraquinones.
Bilberry extract
- Bilberries (scientific name: vaccinium myrtillus) are a dark blue fruit, similar in appearance to blueberries but are smaller, softer and darker.
- Research studies indicate that a compound in bilberries, anthocyanosides, appear to promote blood vessel strength which could have protective properties against forms of retinal damage in people with diabetes.
Bilberries and lower blood glucose levels
- Bilberry extract is not recognized as a treatment for diabetes but people with diabetes may notice that it helps in lowering blood glucose levels.
- If you are on blood glucose lowering medication that can bring on hypoglycemia, you may need to monitor your blood glucose levels and take precautions to ensure blood sugar levels don’t go too low.
