Are you looking to keep prediabetes or diabetes under control? Find out what supplements you can take to lower your blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose – also known as blood sugar – is abnormally high. Having too much glucose in your blood can lead to health issues, including heart disease, vision loss, and kidney failure, among others.
Approximately 37 million people in the United States have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, which is about one in 10 people. Some people who have diabetes don’t know they have it!
Although there is no cure for diabetes, people with the disease can take steps to manage it and stay healthy. Taking insulin or other diabetes medications, making healthy food choices, and engaging in physical activity are standard ways of managing diabetes. So are taking supplements.
In fact, hundreds of different types of dietary supplements can lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
10 supplements to help lower blood sugar
1. Aloe Vera
Glucose control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes was found to be improved by aloe vera, according to a 2016 review of eight clinical trials. According to the authors, individuals with diabetes were studied for at least two weeks after consuming one tablespoon of the juice twice a day for at least two weeks. They discovered that the triglyceride levels in the treated group decreased.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the cinnamon tree and is available in supplement form as an extract or as whole cinnamon powder.
Daily consumption of supplemental cinnamon might control blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. This is crucial to preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes. A 2020 study found that three daily 500 milligram doses of cinnamon would have an impact on blood sugar over 12 weeks.
3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D may improve insulin sensitivity, lowering glucose levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A 2015 study found that a two-month regimen of taking daily vitamin D supplements improves fasting blood sugar and blood glucose levels. Regular sun exposure was also tied to lower blood sugar levels.
4. Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that is found in many foods. It helps keep your blood pressure, muscle function, heart rhythm, and blood sugar levels in check. In general, people who eat a lot of magnesium are less likely to get diabetes, which suggests that magnesium plays a role in how glucose moves through the body.
In 2019, a study found that people with type 2 diabetes who took magnesium supplements had less resistance to insulin and better glycemic control.
5. Bitter Melon
Bitter melon, or Momordica charantia, is a type of fruit that has been used in Chinese and Indian medicine for a long time. It has been used to treat a wide range of illnesses. Bitter melon is said to have active anti-diabetic substances that help lower blood glucose levels, making it an option for those with prediabetes or diabetes.
6. Gymnema
Gymnema, or Gymnema sylvestre, is a perennial woody vine found in tropical regions of India, China, Australia, and parts of Africa. Research shows it can diminish a person’s craving for sugar and lower the rate of the body’s sugar absorption.
7. American Ginseng
American ginseng is an herb commonly used in traditional Native American and Chinese medicine. It is believed its roots can prevent infections and treat conditions like cancer and diabetes. A 2018 study found that the supplement helped lower blood sugar levels over the course of 12 weeks.
8. Chromium
Chromium is a mineral found in certain foods and supplements. A 2014 review found favorable effects of chromium supplementation on glycemic control in patients with diabetes.
9. Berberine
Berberine is a chemical compound extracted from the roots, stems, and bark of plants. It has been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
10. Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid is a compound found inside each cell in the human body. It converts your glucose into energy by way of oxygen. A 2012 study surveyed 38 people with type 2 diabetes who were put on daily treatments over six months. There was a direct correlation between how much these people took and how much their blood sugar and A1C levels dropped.
Keep in mind that these supplements are not meant to replace your current diabetes medication, and that the impact they will have on each individual taking it will vary. Make sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking supplements and before you combine them with blood-sugar-lowering medications that have been prescribed by your doctor.
NSURx helps you save money on Rxs at 35,000 pharmacies
NSUR offers a prescription discount card called NSURx to help you save money on your diabetes prescriptions.
Simply present your NSURx card to the pharmacist the next time you fill a prescription at your local pharmacy and you could save up to 80% on your prescription costs!
Over 35,000 pharmacies accept NSURx prescriptions, including major chains like Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart, and smaller, independent retailers in your neighborhood.
Call +1 (855) 917-6216 to find the nearest pharmacy to you that accepts NSURx. Most users have a pharmacy within 2 miles of their home that takes NSURx.
