Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Supplements for Diabetes? I'm a type-2 diabetic who controls my condition with diet alone. I've heard that ginseng can help control diabetes. Is it worth a try? A Answer (Published 10/7/2003) (Originally published 03/16/2001) I think there are more effective steps you can take. To begin with, diet alone is not enough. It's vital to incorporate activity into your daily life, as regular exercise can lower insulin resistance and improve type-2 diabetes. If you're interested in a botanical remedy to lower blood sugar levels, I would recommend extract of Asian bitter melon (Momordica charantia) instead of ginseng. Two other herbal remedies you might try are ayurvedic gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) and prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia spp). You can find these remedies at your natural-food store or through large mail-order or online supplement retailers; follow package directions. Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Diabetics - An anti-inflammatory diet can help promote healthy blood sugar levels - especially important for diabetics. In addition, I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mcg a day of GTF (glucose tolerance factor) chromium, a form that's well used by the body. Chromium helps stabilize blood sugar levels and can be beneficial in type-2 diabetes. Another mineral helpful to diabetes is magnesium which I recommend in a dose of 400 mg a day. Also helpful is alpha-lipoic acid at a starting dose of 100 mg. It is a powerful antioxidant that can help lower blood sugar (it has also been studied in improving diabetic neuropathy at doses of 600 mg a day). Those diabetics who are taking prescribed medications for the condition should let their physicians know when they're experimenting with one of these remedies, in case those diabetes medications need adjustment. Andrew Weil, M.D. www.drweil.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Weil, as usual, gives advice which is only partially correct. Bitter melon is not very absorbable thru the gut. There is a sub-lingual bitter melon tablet, called gourdin, which has worked well for me. Weil says to use alpha Lipoic acid at 100 mg/day. I take 600 mg, 3 times a day. Weil does not mention Benfotiamine (I take 2 x 150 mg, twice daily) or Acetyl L-Carnitine (I take 3 doses of 500 mg) which are a good combo when taken with Alpha Lipoic Acid. Gymnema (I take 260 mg tablet, 3 times a day) works well when taken in conjunction with Fenugreek (I take 2 capsules, 3 times a day). I take a lot more Magnesium than Weil recommends. I take 2500 mg divided over 4 doses, along with slightly less Calcium. Weil neglects to mention vitamin C. From what I have read, 10 grams a day is the minimum recommended C dose for diabetics. I take to bowel tolerance, which is generally between 12 and 30 grams a day. Best to take C in many small doses rather than 1 or 2 big doses. Alobar On 10/19/06, JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote: > Supplements for Diabetes? > I'm a type-2 diabetic who controls my condition with diet alone. > I've heard that ginseng can help control diabetes. Is it worth a > try? > A Answer (Published 10/7/2003) > > (Originally published 03/16/2001) > > I think there are more effective steps you can take. To begin with, > diet alone is not enough. It's vital to incorporate activity into > your daily life, as regular exercise can lower insulin resistance > and improve type-2 diabetes. > > If you're interested in a botanical remedy to lower blood sugar > levels, I would recommend extract of Asian bitter melon (Momordica > charantia) instead of ginseng. > > Two other herbal remedies you might try are ayurvedic gurmar > (Gymnema sylvestre) and prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia spp). > > You can find these remedies at your natural-food store or through > large mail-order or online supplement retailers; follow package > directions. > > Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Diabetics - An anti-inflammatory diet > can help promote healthy blood sugar levels - especially important > for diabetics. > > > In addition, I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mcg a day of GTF > (glucose tolerance factor) chromium, a form that's well used by the > body. Chromium helps stabilize blood sugar levels and can be > beneficial in type-2 diabetes. > > Another mineral helpful to diabetes is magnesium which I recommend > in a dose of 400 mg a day. Also helpful is alpha-lipoic acid at a > starting dose of 100 mg. > > It is a powerful antioxidant that can help lower blood sugar (it > has also been studied in improving diabetic neuropathy at doses of > 600 mg a day). > Those diabetics who are taking prescribed medications for the > condition should let their physicians know when they're > experimenting with one of these remedies, in case those diabetes > medications need adjustment. > > Andrew Weil, M.D. > www.drweil.com > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 , Alobar <Alobar wrote: > > Weil, as usual, gives advice which is only partially correct. > Bitter melon is not very absorbable thru the gut. Hi Alobar, Michael Murray, N.D. in his most recent book, " The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines " , wrote the following in regards to fresh bitter Bitter Melon juice .... " In addition to the unripe fruits being eaten as a vegetable, it has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. The fresh juice of the unripe fruit and an extract derived from that juice, as well as the dried fruit or seeds, have demonstrated blood sugar lowering effects! " " Several active compounds have been identified, including an insulinlike substance known as p-insulin (the p is for plant). " " The blood sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or extract has been clearly established in human clinical trials as well as experimental models. " " In one study, blood sugar control was improved in 73 percent of type 2 diabetics given 2 fluid ounces of the juice, " " In another study, 15 g. of the water soluble extract of bitter melon produced a 54 percent decrease in after meal blood sugar level after three weeks of use and a 17 percent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (an indicator of average blood sugar levels over time) after seven weeks of use. " The usual dosage is 2 fluid ounces of the juice of bitter melon once or twice daily. " Unripe bitter melon is found primarily in Asian grocery stores. An extract of bitter melon is also available in capsules and tablets. " End of quote Best Regards, JoAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 bitter gourd is a vegetable used in India A lot of herbs recommended for diabetes in Ayurveda and not bitter gourd. scientific analysis of nutrition content and high claims not worth of consideration to Indian system.There may be at least 50 herbs are valuable support to diabetes in Indian system,jammbu,,kuduchi, thribala are some more helping system nourishing ,valuable herbs Why I am writing a reply is in the name of science one should not exaggerate the value of ordinary things and should not mislead people in the name of science.for example plant vinca rosea reduces blood sugar very fast but it has some ill effects too and not recommended in text R.Vidhyasagr JoAnn Guest <angelprincessjo wrote: , Alobar <Alobar wrote: > > Weil, as usual, gives advice which is only partially correct. > Bitter melon is not very absorbable thru the gut. Hi Alobar, Michael Murray, N.D. in his most recent book, " The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicines " , wrote the following in regards to fresh bitter Bitter Melon juice .... " In addition to the unripe fruits being eaten as a vegetable, it has been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes. The fresh juice of the unripe fruit and an extract derived from that juice, as well as the dried fruit or seeds, have demonstrated blood sugar lowering effects! " " Several active compounds have been identified, including an insulinlike substance known as p-insulin (the p is for plant). " " The blood sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or extract has been clearly established in human clinical trials as well as experimental models. " " In one study, blood sugar control was improved in 73 percent of type 2 diabetics given 2 fluid ounces of the juice, " " In another study, 15 g. of the water soluble extract of bitter melon produced a 54 percent decrease in after meal blood sugar level after three weeks of use and a 17 percent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (an indicator of average blood sugar levels over time) after seven weeks of use. " The usual dosage is 2 fluid ounces of the juice of bitter melon once or twice daily. " Unripe bitter melon is found primarily in Asian grocery stores. An extract of bitter melon is also available in capsules and tablets. " End of quote Best Regards, JoAnn Find out what India is talking about on - Answers India Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Messenger Version 8. Get it NOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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