Supplements are great, and when it comes to diabetes, there is no shortage of natural herbs and spices that have been touted for their efficacy.
We are about to examine 9 great supplements that have been shown to be effective in true clinical research studies.
1. Cinnamon
In one three-month study of people with type 2 diabetes, patients who took cinnamon before breakfast saw an over 10% decrease in their fasting blood sugar levels, compared to a placebo group. (1)
Cinnamon is thought to work by improving the cells insulin sensitivity which makes insulin more effective.
The recommended dose for cinnamon extract is 250mg twice daily before meals.
2. Berberine
One meta-analysis of 27 studies on people with type two diabetes found that taking a berberine supplement alongside diet and exercise changes resulted in better A1C than diet and exercise changes alone. (2)
The study also found that taking berberine alongside diabetes medications resulted in better fasting blood sugar and A1C than just taking medication.
Like cinnamon, berberine is also thought to increase insulin sensitivity in the cell, and also improve sugar uptake from your blood to your muscles, which can result in lower overall blood sugar levels.
A typical dose of berberine is 300-500mg taken 2-3 times a day with meals.
Note: this ingredient can be found in Blood Sugar Support
3. Gymnema
Gymnema is a powerhouse when it comes to blood sugar. This plant is commonly used to treat diabetes in India, where its Hindi name is "gurmar", which translates literally to, "sugar destroyer."
Gymnema is thought to work in many ways, including:
- Reducing sugar absorption in your gut
- Improving sugar uptake from your blood into your cells
- Aid insulin-producing cells in your pancreas
- Makes sugary foods taste unappetizing, resulting in decreased consumption
With all these amazing benefits it's no wonder that Gymnema is an incredibly popular supplement used around the world for treating and managing diabetes.
One 18 month long study found that people taking 400mg of Gymnema daily decreased their fasting blood sugar levels by an average of 29% - a truly incredible result! (3)
Note: this ingredient can be found in Blood Sugar Support
4. Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha Lipoic Acid (or ALA for short) is a powerful antioxidant produced naturally in your liver and also found in foods such as spinach, broccoli, and red meat.
ALA may improve insulin sensitivity, and might also prevent against oxidative damage caused by high blood sugar. (4)
The typical dose is between 600-1200mg daily, usually divided into thirds and taken before meals.
Note: this ingredient can be found in our Meal Replacement Shakes
5. Magnesium
Low levels of magnesium are very common amongst people with type two diabetes, and a magnesium supplement is an easy way to solve this issue.
In one systematic review, 8 out of 12 studies sampled showed that giving a magnesium supplement to patients with diabetes resulted in lower fasting blood sugar levels than a placebo. (5)
Note: this ingredient can be found in our Meal Replacement Shakes
6. Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is quite common amongst those with type 2, and like magnesium can often be solved with a simple supplement.
One study found that after two months of taking a vitamin D supplement patients with diabetes showed improved fasting glucose and A1C. (6)
It's important to note, however that unlike water soluble vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin D is fat soluble which means it is possible to take too much, so you should ask your doctor for the appropriate dosage before starting.
Vitamin D is inexpensive and can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies.
Note: this ingredient can be found in our Meal Replacement Shakes
7. Aloe Vera
It's not just for sunburns!
A review of 9 studies found that supplementing with aloe for 4-14 weeks decreased fasting blood sugar levels by an average of 46.6mg/dL and decreased A1C by a whopping 1.05%! (7)
Aloe Vera is thought to work by stimulating insulin production in the pancreas, although more research is needed to validate this hypothesis.
Aloe can be taken in capsule form or as a juice or tincture.
It can however interact with certain medications, so always check with your doctor before beginning to take a new supplement.
8. Fiber
While fiber is technically classified as a carb (only in the US), it isn't digested like starchy carbs and doesn't cause blood sugar levels to rise.
In fact research has consistently shown that eating more fiber can improve glucose control in people with diabetes, and even improve weight loss. (8)
Fiber is great for digestion, and can also help pave the way for a healthier gut biome, which many researchers now believe plays an integral role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Our fiber needs decrease as we age, but as a general rule of thumb most men should aim to get around 30g of fiber each day, and women women should try to consume about 20g of fiber.
This can be done with fiber supplements, but the best way to get fiber is through your diet.
Foods like leafy vegetables and fruits are great sources of fiber that can help you feel full and avoid over-eating, but don't contain many calories.
Note: this ingredient can be found in our Meal Replacement Shakes
9. Probiotics
As we touched on above, the gut plays an integral role in helping to manage diabetes and blood sugar levels.
Having a healthy gut can not only improve blood sugar levels, but it may actually reduce sugar cravings as well, making it even easier to eat healthy.
In a review of 7 studies, people with diabetes who took a probiotic for at least two months saw a reduction of 16mg/dL in their fasting glucose and a 0.53% decrease in A1C. (9)
There are dozens if not hundreds of probiotic brands but we recommend choosing one with several different strains of probiotic bacteria. And don't break the bank when choosing! Some probiotics can cost upwards of $100 - for most people this isn't necessary. Pick something affordable and take it consistently.
Closing Thoughts
There are tons of different supplements you can choose from if you have type two diabetes, all with their own unique properties and benefits.
You can get them individually, or you can find many of these powerful ingredients combined together into one super diabetes supplement.
We made Blood Sugar Support so that you could get several high potency diabetes-destroying ingredients, all in one convenient capsule.
Whether you opt to pick your supplements individually, or go with a pre-made supplement like ours is really up to you, just make sure you do your research beforehand and pick something with scientifically studied ingredients.
And of course, check with your doctor if you are even unsure about something. Some ingredients can have interactions with common medications, so it's always best to ask your doctor before starting something new.