
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Certified Diabetes Educator
Adding this specialist to your healthcare team will help you get your diabetes under control and keep it there. Here’s how to find your perfect partner.
Adding this specialist to your healthcare team will help you get your diabetes under control and keep it there. Here’s how to find your perfect partner.
What is type 1.5 diabetes? How does it differ from other types of diabetes? Some…
Chia seeds are full of water-soluble fiber that bulks up food so you eat less. That’s particularly important if you have prediabetes.
Rice isn’t always a blood-sugar-raising no-no for diabetics. Some kinds have a lower glycemic index than others…and how you cook your rice matters, too.
Apple cider vinegar—indeed, any vinegar—can help prevent blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes or prediabetes. Here’s the right way to use it.
Itchy skin…slow-healing cuts…tender gums…and more One of the best ways to prevent diabetes is to…
Take a bite of out diabetes—eat more fruit. In spite of its sugar, fruit may…
Bitter melon looks like a warty cucumber. It’s used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to control blood sugar in people with diabetes. Should you try it?
While obesity and inactivity remain key diabetes risk factors for type 2 diabetes, a frequent habit of using mouthwash may increase risk.
If your blood sugar is too high and you’re fighting the battle of the bulge,…
Just because a food is gluten free doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Case in point—pasta.
If you have diabetes and take insulin, exercise can be tricky—and sometimes, dangerous. This online calculator helps make it easier to be safe.
Here’s a diabetes paradox. While most people who get type 2 diabetes are overweight or…
For people with diabetes, a simple scratch can become a serious medical challenge. Fortunately, you…
Learn which natural supplements are good for diabetic neuropathy. Dr. Andrew Rubman recommends alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and octacosanol.
It’s easy to feel vulnerable when you have diabetes and live alone. I know—I’ve had…
There aren’t many primary care providers who can identify which patients should be screened for prediabetes. Should you ask your doctor to have you tested?
Judith McQuown, author of 1,137 Secrets for Living Well with Diabetes, shared her tried-and-true travel tips for people with diabetes.
We like indoor temperatures to be comfy. But keeping your home cooler can help you burn fat, lose weight and control blood sugar better.
Should you take gymnema for type 2 diabetes? This naturopath thinks there’s a better alternative—berberine.
I just got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and my doctor prescribed metformin. But I’ve heard that gymnema is a natural supplement that lowers blood sugar. Should I try it first?
AGymnema, the extract of the woody shrub Gymnema sylvestre, has shown excellent results in clinical trials for control of blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s worthy of consideration as an alternative to the prescription medication metformin (Glucophage)—but it’s not my first recommendation and not even my first choice for a supplement. Let me explain why.
My first recommendation is to realize that any supplement (or drug) should be used in addition to dietary and lifestyle strategies to improve blood sugar control. Foremost is eating a diet that has a low glycemic load, which means that it is low in carbohydrate sources that can raise blood sugar levels. Foods low in glycemic load include most fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, beans and whole grains. No drug or dietary supplement is going to be effective in the long run unless it is part of a plan that includes a low-glycemic-load diet. And people with diabetes need to get exercise, at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking five days a week.
Once you have your diet and lifestyle plan in place, if additional support is needed, it’s time to consider dietary supplements. Gymnema extract at a dosage of 200 mg twice daily has been shown to improve blood sugar control. It works by decreasing the absorption of sugar in the intestines and may increase the amount of insulin in the body.
However, based upon results from recent clinical trials, I would recommend that you have a discussion with your doctor about a different supplement—berberine, found in plants such as barberry, Oregon grape root and goldenseal. Berberine at a dosage of 500 mg before meals three times daily has been shown to produce results on par with metformin but is generally better tolerated. To learn more, see the Bottom Line article, “Natural Remedy for Diabetes: Berberine.”
Before you take any supplement, you should discuss it with your medical doctor or naturopathic physician to rule out any possible interactions with other medication.