Many different supplements are being tested by scientists to see whether they may help decrease blood sugar.
People with diabetes, especially type 2, may benefit from these nutrients.
Although supplements can’t replace medications completely, using one along with diabetic medication may allow your doctor to gradually reduce the amount you’re taking.
To assist in decreasing blood sugar, here are ten supplements to lower a1c:
- Cinnamon
Either cinnamon powder or an extract is used to make cinnamon dietary supplements. According to many studies, it aids in the reduction of blood sugar and the improvement of diabetes management.
Prediabetic individuals with fasting blood sugar levels between 100 and 125 milligrammes per deciliter (mg/dl) received 250 milligrammes of cinnamon extract twice daily for three months and had an 8.4% reduction in fasting blood sugar levels compared to those that took a placebo.
Type 2 diabetes patients who took 120 or 360 milligram of cinnamon before breakfast for three months had their fasting blood sugar drop by 11 percent or 14 percent compared to those who received a placebo.
- American ginseng
This variety is mainly cultivated in North America, and has been found to reduce post-meal blood sugar levels in both healthy people and the ones with type 2 diabetes by approximately 20%.
Diabetes patients on normal therapy also saw an improvement in their fasting blood sugar levels after taking 1g of American ginseng forty minutes prior to breakfast, lunch, and supper over a period of two months.
- Probiotics
Antibiotic use may harm your gut flora and raise your chance of developing a number of illnesses, including diabetes.
There are many health advantages to taking probiotic supplements, which include helpful bacteria or other microorganisms and experts recommend using probiotics for vaginal health too. They may also help your body better handle carbs.
Type 2 diabetics who consumed probiotics for at least 2 months had their fasting blood sugar drop by 16 mg/dl and their A1C drop by 0.53% compared to those who received a placebo.
A further 35 mg/dl drop in fasting blood sugar was seen in those who received multi-species probiotic supplements.
- Aloe Vera
Aloe vera may also assist diabetics in achieving their goals and is one of the supplements to lower A1C.
This cactus-like plant’s leaves or juice produced from them may assist individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes to decrease fasting blood sugar and A1C.
Aloe supplementation for 4–14 weeks reduced blood sugar in fasting by 46.6% and A1C by 1.05 percent in a review of nine trials in individuals with type 2 diabetes.Those with fasting blood sugar levels more than 200 mg/dl before consuming aloe reported significantly greater advantages.
- Berberine
Berberine is a bitter-tasting chemical found in the roots and stems of many plants, such as goldenseal and phellodendron, and is not a particular herb.
Type 2 diabetics who took berberine with diet and lifestyle modifications saw their fasting blood sugar drop by 15.5 mg and their A1C drop by 0.71 percent compared to those who took a placebo or diet and lifestyle adjustments alone.
Furthermore, the study found that a combination of diabetes medicine and berberine supplements significantly lowered blood sugar levels more effectively than either drug alone.
- Vitamin D
Type 2 diabetes may be exacerbated by a lack of vitamin D.
According to one research, 72% of people with type 2 diabetes had vitamin D deficiency at the beginning of the trial.
Fasting blood sugar and haemoglobin A1C both decreased after two months of daily supplementation with 4,500 IU of vitamin D. Participants who had a lower A1C before the research had better blood sugar management than those who started after the study. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor.
- Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre, an Indian Ayurvedic plant, is used to cure diabetes in the country’s traditional medicine. The plant’s Hindi name, gurmar, translates as “sugar destroyer” in English.
Taking 400 mg of gymnema extract daily for 18–20 months reduced fasting blood sugar by 29% in type 2 diabetic patients, according to one research. A1C dropped from 11.9 percent to 8.48 percent throughout the course of the research.
This herb may help people with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes decrease their fasting blood sugar and A1C, as well as their sugar cravings, by reducing the sweet-taste sensation in their mouths, according to a new study.
- Magnesium
Type 2 diabetics with poorly controlled blood sugar are more likely to have low magnesium levels in their blood, according to a recent study.
One study found that providing Activation Products magnesium supplements to individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes for 6–24 weeks reduced fasting blood sugar levels more than a placebo, according to an analysis of eight studies.
Additionally, individuals with low blood magnesium levels who started the trials had their fasting blood sugar drop by 3% for every 50 mg increase in magnesium consumption.
- Alpha-lipoic Acid
You may find certain meals that include the strong antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), which is a vitamin-like molecule that’s generated in your liver.
Fasting blood sugar and A1C dropped more when the ALA dosage was raised in individuals with type 2 diabetes along with their regular diabetic therapy for six months.
- Chromium
A lack of chromium impairs your body’s capacity to utilise sugar (carbs) for energy, raising your insulin requirements in the process.
chromium supplements decreased A1C in individuals with type 2 diabetes by approximately 0.6% in a review of 25 trials, and the average fasting blood sugar reduction was about 21 mg compared to a placebo.
There is some evidence to indicate that chromium may assist individuals with type 1 diabetes reduce their blood sugar levels.
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