Glucose Support

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects the blood sugar and insulin levels in the body. Treatment includes lifestyle strategies and sometimes medication, but some complementary therapies, such as herbs and supplements, may help.

1. Alpha-Lipoic Acid

This super powerful fat-and-water-soluble antioxidant helps support the conversion of glucose into energy in our body’s cells and can help maintain insulin sensitivity. ALA is especially known to raise glutathione levels (the body’s master antioxidant) to those of a younger person. It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory agent, which helps prevent many degenerative diseases.

2. Bitter Melon

Bitter melon belongs to a subtropical and tropical vine family of fruits. It contains nutrients that have various benefits for people with blood sugar imbalances such as potassium, magnesium and dietary fibres. Scientists have isolated four compounds that work in similar ways to Berberine by activating the AMPK enzyme which moves glucose from your blood to your cells and also regulates metabolism.

3. Cinnamon Extract

This sweet and pungent spice dates back thousands of years and was highly prized for its medicinal uses amongst many ancient civilisations. Nowadays, it is the most well-known spice for the purpose of balancing blood sugar. It also has fantastic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon contains compounds that promote insulin function and allow cells to use glucose more effectively.

4. Vanadium

This is a trace nutritional element that occurs naturally in low concentrations in foods like mushrooms, shellfish and some spices like black pepper, parsley, and dill weed. Two specific compounds in vanadium, ‘vanadate’ and ‘vanadyl’, have been shown to increase the transport of glucose into fat and muscle cells, increase glucose metabolism, speed up the conversion of glucose into glycogen (the storage form of glucose), and slow down the breakdown of fat.

5. Chromium

Chromium is a trace mineral that we need in small amounts to process carbohydrates and fats. This mineral helps regulate blood sugar by working with insulin to help transport glucose into cells. Studies show that a supplemental amount can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce insulin resistance and improve glucose uptake. Natural food sources include whole grains, bran cereals, seafood, green beans, broccoli, prunes, nuts, peanut butter and potatoes.

6. Zinc

The mineral zinc helps in the production and storage of insulin.  People who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet (especially those who eat a lot of soya) tend to have zinc deficiencies. Foods that have zinc include fresh oysters, ginger root, lamb, pecans, split peas, egg yolk, beef liver, lima beans, almonds, walnuts, sardines, chicken and buckwheat.