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Diabetic Supplements That Actually Work!

Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes supplements
Written by:Dr. Ergin
Publish Date:Mar 06, 2022

What Diabetic Supplements Do Actually Work?

Today I am talking about diabetic supplements that actually work! It is not just diabetic supplements, but also herbs. I know you guys have heard "some stuff" from "people", but you are probably all lost. Every company claims that their diabetic supplement work but in reality, most don't.

How do you differentiate between who is right and who is wrong?

You may have been a victim of a Facebook or Google ad that claimed that this supplement was going to cure your diabetes or make your blood sugar totally normal. Today I will tell you exactly what may happen when you take the herbs, which will have a variable effect on every individual, just like any other medicine.

Remember that herbs can be very effective on some people, but not on others. So choose the right diabetic supplement with the right ingredients and high quality. Today I will talk about bitter melonfenugreek, amla, gymnematurmeric, and jambolana. I actually chose these herbs for our newest diabetic support formula. We finally came up with a strong formula with minimal side effects that will help your blood sugar holistically and naturally.

I realized that it's not just the type of herb that matters, but also where you get it and how you process it.

Just like a soup, for example, no matter where you go, that one restaurant or that one person, which is typically your mother, does it just right, but nobody else can match it. That is called proprietary. We finally found the secret sauce to making the best diabetic supplement and today I am proud to talk about the ingredients in it.

SugarMD advanced glucose support

SugarMD advanced glucose support Bitter melon or bitter gourd

Bitter Melon- Main Diabetic Supplement in Advanced Glucose Support

Bitter melon contains several chemicals that appear to act like insulin and aid in blood sugar regulation. According to many studies, it does this by increasing the amount of glucose that enters the cells and then assisting your body in processing and storing it in the liver, muscles, and fat by storing glucose in the form of glycogen.

Bitter melon also prevents your body from converting protein and fat into glucose and releasing it into the bloodstream. So you might be thinking that it's like being on insulin but not taking it. Yep, bitter gourd has a compound that functions just like insulin. In fact, it reduces the blood glucose levels in both type I and type II diabetes.

If you are on insulin most of the time, you will have to lower the dose of insulin when you take bitter melon. Again, I do not recommend buying and using bitter melon alone from sources you do not know and without knowing what you are doing.

We put just the right amount of it in our supplement, but you will still need to carefully monitor your blood sugar once you start, and if your blood sugar is below 100 mg/dl or 5.5 mmol/L in the morning, lower your insulin by at least 10 percent. Some of my patients stopped taking insulin by gradually lowering their insulin.

If you are unsure what to do with your insulin, ask your doctor how much to lower your insulin because your blood sugar is lower now. What other benefits? Bitter melon is also high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, both of which are beneficial to the skin. It fights acne and skin blemishes while also slowing down the aging process. It can be used to treat a variety of skin infections, including ringworm, psoriasis, and itching.

Fenugreek, A Mediterranean and Indian Delicacy.

Fenugreek seeds are used in many Indian kitchens. It has been used a lot as an herbal supplement to treat diabetes. Multiple reasons have been suggested for its effectiveness in people with diabetes. Soluble fibers in fenugreek, like glucomannan fiber, slow the absorption of sugars in the intestine. Alkaloids like fenugrecin and trigonelline have been shown to have antidiabetic activity, and amino acids like 4-hydroxyisoleucine (4-OH Ile) help the pancreas release insulin.

Amla, A Unique Diabetic Supplement

Amla also has chromium, which may make your body more sensitive to insulin, which helps keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. Amla also contains a high concentration of antioxidants, which are extremely beneficial to our bodies by quenching free radicals in the blood. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can harm cells.

When atoms or molecules in our bodies gain or lose electrons, free radicals form. Their formation is normal, but if not stopped, they can harm our organs and their ability to perform various functions. Only antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals by donating the missing electron, but doing so causes them to become free radicals themselves.

Because our bodies cannot produce antioxidants on their own, it is critical that we consume plenty of antioxidants through our diet. As a result, amla is a must-have fruit for diabetics to ensure that their blood sugar levels are under control and that they can live a better life!

How To Prevent Pancreatitis If You Have Diabetes?

In addition to that, there is a bonus benefit of amla here for you: Scientists at the University of Maryland Medical Center say that amla can also be used as a traditional remedy to avoid pancreatitis. Why is pancreatitis an issue? It is fairly common among diabetics and your risk is even slightly higher if you are on medications such as Ozempic, Trulicity, Januvia, etc. So, Amla can help prevent this potentially devastating complication.

Gymnema, King of Diabetic Herbs

It has been used as a supplement in conjunction with other diabetes treatments to help lower blood sugar levels. It's also known as "gurmar," which means "sugar destroyer" in Hindi. Gymnema may aid in the suppression of sugar cravings and the reduction of high blood sugar levels.

The herb may also aid in the treatment of diabetes by stimulating insulin secretion and the regeneration of pancreatic islet cells, which are the cells that make insulin when needed.

advanced glucose support

Best Diabetic Supplement In The Market

Turmeric/Curcumin- A Great Diabetic Supplement

Curcumin has been shown in a number of animal and human studies to have a favorable effect on high blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin sensitivity.

People with prediabetes who took curcumin as a diabetic supplement for nine months had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who took a placebo. According to the study's authors, curcumin appeared to boost the activity of the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

Jambolan or Jamun,  A Popular Folk Remedy For Diabetes

It is used orally to treat gas (flatulence), stomach swelling (inflammation) (gastritis), constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal conditions. So, if you are already struggling with these problems, using jambolan, which is present in the new formula of sugarmd glucose support, may help you in both ways.

Don’t take my word for it, but some people even use jambolan as an aphrodisiac to stimulate sexual desire. I am not sure if that is a strong aphrodisiac, but if I was diabetic, I would not have had any problem with it. Jambolan as a diabetic supplement aids in the slowing of the starch-to-sugar conversion process.

As a result, the chances of a sudden spike in blood sugar levels when the starch in your food is metabolized are reduced. People with type 2 diabetes have low insulin levels, right? Jambolan seeds increase insulin availability by either increasing secretion or preventing it from degrading quickly.

Berberine As A Diabetic Supplement. How Effective Is It?

Berberine is a bioactive plant derivative that belongs to the alkaloid family of chemicals, which is a class of substances that includes caffeine and ginseng. Dihydroberberine is one of the 17 active metabolites of berberine, and it is created in the body by gut microorganisms as a result of a reduction process that occurs after berberine has been consumed.

DHB is transformed back to its original form once it has been absorbed by the intestinal wall. Thus, supplementing with dihydroberberine could bypass this rate-limiting stage in microbial reduction and alleviate the possible gastrointestinal irritation that some people experience when taking berberine supplements.

It is most likely that this GI distress is caused by inadequate absorption and/or the microbial reduction process. Dihydroberberine's structure (which contains many hydrogen bonds) also provides for greater bioavailability and absorption as well as easier binding at the cellular level than berberine's structure.

Comparing the intestinal absorption of dihydroberberine to the intestinal absorption of berberine, you would need to consume 5 times the amount of berberine to achieve the same results as you would with dihydroberberine! In addition, dihydroberberine has a longer duration of action in the body, lasting eight hours as opposed to only four hours with berberine.

super berberine

Dihydro-berberine + Ceylon Cinnamon

One of the most significant advantages of berberine is its potential to assist in the regulation of blood glucose levels in the body. It is possible that fat oxidation (also known as fat burning) will decrease when blood glucose and insulin levels are elevated.

As a result of its ability to stimulate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways, berberine can aid in the increase of blood glucose breakdown and utilization, insulin sensitivity, fat oxidation, and fat cell growth while simultaneously inhibiting fat cell growth.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that treatment with berberine has considerable hypoglycemic and blood-glucose-lowering advantages. Berberine and dihydroberberine were tested in a mouse study to see which had the most effect on enhancing insulin sensitivity.

Two treatments of dihydroberberine or berberine were given to mice fed a high-fat diet and treated with berberine. When compared to the berberine group, the dihydroberberine group showed significant reductions in adiposity and lipid accumulation, as well as a 44 percent increase in insulin sensitivity.

Berberine had no effect on obesity or glucose tolerance when administered at the same dose. When berberine was used to evoke the same response as dihydroberberine, it took five times the amount. The increased bioavailability of dihydroberberine is attributed to the fact that it has more bioavailability and better absorption.

Can Cinnamon Help Lower Blood Sugar?

Cinnamon fights diabetes by lowering blood sugar. Cinnamon, but not all cinnamon, can decrease blood sugar and treat diabetes. Cinnamon is a popular spice used in sweet and savory recipes worldwide.
When used in proper dosages, it can reduce blood sugar and help manage diabetes. As with everything, you must be careful.
 
Cinnamon comes from Cinnamomum tree bark.
While you may identify cinnamon with rolls or breakfast cereals, which you shouldn't eat, cinnamon has been utilized in traditional medicine and food preservation for thousands of years.
 
Ceylon cinnamon, called "genuine cinnamon," is the most expensive. Ceylon Cinnamon is gold and not sold in stores.
SugarMD Super Berberine is only effective because it contains 20-times-concentrated Ceylon cinnamon. Concentrated means... After concentration, 1 gram becomes 20 grams. One study found that ingesting 1.2 teaspoons (6 grams) of cinnamon with rice pudding slowed stomach emptying and lowered blood sugar.
You must be able to enjoy 6 grams of cinnamon with anything (not rice pudding). SugarMD Super Berberine contains Ceylon cinnamon, NOT Cassia cinnamon. Because Cassia cinnamon is the cheapest and most common type. We'll discuss Cassia cinnamon's health dangers in a minute.
 
While both are sold as cinnamon, there are substantial distinctions between them.
Cinnamon's dietary stats may not prove it's a superfood. It doesn't include many vitamins or minerals, but its antioxidants give it health benefits.
Cinnamon has the second most antioxidants among 26 herbs and spices, according to a study.
Antioxidants assist minimize oxidative stress, a form of cell damage produced by diabetics' free radicals.
Adults with prediabetes who took 500 mg of Ceylon cinnamon extract daily for 12 weeks experienced a 14% drop in an oxidative stress marker.
Oxidative stress is linked to almost every chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes.

How Does Cinnamon Work For Diabetes Control?

Cinnamon can imitate insulin and promote insulin sensitivity in concentrated amounts. Cinnamon on food or dessert won't do anything.
In diabetics, either the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the cells don't respond appropriately, causing excessive blood sugar.
 
Cinnamon can imitate insulin's effects by improving glucose transfer into cells, lowering blood sugar and fighting diabetes.
 
It can also reduce blood sugar by boosting insulin sensitivity, making glucose transport more efficient.
One study found that Ceylon cinnamon enhanced insulin sensitivity immediately after eating and for 12 hours.
Cinnamon supplementation increased insulin sensitivity in another trial.
 

Can Cinnamon Lower 1c Levels?

Ceylon cinnamon decreases blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c. Several controlled investigations demonstrate it lowers fasting blood sugar.
 
One research of 543 type 2 diabetics found that consuming it lowered blood sugar by more than 24 mg/dL (1.33 mmol/L).
 
Depending on the meal's size and carb content, blood sugar can rise substantially after eating.
 
Blood sugar swings can promote oxidative stress and inflammation, which can damage cells and cause chronic disease.
 
Cinnamon reduces post-meal blood sugar rises. According to researchers, it slows stomach emptying.
 
It may reduce blood sugar after meals by blocking digestive enzymes that break down carbs in the small intestine.
 

Can Ceylon Cinnamon  Reduce Diabetes Complications?

This spice lowers both fasting and post-meal blood sugar as a result diabetes complications may be reduced. Diabetes doubles the risk of heart disease. Cinnamon reduces heart disease risk factors.
Cinnamon reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in persons with type 2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis.
 
Also, "good" HDL cholesterol rose slightly.
Ceylon cinnamon decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in another investigation.

How To Lower Risk of Dementia With Cinnamon?

Diabetes has been related to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; many refer to Alzheimer's as "type 3 diabetes."
Cinnamon extract reduces the capacity of beta-amyloid and tau to create Alzheimer's plaques and tangles.
 
Ceylon cinnamon trumps Cassia cinnamon.
 
Ceylon and Cassia cinnamon are popular.
 
Cassia cinnamon comes from Cinnamomum trees. It's cheap and found in most food goods and store spice aisles.
Cinnamomum verum produces Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is more expensive and less frequent than Ceylon cinnamon, but it has more antioxidants. Cassia cinnamon has less antioxidants and more coumarin, a potentially hazardous organic compound.
 
Several studies in rodents show that coumarin is harmful to the liver, prompting worries that it can also harm humans.
 
The European Food Safety Authority has set a daily coumarin intake limit of 0.045 mg/lb (0.1 mg/kg). Beware of people selling cheap cassia cinnamon as a diabetes cure.
 
Cassia cinnamon contains a high concentration of coumarin, and you can rapidly surpass the upper limit by taking supplements or eating big amounts.
 
Ceylon cinnamon contains low quantities of coumarin, therefore it's hard to ingest too much.
 
Cinnamon may raise your risk of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, so monitor your blood sugar more often and adjust your insulin as needed.
 
Bottom line, research shows cinnamon lowers blood sugar.
No consensus exists on how much to consume to gain the advantages while avoiding hazards.
In investigations, 1–6 grams of unconcentrated and 50–500 mg of 20:1 concentrated version per day were utilized as supplements or food powder.
Cinnamon lowers blood sugar and helps control diabetes problems, among other health benefits, according to multiple research.
Ceylon cinnamon is preferable to Cassia cinnamon for lowering blood sugar. Ceylon cinnamon alone.
 
Ceylon cinnamon includes more antioxidants and less liver-damaging coumarin. For optimal results, try our SugarMD Super Berberine, which contains dihyroberberine and Ceylon cinnamon.

6 Vitamins Every Diabetic Should Take As A Diabetic Supplement!

Benfotiamine, alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and Vitamin D are must-take diabetic vitamins every diabetic should add to their supplement regimen.

Benfotiamine, a fat-soluble version of vitamin B1, helps avoid diabetes complications. Benfotiamine is a key component for avoiding the potentially catastrophic effects of high blood sugar.
 
Benfotiamine has been prescribed in Europe for decades to reduce diabetic nerve, kidney, and eye deterioration and treat diabetic neuropathy symptoms.
 
Diabetic neuropathy damages microvasculature (small blood vessels) in the limbs and nerves' ability to send messages to the brain. This pathological blood-vessel damage causes numbness and severe tingling in the feet (and hands), leading to pain and, in the worst instance, amputation.
 

Benfotiamine

Benfotiamine prevents excessive blood sugar from damaging cells by inhibiting metabolic pathways.
Benfotiamine can protect diabetics' nerves, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and heart. Benfotiamine's multiple benefits in reducing diabetic complications make it a must-have vitamin.
 
Sugarmd neuropathy support contains benfotiamine, which we'll discuss in this video. We put everything men know about diabetes issues in Sugarmd neuropathy support, but it prevents all diabetic complications.
Benfotiamine isn't like other diabetes medications
Diabetes treatments are often prescribed. Current type II diabetes treatments either increase insulin production or improve its effectiveness to lower blood sugar levels. We have 80 diabetes drugs, but diabetics still get complications.
I encounter many folks with neuropathy or kidney illness every day in my clinic. Because treatment isn't full or comprehensive without natural defensive mechanisms like benfotiamine, alpha-lipoic acid, etc.
Benfotiamine is an underappreciated but effective therapy for reducing diabetes complications.
Benfotiamine is thiamine's chemical relative (vitamin B1). Thiamine helps convert lipids and carbs into energy-rich glucose. Thiamine helps regulate glucose metabolism.
 
Benfotiamine is fat-soluble, making it easier to enter cells than thiamine and preventing diabetes-related cell malfunction. Benfotiamine's high bioavailability makes it effective for treating diabetes and sugar-related organ damage.
 
Diabetes medications that raise insulin output or improve cell sensitivity to insulin don't prevent complications. Only benfotiamine decreases intracellular glucose levels and changes the body's metabolic reaction to harmful sugar breakdown products. Benfotiamine increases the development of transketolase, an enzyme that transforms potentially hazardous glucose breakdown products into innocuous molecules.
 
Studies reveal that benfotiamine blocks three key mechanisms that lead to AGE development (AGEs).
 
AGEs are connected to diabetes-related neuropathy, retinopathy, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and Nephropathy (kidney disease).
 
AGE-related cardiovascular disease occurs in non-diabetic older persons. Aging is a risk factor for heart dysfunction even in non-diabetics due to AGE buildup. AGEs may cause vascular damage, scar tissue development, and inflammation. This process is increased in diabetics, therefore even non-diabetics can benefit from benfotiamine's AGE inhibition.
Benfotiamine is a safe and well-tolerated prescription medication in Europe.
Now that it's available as a dietary supplement in the U.S., researchers are looking into benfotiamine and finding evidence that it helps prevent diabetes and high blood sugar problems.
 
Benfotiamine protects brain and nerve tissue
 
Neuropathy is a painful consequence of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy causes
 
  • Peripheral nerve damage
  • Traditional painkillers don't work
  • limb numbness and feeling changes
Polyneuropathy affects many nerves in the extremities.
 
Benfotiamine relieves diabetic polyneuropathy in clinical trials. A recent random, double-blind research in Germany found that diabetics with polyneuropathy who took 300 mg of benfotiamine per day for three weeks improved nerve function scores.
Pain decrease was most noticeable. The authors say their findings support two prior randomized controlled studies that revealed benfotiamine's benefits in diabetic neuropathy sufferers. Diabetes causes oxidative stress, a factor in many age-related diseases. Oxidative stress can damage brain tissue. Diabetes is linked to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
 
New research suggests benfotiamine may protect the brain from diabetes-related oxidative damage. Researchers created diabetes in test participants. After two weeks of elevated blood sugar, individuals were administered benfotiamine. Benfotiamine lowered oxidative stress in the diabetic brain, leading researchers to conclude that it may prevent diabetes-induced cerebral oxidative stress via a unique mechanism.
 
Benfotiamine protects the peripheral nerves and brain against diabetes-related damage, according to this study.

How does Alpha Lipoic Acid Help Diabetics?

Diabetes, Lyme disease, shingles, thyroid disease, kidney failure, and HIV all induce nerve injury owing to oxidative stress.
 
A 2021 clinical study found that people with unexplained discomfort experienced less severe pain when taking 400-800 mg of oral ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) compared to a placebo.
 
ALA has substantial antioxidant benefits in diabetic neuropathy, a potentially serious condition.
 
A 2012 Dutch analysis found that daily ALA for three weeks reduced neuropathic pain significantly.
 
Second, a daily dose of 300-600 mg for two to four weeks was safe and beneficial in relieving neuropathy symptoms.
 
A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled studies looked into ALA in metabolic diseases. Others had metabolic problems or type 2 diabetes. ALA supplementation lowered fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration, insulin resistance, and hemoglobin A1C levels.

B Vitamins For Diabetics?

Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble B1 vitamin. Other B vitamins also improve nervous system health. B-6 and B-12 are effective neuropathy treatments. SugarMD Neuropathy Support contains all these vitamins. Vitamin B-6 protects nerve endings while benfotiamine reduces pain and inflammation. Lack of B-12 can cause neuropathy. Many long-term metformin users are B12 deficient. Eggs, seafood, veggies, dairy, and poultry all contain B vitamins. If you don't mind gaining weight, eating adequate vitamins may be challenging.
 
Acetyl-L-carnitine supports healthy nerve cell development, relieves nerve discomfort, and boosts energy. It relieves cancer-related tiredness and neuropathy. It's available as a supplement and in our neuropathy support, but it's also found in meat, fish, poultry, and dairy.

Vitamin D

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, vitamin D replacement treatment was tested on individuals with DPN and low vitamin D levels. Their research was based on studies showing vitamin D improves axon regeneration, myelination, nerve growth factor synthesis, and neuronal degeneration prevention.
 
Most diabetics don't know they're vitamin D deficient. To acquire adequate vitamins, eat salmon 3-4 times a week or sunbathe for an hour a day. Not sure whether that's easy for everyone, therefore it's preferable to take a supplement instead. Vitamin D deficiency won't help neuropathy. SugarMD neuropathy support includes vitamin D.

Can I Take Diabetic Supplements If I Am Already on Diabetic Medications Such As Metformin or Insulin?

Yes, you can take diabetic supplements such as SugarMD Advanced Glucose Support or SugarMD Super Berberine as long as you continue to monitor blood sugars. Regardless, whether you are on metforminglimepiride, or any other diabetic medication such as Ozempic or Lantus you need to carefully monitor your blood sugar and adjust your other meds accordingly if needed under your doctor's guidance. 

There is no clinically significant interaction with medications when you take the supplements we talked above.So that is it. I gave you  the benefits of all the herbs we have in our diabetic supplements. We pretty much collected the finest and purest ayurvedic herbs. I'd like you to give it a shot and let us know what you think of it and how it affected you in the comments section below. Stay healthy, Dr. Ahmet Ergin

Who is Dr. Ergin? Dr. Ahmet Ergin is an endocrinologist with a particular interest and passion for diabetes care. Dr. Ergin earned his medical degree with honors at Marmara University School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. Then, he completed his internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. He is also a certified diabetes education specialist.
 
Disclaimer: Any information on diseases and treatments available on this website is intended for general guidance only and must never be considered a substitute for the advice provided by your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional with questions you may have regarding your medical condition.

Written By Dr. Ergin

425 total articles

Meet Dr. Ahmet Ergin a highly skilled and dedicated endocrinologist with a passion for diabetes care. Dr. Ergin earned his medical degree with honors from Marmara University in Istanbul. He completed internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Ergin is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism due to his vast medical expertise. He's a certified diabetes educator, author of “The Ultimate Diabetes Book,” and founder of “the SugarMD YouTube channel.” Dr. Ergin offers exceptional diabetes care to his patients in Port Saint Lucie, FL, helping them manage effectively. Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Information on this website isn't intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Discuss with your doctor and do not self-treat”