Type 2 diabetes: Take this herbal supplement to lower post-meal sugar levels

Type 2 diabetes reveals a key detail about a person’s body – that their pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. The hormone insulin is prized for ability to moderate blood sugar levels, a type of sugar that enters your bloodstream when you eat. If you have diabetes, this function is disabled, giving rise to uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

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Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that supply vital organs such as the heart.

If left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening complications, such as heart disease.

To make up for the poor insulin production, a person with type 2 diabetes has to overhaul aspects of their lifestyle, not least their diet.

The foods you eat can either lower blood sugar levels or send them soaring.

In relation to the former, carbohydrate intake should be curtailed.

This is because carbohydrate is broken down into glucose relatively quickly and therefore has a more pronounced effect on blood sugar levels than either fat or protein.

Conversely, certain foods have been touted for their ability to mimic insulin and stabilise blood sugar levels, particular after meals when they are likely to spike.

One dietary essential is supplements containing Gymnema sylvestre, an herb derived from a woody climbing shrub that’s native to the tropical forests of India, Africa and Australia.

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It has long been touted for its ability to treat various ailments but research has found some substance to these claims.

As a supplement, it has been used in combination with other diabetes medications to lower blood sugar.

Research shows that Gymnema sylvestre blocks receptors in your intestines and thus sugar absorption, lowering your post-meal blood sugar levels.

Studies suggest that consuming 200–400 mg of gymnemic acid reduces the intestinal absorption of the sugar glucose.

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In one study, Gymnema appeared to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels.

The study concluded that reducing blood sugar after a meal resulted in a decrease in average blood sugar levels over time.

This could help decrease long-term complications of diabetes.

General tips to lower blood sugar

In addition to eating a low-carb diet, physical exercise helps lower your blood sugar level.

According to the NHS, you should aim for 2.5 hours of activity a week.

Type 2 diabetes – how to spot it

Symptoms do not usually appear in the initial stages but if you do experience symptoms, the most common include:

• Urinating more than usual, particularly at night
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Feeling very tired
• Losing weight without trying to
• Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Blurred vision

According to the NHS, you should see a GP if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you’re worried you may have a higher risk of getting it.

Am I at risk?

You’re more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you:

• Are over 40 (or 25 for south Asian people)
• Have a close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother or sister)
• Are overweight or obese
• Are of south Asian, Chinese, African Caribbean or black African origin (even if you were born in the UK).

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