Diabetic Herbs That Regulate Blood Sugar Naturally

People with diabetes, a blood sugar disorder that results from an inability to produce sufficient insulin, must find ways to regulate their blood sugar. While most diabetics use conventional medicine, including insulin injections, many others turn to herbal remedies to regulate their blood sugar naturally. Cinnamon, green tea, stevia and ginseng can all provide help for a diabetic who would like to regulate blood sugar with herbal remedies.

Cinnamon

• Common food-grade cinnamon can be bought in any grocery store and brewed into a tea that lowers the blood sugar. While ground cinnamon can be used, cinnamon sticks or chips work best. Simply place one cinnamon stick or a tablespoon of cinnamon chips into a cup and pour boiling water over the cinnamon. Allow the tea to brew for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove the pieces of cinnamon and sweeten to taste.

Green Tea

• Green tea is made from the leaves of a plant called Camellia sinesis and is a common beverage in Asia. The leaves used to make green tea are unfermented, in contrast to black tea leaves, which are fermented prior to brewing. Green tea is available in tea bags and in many flavors for those who would like to lower their blood sugar but do not enjoy the natural flavor of the tea.

Stevia

• Leaves from the stevia plant, or Stevia rebuadiana, are dried and powdered to create a natural herbal sweetener. While this sweetener is used by many for its sweetening properties, it is also useful in the lowering of blood sugar levels. Stevia can be used in cooking or for sweetening beverages but does not raise blood glucose levels like sugar does.

Ginseng

• The root of the American ginseng plant can also be used to lower blood sugar levels. American ginseng can be taken in capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form. There are various suggested dosages, so diabetics should consult their doctor before deciding how much American ginseng to take when trying to regulate blood sugar.

Considerations

• While herbs can help to lower blood sugar levels, they may also have side effects, that diabetics should discuss with their doctor prior to use. In addition, herbs are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so the potency and formulation of an herbal remedy can vary greatly. For this reason, it is wise to use herbal remedies for high blood sugar under a doctor's supervision.