It is more crucial than ever to identify measures to prevent diabetes, since 11.3% of the population in the U.S. already has the disease and many more are at risk of developing it. Even though it is known that eating certain kinds of food may either increase or lower the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, there is also a supplement that has the potential to have an impact.
People may suffer from two types of diabetes: diabetes type 1 or diabetes type 2. Both of these types cause the amount of sugar, also known as glucose, in your blood to rise to unhealthy levels. Patients with type 1 diabetes develop this disease when their bodies are unable to produce an adequate amount of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for maintaining normal blood glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is quite prevalent, and increased blood sugar levels are often brought on by either being overweight or not exercising frequently enough.
One expert explained how a certain ingredient can have a “powerful” effect on blood sugar levels. A pharmaceutical scientist named Kai Ali suggested that berberine supplements may have an effect on blood sugar levels.
“Berberine is a bioactive compound found in various plants, such as phellodendron amurense (Amur cork tree), hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal), and several shrubs from the berberis genus. It has a long history in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine due to its unique health benefits, including its powerful blood sugar-lowering effects. There are many studies to show that berberine is effective at treating diabetes. The main way it does this is by reducing blood sugar. It is sometimes called an ‘insulin sensitizer’ because it reduces insulin resistance,” the scientist said.
He recommended taking between two and three doses of berberine each day. “Metformin and rosiglitazone are two common pharmaceutical drugs used to help regulate blood sugar in individuals with diabetes. Taking 500 mg of berberine two to three times per day has been shown to be as effective as both of these two prescription drugs,” Ali added.
Berberine can be found in tablet, powder, or liquid form and is available in many wellness shops and online stores.
According to experts, normal blood sugar levels are between 4.0 and 5.4 mmol/L when fasting and up to 7.8 mmol/L two hours after eating. For people with diabetes, blood sugar level targets are four to seven mmol/L before eating, and they should be under nine mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes, and under 8.5 mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes after eating.
There are several factors that might put you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Some of them are the following:
- Are over 40.
- Have a close relative with diabetes (such as a parent, brother, or sister.)
- Are overweight or obese.
