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Diabetic? Try these natural treatments to lower your blood sugar

Did you know that there are natural substances that can lower your blood sugar levels? If you've got diabetes, talk with your doctor about adding cinnamon, green tea and stevia to your diet to help you control your blood glucose.

Lower blood sugar with science

Studies have shown that green tea, cinnamon and stevia are all beneficial to diabetics.

  • Cinnamon: The American Diabetes Association published a 2003 study in Diabetes Care that shows the benefits of cinnamon to a diabetes diet. The study's conclusions state, "The results of this study demonstrate that intake of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes..." In other words, cinnamon is not only beneficial for a diabetic's blood sugar, it also reduces cholesterol in diabetics.
  • Stevia: The United States National Library of Medicing published a 2004 study in PubMed that demonstrates the effects of stevoside, a component of the stevia plant, on diabetics. According to this study, "stevioside reduces postprandial blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients..." A lower after-meal blood sugar level can mean less need for insulin injections and other types of medication.
  • Green tea: BMC Pharmocology published a 2004 study in BioMed Central that shows the effects of green tea on glucose metabolism and blood sugar levels. According to the conclusions, "The present study provides evidence that green tea has an antidiabetic effect."
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As you can see, there are ways for diabetics to lower blood sugar naturally, but you should always discuss diet and exercise changes with your doctor.

, Health Examiner

Victoria is a U.S. Air Force veteran who has been writing in various genres for over 20 years. In addition to this column, Victoria is also the Health Technology Examiner, and a Feature Writer on the topic of Artificial Intelligence for Suite101, an online magazine. She currently holds an...

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