The best natural and homemade way to control diabetes and regulate blood sugar levels is to lose weight, as this means there is less fat in the body, which improves the functioning of the liver and pancreas, as well as improves insulin sensitivity, making its work easier.
To be able to lose weight, it is very important to eat a balanced diet, as well as practice regular exercise. See the best diet and exercise tips to lose weight in 1 week.
However, along with weight loss, there are also some plants that can be used to enhance the effect of insulin and help control blood sugar levels, especially in people with prediabetes. These plants should only be used after consulting the doctor who is prescribing the treatment, as some plants can interfere with the effect of some medications used for diabetes and can cause serious complications, such as hypoglycemia.
Any of the plants presented below can also be consumed in the form of a food supplement, sold in health food stores as capsules. In these cases, its use must be done in accordance with the manufacturer or in accordance with the guidance of a nutritionist or herbalist.
Some of the plants that have scientific evidence to regulate blood glucose include:
1. Pheno-grego
Fenugreek, known scientifically as Trigonella fenugreek It is a very versatile medicinal plant, which can be used to treat various health problems, but has a strong effect on controlling blood sugar levels.
This is because this plant has, in its seeds, an active substance, known as 4-hydroxy leucine, which, according to several studies, appears to increase the production of insulin in the pancreas, reducing high glucose levels, common in diabetes.
Additionally, fenugreek also appears to delay stomach emptying, decrease carbohydrate absorption, and promote the body’s use of glucose, lowering blood sugar levels.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water;
- 2 teaspoons of fenugreek seeds.
How to use
Place the water and leaves in a pan and let it boil for 1 minute, then turn off the heat and let it rest for another 5 minutes. Finally, remove the seeds and drink the tea after it cools. This tea can be used after meals to help regulate glucose levels, however, it should not be used if medications are used for diabetes, as it can cause hypoglycemia, especially if the doctor is not aware of it.
The use of fenugreek may have some side effects on children, pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding and should therefore be avoided in these cases.
2. Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng, also known as Panax ginseng, is a medicinal root widely used throughout the world for the most diverse purposes, especially to improve cerebral blood circulation and improve performance. However, this root also helps to increase the production of insulin by the pancreas, in addition to improving insulin sensitivity.
Therefore, ginseng can be a great option for people with type 2 diabetes, helping to better regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water;
- 1 tablespoon of ginseng root.
How to use
Bring the water and ginseng to boil for 5 minutes and then rest for another 5 minutes. Finally, strain, let it cool and drink 2 to 3 times a day.
Regular consumption of this tea can cause side effects in some people, the most common of which include feeling nervous, headache or insomnia, for example. Furthermore, pregnant women should not use this tea without supervision from an obstetrician.
3. Dandelion
Dandelion is another plant that appears to have a strong effect on diabetes, as both its leaves and roots are able to regulate blood sugar levels. In fact, dandelion root even has a substance known as inulin, which can increase insulin production, as it is a type of sugar that is not metabolized, that is, it does not lead to an increase in insulin levels. blood sugar.
Dandelion can therefore be used as a good natural option for pre-diabetic people.
Ingredients
How to use
Let the water and roots boil in a pan for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and let it rest for another 5 minutes. Strain and drink after cooling. This tea can be drunk up to 3 times a day.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile is another plant widely used in folk medicine, as it is known as a natural tranquilizer, however, this plant also has an effect on blood sugar levels, helping to keep it under control. Furthermore, it also appears to protect against complications of the disease, such as damage to blood vessels.
Some of the components that appear to be responsible for these effects include substances such as umbelliferone, esculin, luteolin and quercetin.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of chamomile;
- 1 cup of boiling water.
How to use
Add chamomile to boiling water and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain, let cool and drink 2 to 3 times a day.
There are some studies that indicate that chamomile should not be ingested during pregnancy, for this reason, pregnant women should consult their obstetrician before using this tea.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon, in addition to being an excellent aromatic spice, also helps control blood sugar levels as it contains a component, known as hydroxy-methyl-chalcone, which appears to mimic the effect of insulin in the body, which helps with metabolism. glucose.
To do this, cinnamon can be added to food or ingested in the form of cinnamon water, for example.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 cinnamon sticks;
- 1 liter of water.
How to use
Add the cinnamon sticks to the water and let it rest in the fridge overnight. Then remove the cinnamon sticks and drink throughout the day.
There are some studies that indicate that cinnamon should not be ingested during pregnancy, so pregnant women are advised to consult their obstetrician before using this tea.
