The most well-known ancient spice for lowering blood sugar is Cinnamon, which can improve insulin sensitivity and help move sugar into cells, with studies showing it reduces fasting glucose and potentially lowers HbA1c in type 2 diabetes, alongside other traditional spices like Turmeric (curcumin), Ginger, Black Cumin, and Fenugreek.
Does cinnamon lower blood sugar? Studies say yes. This popular spice comes from the bark of the cinnamon tree and is used in everything from pumpkin spice lattes to Cincinnati chili. Cinnamon is especially great for people who have high blood sugar.
According to its proponents, you use the pinch method by holding the thumb and index finger of one hand just above the wrist of the other hand and then exerting a little bit of pressure on the wrist. Doing this will supposedly cause the release of insulin and break down glucose.
Herbs like rosemary, ginseng, and fenugreek may naturally support blood sugar control. However, they should complement and not replace prescribed diabetes medications. Always consult a doctor before starting any herbal remedies.
Drink more water. Drinking water and staying hydrated is important for managing blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. “Water helps your kidneys filter out excess sugar through urine,” says Khan. “So, the more hydrated you are, the more urine production you'll have, which flushes out sugar in the body.”
Turmeric, mostly at doses of 500–1000 mg per day, might help reduce pain levels and inflammation. Cinnamon, on the other hand, has been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels.
Golden Thread. Golden Thread is commonly used to treat diabetes in China. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloids and the active ingredient of Golden Thread. Berberine had a significant antihyperglycemic effect in both 36 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM and also in 48 poorly controlled patients with T2DM [23].
Testing your blood sugar is an essential part of managing your diabetes. Test your blood sugar first thing in the morning to get a baseline reading for the day. This can help you adjust your diabetes management plan as needed.
It is diagnosed using the "4-2-1 rule." A diagnosis is made if the patient has any of the following: diffuse intraretinal hemorrhages and microaneurysms in 4 quadrants, venous beading in ≥2 quadrants, or IRMA in ≥1 quadrant.
Interactions. Turmeric or curcumin might also increase the effects of other blood sugar medications, which could lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. People should talk to a doctor before increasing their intake of turmeric or curcumin and before taking turmeric or any other supplements for their symptoms.
5 tips to reduce or reverse diabetes
Did you know that as little as 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon a day can lower your blood sugar by 6% ? It's a great addition to oatmeal, cereals, yogurt and fruit. A spicy cinnamon fact: Don't take more than a teaspoon per day of the most popular cinnamon, “cassia,” also known as Vietnamese or Saigon cinnamons.
Other spices like cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, coriander, and cumin are also good at controlling blood sugar levels (3). Berberine – Research has shown that 500mg of Berberine taken 2-3 times daily was able to control blood sugar and lipid metabolism as effectively as metformin (4).
Possible Health Risks of Ginger in Your Diabetes Diet
It's important to speak with your physician or endocrinologist before you add ginger supplements to your diet, says Al Bochi. This is especially important if you're taking diabetes medication. “We know that ginger can affect your insulin levels,” she says.
Fenugreek. Research on the spice fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is also promising in diabetes. Clinical research in people with diabetes has been performed on both a fenugreek extract and on soaked fenugreek seeds showing improvements in fasting blood sugar and insulin sensitivity (Gupta et al.
The “three-hour rule” for rapid-acting insulin (aka "Insulin Stacking") Rapid-acting insulin begins to work about 15 minutes after injection, peaks in about 1 hour, and continues to work for 2 to 4 hours. The three-hour rule prevents “insulin stacking” and a low blood glucose (BG) or hypoglycemia.
To help you prevent or correct high blood sugar in the morning, your health care provider may suggest that you:
But there are simple steps you can take to lower your high blood sugar levels naturally:
Gosha-jinki-gan (GJK), consisting of 10 herbs, has been widely used for a regimen of diabetic complications, including neuropathy, in Japan.
In a meta-analysis comparing visceral and subcutaneous fat and liver fat in South Asians and White Europeans, investigators concluded that South Asians have significantly higher levels of ectopic fat, predominantly in the liver, which was likely the driver of the insulin resistance (59).
RESULTS. The addition of 1, 3, or 6 g of cinnamon to the diet led to significant decreases in serum glucose levels after 40 days. Values after 20 days were significantly lower only in the group receiving 6 g of cinnamon (Table 1).
Good for heart health: As per studies, both turmeric and cinnamon can help lower cholesterol levels and improve circulation, contributing to better heart health.