If you’re fine-tuning strategies to manage your blood sugar levels, our functional medicine clinic in Toronto can recommend botanical medicine  with your diet and exercise routines. 

Botanical medicine  is becoming widespread for those seeking to  balance blood sugar levels, enhance insulin secretion, and  help curb appetite naturally. While pharmaceutical drugs (i.e. semaglutides) have gained attention for promoting weight loss by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, some people may opt for natural treatment options.

Fortunately, medicinal herbs offer similar benefits that aim to enhance your blood sugar regulation. Here, we explore three natural options and how they can help fine-tune blood sugar, support weight management, and  healthy longevity.

Top 3 Natural Supplements and Foods to Regulate Blood Sugar

1. Berberine

About: Berberine is a compound found in several plants, including goldenseal, barberry, and Oregon grape.

Health Benefits: This compound has gained significant attention for its ability to lower blood sugar levels. Several studies highlight its potential:

• • A study from Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that berberine significantly reduced blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, comparable to the effects of metformin.
  • Another study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology demonstrated that berberine activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, enhancing glucose uptake and improving insulin sensitivity.
  • Research from Metabolism showed that berberine may lower blood sugar levels by increasing plasma GLP-1 levels, which helps moderate insulin secretion and gastrointestinal movement.

These findings support berberine’s role in glucose metabolism, making it a promising natural option for blood sugar management.

2. Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia)

About: Bitter melon is a tropical fruit that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, particularly in Asian countries.

Health Benefits: Studies have shown bitter melon to have promising effects for managing blood sugar, particularly in people with type 2 diabetes:

• • A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that bitter melon supplementation improved insulin resistance and lowered blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.
  • Research from Phytomedicine indicated that bitter melon enhances insulin sensitivity by increasing the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), which plays a crucial role in glucose uptake in skeletal muscles.
  • A Nutrition Journal study showed that bitter melon extract significantly reduced blood glucose and A1c levels, making it a valuable supplement for blood sugar management.

Thus, bitter melon may be a potent natural remedy for blood sugar control, offering benefits that could be similar to conventional diabetic medications.

3. Gymnema Sylvestre

About: Gymnema sylvestre is a woody climbing shrub native to the tropical forests of India, Africa, and Australia. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 2,000 years.

Health Benefits: Gymnema sylvestre is known for its unique ability to reduce sugar cravings and reduce high blood sugar levels, which were validated in these reports: 

• • A clinical trial from the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition reported that Gymnema sylvestre supplements significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels and improved insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes.
  • A study in Phytomedicine found that Gymnema sylvestre extract promotes the regeneration of pancreatic islet cells, enhancing the body’s natural insulin production.
  • Additional research from Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism highlighted Gymnema sylvestre’s ability to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides for supporting overall metabolism.

Gymnema sylvestre’s may be a tool for managing blood sugar, making it potentially valuable to a holistic health routine.

Suggested reading: Optimizing Estrogen Detoxification with Functional Medicine from Toronto

Incorporating herbal medicine  into your wellness routine

These natural options may be supportive for a healthy lifestyle and weight management goals. Nevertheless, it’s essential to approach these supplements with care, especially if you’re already on medications for blood sugar management. Consultations with a functional provider (i.e. functional medicine-practising naturopathic doctors or nurse practitioners) can help ensure that these ingredients are safe for you.

Begin your health journey with our functional medicine and IV therapy in Toronto

If you’re considering trying berberine, bitter melon, Gymnema sylvestre or other botanical supplements, our Toronto Functional Medicine Centre team can guide you! With over 50 years of combined healthcare experience our health team can walk you along the path to achieving health goals and a balanced lifestyle.

A customized, systems-oriented approach to health can significantly enhance your wellness. By combing through your medical and family history, current lifestyle (including diet and medications), environmental factors, and results from functional lab tests, we can create a tailored treatment plan for your personal hormonal and metabolic health.

We also advocate for combining various treatment options to address individual symptoms and health concerns. This mix-and-match strategy allows us to develop a personalized approach for your needs only! Our functional medicine clinic in Toronto integrates Western medicine with holistic treatments, including naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, psychotherapy, herbal medicine, and IV therapy (i.e. vitamin C, glutathione, NAD+ IV, etc.). 

Recommended Reading: Optimizing Estrogen Detoxification with Functional Medicine from Toronto

Our IV Lounge providers can also prescribe intravenous drips and nutrient injections as part of your comprehensive health plan. These are prescribed for supportive measures only and are not to be taken as stand-alone solutions. When combined with other treatment options and healthy lifestyle modifications, these therapies can help optimize blood sugar control and overall health.

Moreover, we believe in a collaborative approach to medicine, where patients can actively participate in the customization of their therapies. Education to patients is crucial for achieving insulin balance and overall wellness, so we take the time to explain your lab results, the beneficial effects of treatments, and how to carry out lifestyle changes for your long-term health. 

Ready to take control of your blood sugar levels? Or do you need to address other health concerns? Contact our functional medicine clinic in Toronto today, and we’ll help you get started on your journey!

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Baskaran, K., Kizar, A. B., Prasad, R. N., & Radha Shanmugasundaram, K. (1990). Anti-diabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 30(3), 295-300. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(90)90108-6.

Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. [Updated 2024 Feb 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/

Grover, J. K., Yadav, S., & Vats, V. (2002). Medicinal plants of India with anti-diabetic potential. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 81(1), 81-100. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00034-3.

Srivastava, Y., Venkatakrishna-Bhatt, H., Verma, Y., & Verma, A. (1993). Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract: An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phytomedicine, 1(2), 177-185. doi:10.1016/S0944-7113(11)80060-4.

Tiwari, P., Mishra, B. N., & Singh, V. (2014). Pharmacological studies of Gymnema sylvestre as an antidiabetic. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 144(1), 268-280. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.09.045.

Turner, N., Li, J. Y., Gosby, A., To, S. W. C., Cheng, Z., Miyoshi, H., … & Cooney, G. J. (2008). Berberine and its derivatives enhance insulin sensitivity by activating AMPK. Diabetes, 57(5), 1414-1418. doi:10.2337/db07-1554.

Yin, J., Xing, H., & Ye, J. (2008). Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism, 57(5), 712-717. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013.

Zhang, H., Wei, J., Xue, R., Wu, J. D., Zhao, W., Wang, Z. Z., … & Jia, W. (2010). Berberine lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients through increasing insulin receptor expression. Metabolism, 59(2), 285-292. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2009.07.029.