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Alternative Remedies

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R

Rivki061

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Good afternoon all.
I am interested in alternative medicine and I was wondering if anyone with type 2 diabetes has ever tried anything natural for lowering blood sugar and if so how effective they were.
I am currently on Metformin and Gliclazide but I wouldn't mind trying something natural as long as it is effective.
 
there are a number of things that are said to lower the glucose levels. I tried nettle tea, it tasted disgusting, even with a slice of lemon in it and wasn't very effective
 
There are no 'natural' remedies for T2 that have been conclusively demonstrated to be as effective as conventional medication. 'Natural' is an irrelevant consideration anyway - lead, arsenic and hemlock are all 'natural' but won't do you any good.

Some people claim they have been helped by berberine and cinnamon but again, it must be stressed, there is no conclusive proof that these work.

The most 'natural' way to lower blood sugar levels in T2 is to eat a diet that carries a very low glycaemic load (ie low carb, probably less than 30g a day) and to exercise daily.

The most important thing to remember about 'alternative' medicine is that the name is a dead giveaway. If it worked, it would just be called 'medicine'.
 
Probably best non medication things for treating type 2 diabetes (and type 1 for that matter) are diet and exercise, combining diet and exercise to get / keep normal weight.

I prefer to spend money on swimming ticket or buying / maintaining bike & equipment or a running or orienteering race entry. Generally ?4.20 most weeks for swimming, ?5 for a 5km run this week (good value as entry includes 1/2 pint beer, banana and water, plus it's fundraising for a community group), free or up to ?5 for orienteering, no entry fee for Parkrun. Big expense this week has been ?55 for my entry in a female pair for OMM at end of October 2013.

Rather than buying alternative / complementary medicines, I'd prefer to have the occasional sociable glass of wine / pint of beer / tot of whisky with friends, and it doesn't harm my blood sugar either 🙂
 
Caroline said:
there are a number of things that are said to lower the glucose levels. I tried nettle tea, it tasted disgusting, even with a slice of lemon in it and wasn't very effective
Click to expand...

I don't think I would fancy trying that Caroline!
 
Copepod said:
Probably best non medication things for treating type 2 diabetes (and type 1 for that matter) are diet and exercise, combining diet and exercise to get / keep normal weight.

I prefer to spend money on swimming ticket or buying / maintaining bike & equipment or a running or orienteering race entry. Generally ?4.20 most weeks for swimming, ?5 for a 5km run this week (good value as entry includes 1/2 pint beer, banana and water, plus it's fundraising for a community group), free or up to ?5 for orienteering, no entry fee for Parkrun. Big expense this week has been ?55 for my entry in a female pair for OMM at end of October 2013.

Rather than buying alternative / complementary medicines, I'd prefer to have the occasional sociable glass of wine / pint of beer / tot of whisky with friends, and it doesn't harm my blood sugar either 🙂
Click to expand...

I do exercise but I have joint problems so I have to be careful.
I don't like wine but I don't mind the occasional liqueur,occasional being a tiny amount once or twice a week as I can't have much due to my arthritis medication.
I take alternative treatments for other things,I was just wondering if anyone here uses any such thing for controlling blood sugar.
 
Swimming is usually fairly joint friendly, being non weight bearing. I'm still rehabilitating from a bad knee injury (posterior cruciate ligament) in summer 2011, and have been deep water running / aqua jogging, with a foam float belt, as well as swimming, since last summer, when I saw a friend who is a triathlon coach, and we were both Games Maker volunteers, so met off duty in London, where both of us were staying with other friends.

Anyway, worth taking advice from sports coaches, after checking they have experience with people with specific health issues - or ask GP for referral to an exercise on prescription programme.
 
Copepod said:
Swimming is usually fairly joint friendly, being non weight bearing. I'm still rehabilitating from a bad knee injury (posterior cruciate ligament) in summer 2011, and have been deep water running / aqua jogging, with a foam float belt, as well as swimming, since last summer, when I saw a friend who is a triathlon coach, and we were both Games Maker volunteers, so met off duty in London, where both of us were staying with other friends.

Anyway, worth taking advice from sports coaches, after checking they have experience with people with specific health issues - or ask GP for referral to an exercise on prescription programme.
Click to expand...


I'm seeing the rheumatology nurse tomorrow so I could ask her opinion.
Thanks Copepod!
 
DeusXM said:
There are no 'natural' remedies for T2 that have been conclusively demonstrated to be as effective as conventional medication. 'Natural' is an irrelevant consideration anyway - lead, arsenic and hemlock are all 'natural' but won't do you any good.

Some people claim they have been helped by berberine and cinnamon but again, it must be stressed, there is no conclusive proof that these work.

The most 'natural' way to lower blood sugar levels in T2 is to eat a diet that carries a very low glycaemic load (ie low carb, probably less than 30g a day) and to exercise daily.

The most important thing to remember about 'alternative' medicine is that the name is a dead giveaway. If it worked, it would just be called 'medicine'.
Click to expand...



I try my best with the carbs but I think that 30g day would be a bit too hard.
I try to eat food that is in the low G I category and I have cut back quite a bit on chocolate and I've cut back a great deal on cake not that I ever ate tons of the stuff.
We can only do our best.
 
OK you've told us a couple of the things you've cut back on but what about all the other high/fast carbs food people eat generally - like breakfast cereals, spuds, bread (and anything else with flour in it), pasta, rice, fruit ?

Cos it isn't just sweet stuff that has (too many) carbs!

You don't need to exclude anything, just eat smaller portions. Protein fills you up and makes you feel full for a lot longer than carbs.
 
trophywench said:
OK you've told us a couple of the things you've cut back on but what about all the other high/fast carbs food people eat generally - like breakfast cereals, spuds, bread (and anything else with flour in it), pasta, rice, fruit ?

Cos it isn't just sweet stuff that has (too many) carbs!

You don't need to exclude anything, just eat smaller portions. Protein fills you up and makes you feel full for a lot longer than carbs.
Click to expand...


I have cut back on carbs in general,I do still have the foods you mentioned but to a lesser degree.
For example I eat very little bread but now and again perhaps once a week I have a slice of wholemeal toast,I am not a big cereal eater,I do use potatoes but certainly not for every supper; I do my best with the diet and whilst I have always tried to have a healthy diet I am putting in the extra effort now.
 
Thanks Northerner.
Alternative remedies just interest me,I know that they are not suitable for everything but I believe that they can be useful.
 
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