Type 2 Diabetes

Why it works: Activates AMPK (“cellular energy sensor”) → improves insulin sensitivity, decreases hepatic glucose production, and increases peripheral glucose uptake. This AMPK-centric mechanism...

Instructions: Dose used most often in trials: 500 mg, two to three times daily (1,000–1,500 mg/day) for 8–12 weeks, typically with meals to minimize GI effects; some studies used 300 mg TID. met...

Warnings: Common side effects: GI upset (abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhea, nausea, vomiting). NCCIH. Preg...

Studies: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)Metabolism (2008) – Adult...

Why it works: Biologic rationale: Trivalent chromium may “potentiate” insulin action by binding to a peptide (“chromodulin”) that enhances insulin-receptor activity, affecting carbohydrate and l...

Instructions: Forms & amounts used in studies. • Supplements commonly contain 200–500 mcg elemental chromium per dose (some up to 1,000 mcg/day). Forms include chromium picolinate, nicotinate/po...

Warnings: Hypoglycemia risk with diabetes drugs: Chromium may increase insulin sensitivity; taken with insulin...

Studies: 2020 systematic review/meta-analysis (28 RCTs): Reported sig...

Why it works: Improves insulin signaling & glucose uptake by modulating PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways, which can increase GLUT4 translocation and reduce hepatic gluconeogenesis. ScienceDirect. Anti...

Instructions: Form used: standardized curcumin extract (not culinary turmeric powder). Trials often use 95% curcuminoids or branded bioavailable forms. BioMed Central. Doses studied:. • 300–1,50...

Warnings: Major health agencies and case series highlight rare but real risks and interactions:. Liver injury...

Studies: Randomized controlled trials (examples)T2D, 12-month RCT (n≈...

Why it works: Improves insulin resistance and fasting glucose (adjunct effect). In randomized, placebo-controlled trials of bergamot extracts or phytocomplexes, participants showed improvements...

Instructions: Studied regimens include:. • Bergamot phytocomplex (whole-fruit water extract): 350 mg/day (low dose) or 700 mg/day (high dose) for 12 weeks, improved HOMA-IR and glycemia vs. plac...

Warnings: Drug interactions (CYP3A4-related, grapefruit-like). Bergamot contains furanocoumarins (e.g., bergam...

Studies: Randomized controlled trials (humans):T2D + dyslipidemia (BP...

Why it works: Circadian-clock modulation (ROR agonist): Nobiletin acts on the body’s molecular clock (enhancing ROR activity), which in turn regulates glucose and lipid metabolism; in mouse mode...

Instructions: There is no established clinical dosing regimen for T2D. Authoritative monographs explicitly note “no clinical trial data to support specific dosing recommendations” for nobiletin....

Warnings: Evidence gap: There is insufficient human evidence to recommend nobiletin as a treatment for T2D. Us...

Studies: Human (multi-ingredient, not nobiletin alone)Diabetinol® RCT...

Why it works: Bitter melon fruit and seeds contain multiple bioactives (e.g., charantin, cucurbitane triterpenoids, polypeptide-p, and peptides such as mcIRBP-19) that—based largely on preclinic...

Instructions: There’s no universally accepted “medical” dose, but these are the typical regimens used in human studies/monographs (use only under clinician supervision and alongside standard car...

Warnings: Risk of hypoglycemia when combined with diabetes medications (especially insulin and sulfonylureas)....

Studies: 2011–2015 RCTs: • 2,000 mg/day bitter melon modestly lowered...

Why it works: Active compounds & pathways. Ginseng’s ginsenosides appear to (a) improve insulin sensitivity, (b) promote glucose uptake via GLUT4, and (c) activate AMPK, which suppresses hepatic...

Instructions: American ginseng extract: 1 g with each meal (total 3 g/day) for 8 weeks as add-on therapy → lowered HbA1c (−0.29%) and fasting glucose vs placebo. Product was a standardized extra...

Warnings: Hypoglycemia risk when combined with diabetes meds. Additive glucose-lowering can occur with insulin...

Studies: 2014 PLOS One meta-analysis of ≥30-day RCTs (diabetes + non-...

Why it works: Modest glycemic effects in small RCTs/meta-analyses. A 2016 meta-analysis of randomized trials found aloe vera reduced HbA1c by ~11 mmol/mol (~1.0% HbA1c) in people with type 2 dia...

Instructions: Because products aren’t standardized, trials used different preparations/doses. Here are the most cited human regimens:. • Aloe leaf gel capsules, 300 mg twice daily (total 600 mg/...

Warnings: Product type matters (latex vs inner-leaf gel):. • The FDA required removal of aloe latex from OTC l...

Studies: Meta-analyses/overviewsSuksomboon 2016 (Journal of Clinical...

Why it works: TCM rationale. Yu Quan Wan is a classical formula for “Xiao Ke” (wasting & thirsting), the traditional analogue of diabetes. It’s designed to nourish yin, generate fluids, and clea...

Instructions: Adult dosing from a licensed Chinese insert (Jiuzhitang, CFDA Z51021085): 6 g orally, 4 times daily. Pediatric dosing is listed on the same insert but is not relevant to adult T2DM...

Warnings: Follow the official insert. The licensed Jiuzhitang label lists:. • Contraindicated in pregnancy.. •...

Studies: Systematic review & meta-analysis (2021). A review of ra...

Why it works: It’s a fixed combination of herbs + a small dose of glibenclamide (glyburide). The best-studied version of “Xiao Ke Wan” contains extracts of several Chinese herbs (e.g., Puerariae...

Instructions: Important: Dosing differs by manufacturer. Use any product only under a clinician’s guidance and verify its exact composition (many “Xiao Ke Wan” products include glibenclamide; so...

Warnings: Because many “Xiao Ke Wan/Xiaoke Pill” products contain glibenclamide, apply all the standard sulfon...

Studies: Randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial (n=800,...

Why it works: Soluble fiber (galactomannans) slows carb absorption. Fenugreek seeds are rich in viscous soluble fiber that can delay gastric emptying and inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes,...

Instructions: Whole/ground seed powder:. • 10 g/day of powdered seeds, mixed into yogurt or taken soaked in hot water, for 8 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes. IMR Press. • Another triple-bli...

Warnings: Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Fenugreek can enhance glucose-lowering, especially when combined wit...

Studies: 2023 systematic review & meta-analysis (IJMS/MDPI): In t...

Why it works: Reduces intestinal glucose absorption (SGLT1 inhibition): Gymnemic acids inhibit the sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1), which can blunt post-meal glucose rises. Idipha...

Instructions: Form & standardization: Many clinical investigations used standardized extracts (often to ~25% gymnemic acids). Drugs.com. Common doses used in studies:. • 200–400 mg/day of standa...

Warnings: Hypoglycemia risk with diabetes medications: Combining Gymnema with insulin or oral hypoglycemics ca...

Studies: Systematic review & meta-analysis (2021, Phytotherapy Re...

Why it works: Improves insulin signaling (lab studies): Water-soluble polyphenols in cinnamon (e.g., methylhydroxychalcone polymer, “MHCP”) stimulate the insulin receptor, enhance PI3K/AKT signa...

Instructions: 1) Choose the type. • Prefer Ceylon (C. verum/zeylanicum) to minimize coumarin exposure. (Coumarin tolerable daily intake set by EFSA is 0.1 mg/kg/day; cassia can exceed this with...

Warnings: Coumarin and liver risk (mostly cassia): EFSA’s tolerable daily intake is 0.1 mg/kg/day; many cassia...

Studies: Most robust aggregations (mixed overall, small average effec...

Why it works: Enzyme inhibition (post-meal glucose): Extracts of alfalfa show in-vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, enzymes that break down carbs; this is the same pharmacologic ta...

Instructions: There is no established, evidence-based dose for treating T2D. If someone chooses to use alfalfa as a food-like supplement alongside standard diabetes care (not as a substitute), t...

Warnings: Autoimmune disease (especially lupus): Avoid alfalfa seeds/sprouts if you have lupus or a history of...

Studies: Human evidence is very limited and low quality. Consumer and...

Why it works: Potential mechanisms. Lab and animal work suggests tulsi leaf extracts can (a) stimulate insulin secretion from β-cells, (b) reduce intestinal glucose absorption, and (c) exert ant...

Instructions: Dried leaf (whole herb) — classic RCT dose.. • A randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover trial in people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes used dried tulsi leaves...

Warnings: Hypoglycemia risk (with diabetes medicines).. Because tulsi can lower glucose, using it with antidia...

Studies: Randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (1996). Agra...