Diabetes: Alternative Medicine

A health treatment that is not classified as standard western medical practice is referred to as "alternative." Alternative therapy encompasses a variety of disciplines that include everything from diet and exercise to mental conditioning and lifestyle changes. Examples of alternative therapies include acupuncture, guided imagery, chiropractic treatments, yoga, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, relaxation, herbal remedies, massage and many others.

Complementary medicine is essentially alternative medicine that is taken along with conventional treatments.

What Alternative Therapies Are Used to Treat Diabetes?

Supplements

• Chromium has been widely publicized as therapy to improve diabetes control. Although there are several studies that support a role for chromium as beneficial in diabetes, currently there are no recommendations for its use in diabetes management.
• Magnesium has been studied for years as a form of therapy to improve glucose control in people with diabetes. A lack of magnesium has been associated with insulin secretion abnormalities and has been associated with diabetes complications.
• Vanadium is derived from plant sources and has been shown in a few studies to increase a person's sensitivity to insulin. Thus far, no recommendations exist for supplementation to be given to people with diabetes.

Plant Foods

The following plant foods have been found to help people with type 2 diabetes.

• Brewer's yeast
• Buckwheat
• Broccoli and other related greens
• Okra
• Peas
• Fenugreek seeds
• Sage

Most plant foods are rich in fiber, which is beneficial for helping control blood glucose levels.

There are no clinical trials with promising results for many of the other herbs being proposed for diabetes, such as garlic, ginger, ginseng, hawthorn or nettle. If you have diabetes and are considering taking any of these herbal substances, talk to your doctor before you take them.

Weight Control Substances

Since weight and diabetes are linked, many people with diabetes turn to alternative therapies that claim to help with weight loss, including:

• Chitosan
• Camsogia Garcinia (hydroxycitric acid)
• Chromium
• Pyruvate
• Germander
• Momordica charanta
• Sauropus androgynus
• Aristolochic acid

In addition, transdermal (skin patch) systems as well as oral sprays have been developed to purportedly reduce appetite and facilitate weight loss. One patch system uses homeopathic amounts of 29 different compounds to reduce appetite, but no published literature on its efficacy is available.

Are These Herbs Safe?

In December of 2003, Ephedrine -- also known as ma huang -- became the first herbal stimulant ever banned by the FDA. A popular component of anti-obesity over-the-counter medications, ephedrine was found to have some benefits. However, the evidence of its ability to cause harm was far more compelling. In high doses, it has been known to cause insomnia (difficulty falling and staying asleep), high blood pressure, glaucoma and urinary retention. This herbal supplement has also been associated with numerous cases of stroke.

Chitosan has received a great deal of recent publicity. It is derived from seashells and has the ability to bind to fat and prevent its absorption. Although it is believed to facilitate weight loss, available studies thus far have not been encouraging.

Germander, momordica charanta, sauropus androgynus and aristolochic acid have been associated with liver disease, pulmonary disease and kidney disease.

The other so-called "obesity remedies" listed have not been rigorously studied and those that have yielded disappointing results.

Also, a recent survey of herbal preparations for obesity found that many preparations contained lead or arsenic and other toxic metals. Some also contain other undeclared ingredients. Occasionally there was mistaken plant identity as well.

Things to Think About When Considering Use of Any Herbal Product

When considering treating diabetes with an herbal product, you should:

• Discuss any drugs you use, including herbal products, with your doctor before taking them.
• If you experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, diarrhea or skin rashes, stop taking the herbal product and notify your doctor immediately.
• Avoid preparations made with more than one herb.
• Beware of commercial claims of what herbal products can do. Look for scientific-based sources of information.
• Select brands carefully. Only purchase brands that list the herb's common and scientific name, the name and address of the manufacturer, a batch and lot number, expiration date, dosage guidelines and potential side effects.

Learn the basics of a Healthy Diet.  View the full table of contents for the Diabetes Guide.

Reviewed by Certified Diabetes Educators in the Department of Patient Education and Health Information and by physicians in the Department of Endocrinology at The Cleveland Clinic.

Edited by Cynthia Haines, MD, WebMD, September 2005.