Diabetes, Berberine

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Berberine for Diabetes Type II - Update

Art (California) on 01/31/2024
5 out of 5 stars

Previously (March 2021) I have written about the value of Berberine for diabetes here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/berberine-for-diabetes.html

And Here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/six-supplements-for-diabetes-art-solbrig.html

This very recent review of multiple studies adds further confirmation to the idea that berberine is quite useful for diabetes through multiple methods of action, not just for lowering glucose levels :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10819502/

Here is a relevant quote from the review :

Based on previous research, BBR significantly reduced levels of fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, BBR stimulated insulin secretion and improved insulin resistance through different pathways, including up-regulation of protein expression of proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, glucose transporter (GLUT) 4, PI3K/AKT, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Interestingly, it was demonstrated that BBR has protective effects against diabetes complications, such as diabetic-induced hepatic damage, cardiovascular disorders, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Furthermore, multiple clinical trial studies have emphasized the ameliorative effects of BBR in type 2 diabetic patients.

The sum total of the research on berberine for diabetes type two seems very convincing, with wide-ranging healthful effects!

Art

REPLY   4      

Supplements That Helped Diabetes In Two Friends

Art (California) on 08/28/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Two of my friends with diabetes had asked me for supplement ideas to help with their diabetes as both were uncontrolled. I will discuss Harry first. Harry has had diabetes for over 10 years and his doctor had him on two medications, but his condition steadily worsened and his doctor wanted to add another medication. Harry didn't want to add another medication because he was very concerned about side effects and to make matters worse he was constantly constipated which seemed to be making his diabetes worse and also making his life miserable.

I suggested he try magnesium citrate to improve the constipation and also improve his HbA1c level. I also suggested he add berberine at 1500 mg/day in three divided doses of 500 mg each at breakfast lunch and dinner. These two simple additions very significantly improved his constipation (eliminated) and diabetes to the best it has been in the past 10 years. I told Harry that if he wanted to do better in terms of his diabetes I could make another suggestion or two, but he said he was really happy with his current improvements and just wanted to enjoy the moment. He said that maybe in a while, he might consider the other options though. I told him that was fine and to call me when he was ready to do more. I also suggested that he slowly switch over to magnesium glycinate or alternate it with the magnesium citrate to avoid becoming dependent on the magnesium citrate to stay regular. His doctor felt the constipation was related to the worsened diabetes, so the improved diabetes control may, by itself relieve the constipation. Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal issues in diabetics.

My other friend, Susie, has had diabetes for about as long as Harry, but her diabetes was not as bad as Harry's, but still uncontrolled. I suggested she add berberine, vitamin K2M7 and vitamin D. This combination brought her HbA1c into the normal range for the first time in at least 10 years. Her A1c was 7.2 at her last doctor visit and is now 5.6 at her latest visit. Susie is really happy with these results and told me that she will continue the three supplements indefinitely and hopes to see other health benefits associated with the use of these three supplements. This supplement trio will also help to stave off osteoporosis.

I just wanted to share these results, using common supplements to help control diabetes with the EC community.

Art

REPLY   15      

Berberine-Induced Constipation

Sabri (Larkspur) on 06/28/2023
5 out of 5 stars

Better But With Side Effects

Berberine-Induced constipation

Hello! Berberine has been near-miraculous for my blood sugar. An absolute wonder. My only issue is that I am constipated in a way I have never been before. As though my intestines are filled with concrete. Nothing moving. I'll keep taking it as it has helped my brain function immensely (which had been impacted by high blood sugar) but would love to know if anyone has resolved a constipation issue. I tried MSM which gave me a headache and I cannot take magnesium due to a parathyroidectomy.

Any ideas??

Thank you all so much! I love this place ❤️

REPLY   3      



Berberine for Diabetes - Side Effects

peter (chicago) on 09/04/2022
4 out of 5 stars

Better But With Side Effects

Art,

Berberine is working but wife has diarrhea problem, I gave her a cracker to take with but still has the problem.

Please help!

 

REPLY         

Berberine for Diabetes - Update

Art (California) on 12/28/2021
5 out of 5 stars

I wanted to update my above article because a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials just came out that adds further confirmation to the value of Berberine for diabetes.

This new meta-analysis (MA) of RCTs( December 2021) of the use of Berberine for T2DM is very enlightening and clearly illustrates that Berberine is a very good adjunctive treatment or possibly even a primary treatment option for T2DM :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC8696197/

Here is an important quote from the full MA :

>>> ' Forty-six trials were assessed. Analysis of berberine applied alone or with standard diabetic therapies versus the control group revealed significant reductions in HbA1c (MD = −0.73; 95% CI (−0.97, −0.51)), FPG (MD = −0.86,95% CI (−1.10, −0.62)), and 2hPG (MD = −1.26,95% CI (−1.64, −0.89)). Improved insulin resistance was assessed by lowering FINS (MD = −2.05,95% CI (−2.62, −1.48)), HOMA-IR (MD = −0.71,95% CI (−1.03, −0.39)), and BMI (MD = −1.07,95% CI (−1.76, −0.37)). Lipid metabolisms were also ameliorated via the reduction of TG (MD = −0.5,95% CI (−0.61, −0.39)), TC (MD = 0.64,95% CI (−0.78, −0.49)), and LDL (MD = 0.86,95% CI (−1.06, −0.65)) and the upregulation of HDL (MD = 0.17,95% CI (0.09,0.25)). Additionally, berberine improved the inflammation factor. ' <<<

This multitude of positive health enhancements including reduction of inflammatory mediators IL-6 and Tnf-alpha as well as positive heart and kidney effects accompanied by a very good safety profile make Berberine a "must consider" option for people with diabetes. The added lipid improving effects are just the icing on the cake.

It seems likely that pulsing of Berberine dosing may prolong the effectiveness of Berberine over the longer term, helping to prevent the body from becoming resistant to its effectiveness.

Art

REPLY   7      

Berberine + ALA for Type II Diabetes

Rc Hoppy (Winamac, Indiana Usa) on 03/26/2021
5 out of 5 stars

Berberine works well by itself at lowering blood sugar.

My wife has DM2 and along with it, all the other problems. The doctors had her taking several hypertension meds, as well as Metformin and a water pill. I had heard of Berberine in the past, and really wanted to try it with her, but was a little hesitant. On a recent trip to the doctor's office, her bloodwork showed that her kidney function was dropping and the doctor told us to drop the Metformin and water pill because they were too hard on her kidneys. I had tried a combination of Metformin and Berberine before, without good results, so I still had the Berberine on the shelf and ready for action.

I started giving her Berberine twice a day with breakfast and dinner, and also added 300 mg of alpha-lipoic acid at breakfast and bedtime for water retention. Within a very short period of time, we saw such a difference.

Her fasting sugar dropped to 100 + or - 10 and we had to reduce her nightly insulin injection by 10 units to keep it from going too low. (One morning her sugar was down to 60 and very scary.) The ALA also reduced the swelling in her legs and feet. Now her shoes don't look like they are two sizes too small and her ankles no longer have marks from the elastic in her socks.

The combination of the two ( both available on Amazon) has made a real difference in her blood sugar as well as the edema that goes along with hypertension.

REPLY   21      

Re: Berberine for Diabetes

Adele (Portland, Or) on 04/28/2014
5 out of 5 stars

I have cured my Type 2 diabetes by taking Berberine. 500mg 3 times daily, before or with food. I take no medication.
REPLY   13