When looking for the best supplements to help lower your blood sugar levels, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by today’s hundreds of options.
After reviewing and testing dozens of different supplements that could benefit people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, we narrowed the list down to the 11 best supplements to help you lower blood sugar and lose weight.
Over time, taking these supplements alongside your diabetes medication and a healthy diet may allow your doctor to decrease your medication dose.
Here are the 11 best supplements to lower your help lower blood sugar.
Berberine
Berberine is a bitter-tasting compound taken from the roots and stems of certain plants, such as goldenseal, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric.
It comes from China and India, where it was first used about 5,000 years ago in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.
And although scientists are still testing its many benefits, we know that it helps people with diabetes in three ways:
Berberine lowers blood glucose which can help prevent and treat type II diabetes and its complications, including diabetic cardiovascular disease and diabetic neuropathy.
It does this by reducing insulin resistance. And making the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin more effective.
Studies also show that berberine may help lower high LDL, total cholesterol, and high blood pressure levels.
And lastly, berberine helps support weight loss by activating an enzyme inside the body called AMPK.
When activated, AMPK boosts fat burning, which can help stop fat accumulation in the human body and protect against metabolic syndrome.
So…
If you’re looking to lower your blood sugar, lose weight and reduce the need for diabetes medications, it’s worth a try.
For best results, take a dose of berberine 300–500mg 2–3 times daily with a meal or shortly after.
You can get Berberine Supplements on Amazon here.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of the first traded spices in the ancient world.
It was considered so valuable that it was equal in worth to gold and ivory during this time.
Anyway, this ancient spice works wonders to lower blood sugar and manage diabetes, especially if you use Ceylon cinnamon instead of Cassia.
Ceylon Cinnamon has high amounts of antioxidants that decrease oxidative stress.
Now… all you need to know about oxidative stress is that it is one of the underlying causes of insulin resistance and it also speeds up the growth of diabetes and its complications.
So, by reducing oxidative stress, you can reduce diabetic-related complications. And all you need to do is supplement with Ceylon Cinnamon.
Additionally, Ceylon Cinnamon imitates insulin and increases Insulin sensitivity.
By mimicking the effects of Insulin and increasing glucose transport into your cells, cinnamon can help lower your blood sugar levels significantly.
Some people are able to see a drop in their blood sugar levels immediately after taking a cinnamon supplement while others begin seeing a noticeable difference after two weeks of supplementing.
For best results, take a dose of 250mg of cinnamon extract twice a day before meals or a regular (non-extract) cinnamon supplement, 500 mg twice a day.
You can find Ceylon Cinnamon supplements here
Amla
Amla (Indian gooseberries) have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat many health conditions such as respiratory diseases, intestinal inflammation, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and inflammatory skin disorders.
It’s also one of the most powerful antioxidants that anyone who is diabetic or prediabetic can take.
To gain some perspective, Amla contains 75 times the antioxidant power of goji berries, 60 times the antioxidant power of pomegranate, 50 times the antioxidant power of raw blueberries, 13 times the antioxidant power of black raspberries, 2.5 times the antioxidant power of acai berries, and two times the power of ground turmeric.
These antioxidants can help reverse the effects of oxidative stress in the body, therefore helping you heal one of the underlying “causes” of diabetes.
Furthermore, Amla comprises chromium, a mineral that regulates carbohydrate metabolism and is said to make the body more responsive to Insulin, further keeping the blood sugar levels in check.
Take a spoonful of amla powder and consume it with water for the best results.
You can get Amla Supplements on Amazon
Aloe Vera
Although Aloe Vera is an anti-inflammatory, often used to treat a variety of health complaints, including constipation, colic, and high blood pressure.
It may also help lower blood sugar and A1C when taken as a supplement by people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Here’s how it works:
Aloe Vera supplements lower blood sugar by reducing the absorption of sugar into the gastrointestinal tract after a meal.
They also stimulate the breakdown of sugar and prevent sugar production.
Moreover, studies show that people with type 2 diabetes who took a 300 mg aloe vera gel capsule once every 12 hours for two months saw major health improvements.
Other tested doses include 1,000 mg daily in capsules or two tablespoons (30 ml) daily of aloe juice in split doses.
You can get Aloe Vera supplements here.
Probiotics
Despite the growing popularity of probiotics, many people still consider them a waste of money.
I know I did at first anyway, but more and more studies continue to support the role of probiotics for people with diabetes and prediabetes in blood sugar management, heart health, and gastrointestinal health.
All three of these areas are crucial to managing diabetes.
Probiotics help lower Insulin and glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes and may also support a healthy immune system, a healthy GI tract, and possibly promote a healthy heart.
Consequently, probiotic supplements in particular help improve your body’s handling of carbohydrates. Thereby preventing blood sugar spikes that can lead to type 2 diabetes or worsening of the damage done by the disease.
Probiotics also contain helpful bacteria or other microbes that add numerous health benefits to the body.
For the best results, be sure to use a probiotic with more than one beneficial species, such as a combination of L. acidophilus, B. bifidum, and L. Rhamnosus.
It’s also essential to go with a supplement that has a “USP Verified” seal.
You can find Probiotic supplements here.
Supplementing probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, buttermilk, acidophilus milk, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha is also a great alternative.
American Ginseng
American Ginseng is a light tan, gnarled root that often looks like a human body with stringy shoots for arms and legs.
Native Americans traditionally used it as a stimulant and to treat headaches, fever, indigestion, and infertility.
But that’s not all it does.
Ginseng lowers post-meal blood sugar by 20% in people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
It also contains several antioxidant compounds called ginsenosides, which help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve circulation, boost immunity, improve stamina, and increase resistance to stress.
To lower your fasting blood sugar and blood sugar after meals, take up to 3 grams of American Ginseng daily.
You can get American Ginseng here.
Gymnema
There is a good reason why the Gymnema herb is regarded as a “sugar destroyer” in the Ayurvedic tradition of India.
It helps people with diabetes in the following ways.
Gymnema contains active components which help reduce sugar cravings by making sweet foods taste less appealing.
This can come in handy when you’re having a sweet tooth.
Additionally, Gymnema can also block receptors in your intestines and therefore reduce the amount of sugar absorbed by your body hence lowering your post-meal blood sugar levels.
Lastly, Gymnema helps stimulate insulin production in your pancreas, promoting the regeneration of insulin-producing islet cells. This can help lower your blood sugar levels.
Take 200mg of the Gymnema supplement twice a day with meals for the best results.
You can get Gymnema Sylvestre supplements here.
Vitamin D
Many of us know that vitamin D is essential for our health and that we can obtain it from a good dosage of sunshine.
But beyond that, not much else is generally known especially in regard to diabetes.
Fortunately, that’s changing!
More and more studies show that most people with high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes are deficient in Vitamin D.
And therefore, need to supplement with it.
But that’s not all.
The added benefit to taking a daily vitamin D supplement is that it helps to improve the body’s sensitivity to Insulin – the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels.
And thus reduce the risk of insulin resistance.
Some scientists also say that vitamin D may help regulate the production of insulin in the pancreas and therefore improve overall blood sugar control, as reflected by A1C.
Opt for a dose of 1,000 to 2,000 IUs per day of Vitamin D3 supplements before or after meals for best results.
You can get Vitamin D3 Supplements here
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential nutrient for the brain and body.
It also helps regulate blood sugar in people with diabetes and prediabetes.
Magnesium is involved in your body’s ability to secrete Insulin and may help your cells use insulin more effectively, therefore, keeping your blood sugar in control.
This role is so important in managing blood sugar levels that people who consume less magnesium typically have poorer blood sugar regulation.
And a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who consume higher amounts.
The good news is that as soon as they start supplementing with magnesium, their blood sugar levels begin to improve.
If your goal is to regulate your blood sugar, magnesium is worth a try just be sure to avoid magnesium oxide because it can increase your risk of diarrhea.
Take 250–350 mg daily, preferably with a meal, to improve absorption for the best results.
Lastly, consider eating magnesium-rich dishes such as fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, beans and seeds, ground beef, and yogurt.
You can get Magnesium supplements here.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
ALA is a vitamin-like compound and powerful antioxidant produced in your liver and found in some foods, such as spinach, broccoli, and red meat.
Alpha- Lipoic Acid’s antioxidant properties have been linked to several benefits, including lower blood sugar levels, reduced inflammation, slowed skin aging, and improved nerve function.
Several studies also suggest that alpha-lipoic acid helps lower blood sugar levels.
Its ability to kill free radicals may help ease symptoms of nerve damage such as pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness in arms and legs and lower the risk of diabetic retinopathy.
Take 300–600 mg of Alpha-lipoic supplements on an empty stomach for best results.
You can find Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements here.
Before I move on, I want to make an important point.
We advocate a whole food diet first and foremost.
Therefore, these supplements are NOT a stand-in for eating a healthy diet – they simply add some awesome bonus points.
Eating whole foods like leafy greens, non-starchy vegetables, starches, fruits, beans and legumes, whole grains, and spices/herbs is the single most powerful thing you can do to reverse insulin resistance and master your diabetes health.
This is the key to our program and the key to your success.
That being said, as a coach responsible for helping thousands of people toward a whole-food diet, I am eager to give you all the information you need to beat high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
If you’re interested in taking control of your diabetes health once and for all, consider signing up for our free Diabetes Ebook here, it has all the information you need to take back control of your health.
And if you have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment below!
Leave a Reply