Can Berberine Supplements Aid in Diabetes Management?

Berberine is a bioactive compound found in a variety of plants, including Phellodendron amurense (Amur cork tree), Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), and several Berberis genus shrubs (1Trusted Source).

It has long been used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat ailments such as infections (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Surprisingly, research suggests that berberine has potent blood-sugar-lowering properties (4Trusted Source).

This article investigates the effects of berberine on blood sugar levels and how it may aid in the management of diabetes.

Blood sugar levels and berberine

Diabetes and prediabetes are characterized by elevated blood sugar levels as a result of either decreased insulin production or decreased insulin sensitivity.

Although fluctuating blood sugar levels are normal throughout the day, prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause a variety of health issues, including organ damage (5Trusted Source).

A substantial amount of animal research suggests that berberine may help lower blood sugar levels through a variety of mechanisms, including the following (6, 7Trusted Source):

boosting insulin sensitivity

encouraging insulin production

metabolism control

increasing glycolysis, or glucose breakdown

lowering the liver's glucose production

increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, which aids in artery widening

slowing carbohydrate absorption in the intestine

Several studies in people with type 2 diabetes have found that taking 600–2,700 mg of berberine daily can reduce fasting and long-term blood sugar levels by up to 20% and 12%, respectively, especially when combined with blood sugar medication (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Similarly, a meta-analysis of 14 studies discovered that berberine reduced blood sugar levels and appeared to be as effective as common blood sugar medications such as metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and glipizide (Glucotrol) (3Trusted Source).

Furthermore, research suggests that when combined with other diabetes medications, berberine may help support their blood-sugar-lowering effects (3Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).

As a result, berberine appears to be a promising blood-sugar-lowering therapy. This could be especially useful for people who are unable to take diabetes medications due to liver, kidney, or heart disease (11Trusted Source).

Get 5-minute custom snack recipes for free.

Allow Healthline's nutritionists to make snack recommendations based on your dietary restrictions and food preferences.

Dosage and suggestions

Berberine supplements currently do not have a standard dosage.

However, most studies used a dose of 1,000–1,500 mg per day (3Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Berberine has a half-life of several hours, so it does not linger in your system for long. The majority of berberine supplements contain 500 mg per capsule, and supplement labels frequently advise taking berberine three times per day before meals (12).

This equates to a total of 1,500 mg per day.

Prcautions and safety

Berberine appears to be safe and well-tolerated in general (8Trusted Source).

Berberine may cause digestive side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and stomach pain in some cases (10Trusted Source).

Because of the risk of interactions, it is critical to consult with your healthcare provider before taking berberine if you are taking any medication.

Berberine, in particular, may interact with blood-sugar-lowering medications, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. It may also have an effect on medications that are processed by the liver.

Berberine can be purchased in powder or capsule form at health food stores and online

However, before incorporating berberine into your daily routine, consult with your healthcare provider.

In conclusion

Berberine is a herbal supplement that is generally safe and well-tolerated by type 2 diabetes patients.

According to research, it has powerful blood-sugar-lowering effects and may be as effective as metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and glipizide (Glucotrol).

Because of the risk of interactions and low blood sugar levels, it's important to consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking berberine if you're currently taking any medications.

Diabetes Offer: Berberine Supplement click here

HEALTH GLOBAL

Pages

Friday, 10 December 2021