Taking herbal medicine is appealing. There are many stories of people who have solved their medical problems with many herbal and home remedies.
Being a natural product, people mistakenly believe that they are always safe. Others fear that medical professionals may have a negative attitude toward its use and not report the use of such treatments to avoid conflict.
Local drinks, diets, herbs, and multivitamin supplements may seem harmless, but they can also be potentially dangerous, especially since they contain strong chemicals that can interact with food and alcohol. there is.
Here are some commonly used herbs that can pose risks to diabetes medications.
Eating bitters regularly has been shown to curb sugar cravings. It relieves gas and bloating, improves digestion, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, and balances appetite.
However, expert reviews of herbal bitters indicate that they may pose a risk to diabetics, particularly those who are overweight, who are taking metformin, the first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that herbal bitters exert hypoglycemic effects, but when administered concurrently with metformin, metformin’s hypoglycemic effects were reduced.
In a rat model, experts found that certain bitter components displace metformin, causing a decrease in hypoglycemic (hypoglycemic) activity and a shortening of metformin’s duration of action.
Researchers suggested in a 2017 edition of the Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research that aloe vera, an ingredient in certain bittering agents, may be responsible for metformin’s reduced effectiveness. .
The researchers included Matthew I Arhewoh, Sylvester O Eraga, Jonah Irabor and Magnus A Iwuagwu from the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin.
Okra, scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, has long been a food of choice for health-conscious people. Additionally, medical research suggests that okra promotes skin health, protects infant health, prevents certain cancers, and strengthens bones. It also lowers total cholesterol levels, helps the immune system, and lowers blood pressure.
But experts say eating okra or taking its aqueous extract at the same time as metformin may reduce the prescription drug’s absorption in the intestines of people with diabetes, making it less effective at controlling blood sugar. He warns.
Researchers in 2011 stated in the International Academic Research Network that okra may improve blood sugar control, but it should not be taken at the same time as metformin hydrochloride in diabetes control.
Mango leaves, especially their extracts, have been used to treat asthma and diabetes for centuries. For one thing, the extract can improve insulin production and glucose distribution. It also lowers bad cholesterol. Nevertheless, mango leaves can interact with almost all types of prescription medications for blood sugar control in diabetes.
Moringa oleifera, also known as the wasabi tree or drumstick tree, has been used for generations to treat and prevent diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, anemia, arthritis, liver disease, and respiratory, skin, and digestive disorders. It has been used.
Moringa can lower blood sugar levels, similar to diabetes medications. However, taking moringa with diabetes medications can lower blood sugar levels too much. Therefore, the dosage of your diabetes medication may need to be changed.
Researchers in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2016 noted that its use with prescription drugs such as sitagliptin can impair blood sugar control and negatively impact diabetic retinopathy.
Some supplements and herbs lower blood sugar levels, so taking metformin may cause your blood sugar levels to drop too low. Herbs and supplements in this category include chromium, ginseng, magnesium, vanadium, aloe, bitter melon, bilberry, dandelion, fenugreek, garlic, gymnema, lipoic acid, and carmitine.
St. John’s wort and dong quai may increase sun sensitivity caused by metformin. Guar gum can interfere with drug absorption, and the combination of ginkgo biloba and metformin worsened patients’ glucose tolerance, and the combination left blood sugar levels high.
For thousands of years, people have used ginger as a natural remedy for a variety of conditions, including nausea, motion sickness, menstrual pain, and joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. Some studies show that raw ginger protects against cancer.
Last but not least, ginger lowers blood sugar levels. Taking it with metformin and other diabetes drugs can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is dangerous because without urgent medical attention it can lead to fainting and death. Symptoms include trembling, sweating, hunger, difficulty thinking clearly, dizziness, difficulty speaking, or loss of consciousness.
Research shows that neem extract can reduce plaque and gingivitis, protect against insect bites, and treat malaria and other diseases.
Nevertheless, drug interactions can occur when diabetes medications (including both oral diabetes medications and insulin) are taken in combination with neem. These interactions may increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
In 2015, researchers in the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences found that co-administration of neem leaf extract and two anti-diabetic drugs (glibenclamide and glimepiride) may have a negative impact on treatment outcome, especially with long-term administration of the herb. He said this could compromise patient safety.
