TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE SHOWN TO REDUCE DIABETES RISK

According to new research by the Endocrine Society’s Journalof Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Traditional Chinese herbalmedicines (TCM) holds promise for slowing the progression of prediabetes to anofficial diabetes diagnosis.

Prediabetes is a diagnosis given when an individual hasdeveloped elevated blood sugar levels, but glucose levels have not yet raisedenough to develop type 2 diabetes. Patients who are prediabetic face a greater riskof developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease and stroke. About 79 millionAmerican adults age 20 years or older have prediabetes according to the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention

The analysis found taking TCM herbs reduced the risk ofdiabetes by 32.1 percent compared with the placebo. The overall reduction in risk was comparableto that found in studies of diabetes medications acarbose and metformin, andstudy participants reported few side effects from the TCM herbs, including severalthat have been shown to lower blood glucose levels and improve control of bloodglucose levels after meals.

All participants in the study received a month of lifestyleeducation at the outset of the trial and met with nutritionists several timesduring the course of the study. Subjects’ glucose tolerance was measured on aquarterly basis.

The findings from this study show TCM can be very useful inslowing diabetes progression.