Coenzyme Q10, often referred to as CoQ10 (other names include ubiquinone and ubiquinol) is a vitamin-like substance. It helps cells make energy and acts as an antioxidant. Meats and seafood contain small amounts of CoQ10. Supplements are marketed as tablets and capsules.

Research Findings on Coenzyme Q10

There have been few studies on CoQ10 and type 2 diabetes so far. The evidence is not sufficient to evaluate CoQ10’s effectiveness as a natural remedy for diabetes. CoQ10 has not been shown to affect blood glucose control. In theory, it might have use against heart disease in people with diabetes, but well-designed studies looking at heart disease outcomes are needed to answer this question.

Side Effects and Other Risks With Coenzyme Q10

CoQ10 appears to be safe for most of the adult population. However, it may interact with and affect the action of some medicines, including warfarin (a blood thinner) and medicines used for high blood pressure or cancer chemotherapy.

Other possible side effects of CoQ10 include:

* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Loss of appetite
* Heartburn.

Garlic as a Natural Diabetes Remedy

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herb used to flavor food. It can also be processed and made into dietary supplements. In some cultures, garlic is used for medicinal purposes. The chemical in garlic of most interest for health purposes is allicin, which gives garlic its strong taste and odor. One of the claims for garlic is that the rates of certain diseases are lower in countries where lots of garlic is consumed. However, it has not been proven that garlic (and not some other factor, such as lifestyle) is the reason.

Research Findings on Garlic

Few rigorous studies have been conducted on garlic, allicin, or both for type 2 diabetes. In the diabetes research studies that have been done, findings have been mixed. There are some intriguing basic science studies that suggest that garlic has some biological activities that are relevant to the treatment of diabetes. However, the evidence so far does not support that there is any benefit.

Side Effects and Other Risks With Garlic

Garlic is safe for most adults. However, it appears to interact with various types of drugs. For example, when combined with certain medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS (NNRTIs and saquinavir), garlic may decrease their effectiveness. Garlic may also interact with and affect the action of:

* Birth control pills
* Cyclosporine
* Medications that are broken down by the liver
* Blood thinners (including warfarin).

Other possible side effects of garlic include:

* An odor on the breath or skin
* An allergic reaction
* Stomach disorders
* Diarrhea
* Skin rash.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes: Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral. Foods high in magnesium include:

* Green, leafy vegetables
* Nuts
* Seeds
* Some whole grains.

Various supplemental forms of magnesium are marketed as tablets, capsules, or liquids.

Magnesium has many important functions in the body, including in:

* The heart
* Nerves
* Muscles
* Bones
* The handling of glucose
* Making proteins.

Low levels of magnesium are commonly seen in people with diabetes. Scientists have studied the relationship between magnesium and diabetes for a long time, but it is not yet fully understood.

Research Findings on Magnesium

There have been a handful of studies on magnesium and type 2 diabetes — many of them small in size and/or short in length, and primarily looking at blood glucose control. The results have been mixed, with most finding that magnesium did not affect blood glucose control. Some studies have suggested that low magnesium levels may make glucose control worse in type 2 diabetes (interrupting insulin secretion in the pancreas and increasing insulin resistance) and contribute to diabetes complications. There is evidence that magnesium supplementation may be helpful for insulin resistance. Additional controlled studies are needed to establish firmly whether magnesium supplements have any role or benefit as an alternative treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Side Effects and Other Risks With Magnesium

Magnesium supplements appear to be safe for most adults at low doses.

High doses can be unsafe and cause such problems as:

* Nausea
* Diarrhea
* Loss of appetite
* Muscle weakness
* Difficulty breathing
* Extremely low blood pressure
* Irregular heart rate
* Confusion.

Magnesium can interact with and affect the action of certain drugs, including:

* Some antibiotics
* Drugs to prevent osteoporosis
* Certain high blood pressure medicines (namely, calcium channel blockers)
* Muscle relaxants
* Diuretics (“water pills”).

Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids a Natural Remedy for Diabetes?

Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s for short) are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from food sources such as:

* Fish
* Fish oil
* Some vegetable oils (primarily canola and soybean)
* Walnuts
* Wheat germ
* Certain other dietary supplements.

As possible natural diabetes remedies, omega-3s are marketed as capsules or oils, often as fish oil.

Omega-3s are important in a number of bodily functions, including:

* Moving calcium and other substances in and out of cells
* Relaxation and contraction of muscles
* Blood clotting
* Digestion
* Fertility
* Cell division
* Growth.

Omega-3s have been the subject of much media attention in recent years because of studies finding that they may be useful for such purposes as:

* Decreasing the rate of heart disease
* Reducing inflammation
* Lowering triglyceride levels.

Some countries and organizations have issued formal recommendations on the intake of omega-3s through meals, oils, and possibly supplementation. Omega-3s have been of interest as natural remedies for diabetes, primarily because having diabetes increases a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke.

Research Findings on Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Randomized clinical trials have found that omega-3 supplementation reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease and events (such as heart attack and stroke) and slows the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). However, these studies were not done in populations that were at higher risk, such as those with type 2 diabetes.

With regard to studies on omega-3 supplementation as a possible natural remedy for diabetes, there is somewhat more literature available than for most other alternative treatments for this condition. A 2001 analysis was published by the Cochrane Collaboration of 18 randomized placebo-controlled trials on fish oil supplementation in type 2 diabetes. The authors found that fish oil lowered triglycerides and raised LDL cholesterol but had no significant effect on:

* Fasting blood glucose
* HbA1c
* Total cholesterol
* HDL cholesterol.

(The authors did not identify and include studies with cardiovascular outcomes, but noted that this is an area for further research.)

Another analysis was published in 2004 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of 18 studies on omega-3 fatty acids for a number of measurable outcomes in type 2 diabetes. This study confirmed virtually all the Cochrane authors’ findings, except for finding no significant effect on LDL cholesterol.

Additional studies are needed to determine whether omega-3 supplements are safe and beneficial for heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies that look specifically at heart disease outcomes in this population are needed.

Side Effects and Possible Risks With Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3s appear to be safe for most adults at low to moderate doses. There have been some safety questions raised about fish oil supplements because certain species of fish can be contaminated with substances from the environment, such as:

* Mercury
* Pesticides
* PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

Fish oil is on the list of food substances that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers to be “generally recognized as safe.” How well a product is prepared is another factor for consumers to consider.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take fish oil supplements. Fish oil in high doses can possibly interact with, and affect the action of, certain medications, including blood-thinning drugs and drugs for high blood pressure.

Potential side effects of fish oil include:

* A fishy aftertaste
* Belching
* Stomach disturbances
* Nausea.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes: Final Thoughts

The following points are important to keep in mind if you are considering natural diabetes remedies:

* People with diabetes need to be under the care of a physician (or other healthcare provider) who will help them learn to manage their condition and monitor their efforts to control it. Dietitians and diabetes educators help people learn and use the skills needed for managing diabetes on a daily basis. In addition, many people with the condition need to be under the care of one or more specialists, such as an endocrinologist, an ophthalmologist, and/or a podiatrist.

* There is limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of these natural remedies. The evidence that is available is not sufficiently strong to prove that any of the six remedies discussed in this article have benefits for type 2 diabetes or its complications. A possible exception may be the use of omega-3 fatty acids to lower triglyceride levels.

* It is important to not replace scientifically proven diabetes treatments with natural remedies for diabetes that are unproven. The consequences of not following one’s prescribed medical regimen for diabetes can be serious — even life-threatening.

* To ensure a safe and coordinated course of care, people should inform their healthcare providers about any natural or alternative treatment options they are currently using or considering. Prescribed medicines for diabetes and all other major health conditions may need to be adjusted if a person is also using natural remedies. Pharmacists can be another helpful source of information about dietary supplements.

* If someone decides to use natural diabetes remedies, they should know that what they see on the label may not accurately reflect what is in the bottle. Some herbal supplements, for example, have been found to be contaminated; some tests of dietary supplements have found that the contents did not match the labeled dose on the bottle.

* Women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are thinking of using natural remedies to treat a child, should use extra caution and be sure to consult their healthcare provider first.

* If people with diabetes decide to use a supplement and notice any unusual effects, they should stop using these immediately and contact their healthcare provider.

* The six natural remedies for diabetes reviewed in this article appear to be generally safe at low to moderate doses. However, each can interact with various prescription medications, affecting their action. People with type 2 diabetes need to know about these risks and discuss them with their healthcare provider. Prescribed medicines may need to be adjusted if a person is also using alternative treatments for diabetes.

Read More

Natural Remedies for Diabetes Coenzyme Q10
Natural Remedies for Diabetes an Introduction
Alternative Treatments for Diabetes
Oral Medications for Diabetes
An Overview of Diabetic Medication
Treating Diabetes an Overview
Diabetes and Exercise
Herbal Medicine for Diabetes
Diabetes Supplements