Supplements to Naturally Control Blood Sugar

Glucose M2: Simple Formula, Effective Formula

Glucose M2 is a dietary supplement from Progressive Health. It is formulated to help control fluctuating blood sugar levels.

Each bottle of Glucose M2 contains 30 capsules. The recommended daily dosage is 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule in the afternoon.

Glucose M2 contains an all-natural formula of 8 active ingredients. The active ingredients in this supplement are magnesium, calcium, zinc, chromium, vanadium, alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon fruit extract, and gurmar leaf extract.

Each of the active ingredients of Glucose M2 has been proven to improve blood sugar control and/or prevent the complications of diabetes. For example, magnesium is important for stimulating the increased secretion of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas as well as for improving insulin sensitivity so that cells can take up more glucose from the blood.

Magnesium deficiency is one of the common nutritional deficiencies affecting people with diabetes.

Besides improving insulin action, magnesium can also reduce the cardiovascular complications caused by sustained high blood sugar. Specifically, magnesium reduces blood pressure and prevents blood clotting. These benefits translate to a lower risk of hypertension and stroke.

Calcium is also included in Glucose M2 to improve cardiovascular health by contributing to the regulation of blood pressure.

The other ingredients in Glucose M2 contribute directly to lowering blood glucose levels and improving insulin action. Zinc stimulates fat and muscle cells to use up more glucose; alpha lipoic acid also improves glucose utilization and prevents diabetes complications neuropathy or nerve damage.

The benefits of chromium for diabetics are well-studied. Chromium enhances insulin action by reducing insulin resistance and increasing glucose uptake by cells. Vanadium shares some of these insulin-enhancing actions but it also lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The two herbs in Glucose M2 are also well-studied. Bitter melon extract blocks the absorption of simple sugars from the gastrointestinal tract.

Gurmar leaf extract can help control blood sugar level by

• Reducing the taste of and craving for sugars
• Stimulating increased insulin release from the pancreas
• Blocking the adrenal hormones from breaking down the liver’s store of glycogen and releasing more glucose into the blood

Glucose M2 is well-received and most of its users confirm that it is effective for improving glycemic control.

However, unlike most prescription diabetes drugs (and like most natural diabetes supplements) its actions are not rapid but cumulative. Therefore, it should not be used to treat diabetes emergencies because it takes 45 – 60 days to get optimum results from the supplement.

Diabetic Support Formula: Packed With Micronutrients

Diabetic Support Formula is a dietary supplement from 21^st Century Healthcare. It contains a long list of vitamins and minerals as well as lutein, lycopene, alpha-lipoic acid, gurmar leaf extract, and bitter melon extract.

Each bottle of the supplement contains 30 capsules. The recommended dose is 3 tablets daily and these should be taken with meals.

Most of these micronutrients are included in the Diabetic Support Formula because nutritional deficiencies are common in diabetics. Therefore, besides improving general health, most of these vitamins and minerals have no direct effect on blood sugar levels.

Of the vitamins and minerals listed above, only magnesium, chromium, vanadium, and zinc can improve glycemic control.

Lutein and lycopene are carotenoid pigments found in plants. They are included for their antioxidant properties. As antioxidants, these carotenes may reduce oxidative stress in the body and prevent the oxidative destruction of the cells of the pancreas.

The other plant-derived ingredients of the Diabetic Support Formula are the extracts of gurmar leaf and bitter melon fruit.

The mechanisms by which magnesium, chromium, vanadium, zinc, alpha-lipoic acid, gurmar leaf, and bitter melon extracts improve blood sugar control are the same as described above for Glucose M2. In fact, the core, essential, and effective active ingredients of the Diabetic Support Formula are the same as Glucose M2.

In a way, the Diabetic Support Formula is only a bulked-up version of Glucose M2.

Therefore, the Diabetic Support Formula improves insulin action much in the same as Glucose M2. Like the latter, this supplement also  

• promotes insulin sensitivity
• inhibits the breakdown of carbohydrate
• blocks the absorption of sugars
• increases the uptake of glucose by the cells of the body; and
• blocks the conversion of stored glycogen to more glucose

Diabetic Support Formula is an effective dietary supplement for lowering blood glucose levels and achieving better glycemic control. It is well-reviewed by most of its users.

Diabetes Support Pack: Micronutrients + Cinnamon

Diabetes Support Pack is a dietary supplement from Nature’s Bounty.

Each packet of the supplement contains 30 capsules and its recommended daily dose is 1 capsule.

Diabetes Support Pack contains a long list of vitamins and minerals like Diabetic Support Formula. In fact, both supplements contain the same set of minerals and vitamins. They also share active ingredients such as lutein, lycopene, and alpha-lipoic acid.

However, only one herb is included in Diabetes Support Pack and it is cinnamon.

Diabetes Support Pack also contains a bioflavonoid complex made from citruses and rosehip. The other unique active ingredient of the supplement is coenzyme Q10.

The magnesium, calcium, vanadium, chromium, zinc, selenium, lutein, and lycopene included in Diabetes Support Pack provide the same benefits as described above. In summary, they can improve insulin action and help control blood sugar levels.

The bioflavonoid complex included in this supplement is meant to complement the antioxidant effects of lutein, lycopene, and selenium.

Coenzyme Q10 in Diabetes Support Pack is meant to replenish the body’s store of the natural compound.

Coenzyme Q10 is found in every cell in the body. It is needed for several important biochemical processes. However, age and stress can reduce its production. Therefore, the inclusion of coenzyme Q10 in this supplement is only to improve general health.

Cinnamon is the main herbal product in Diabetes Support Pack. Different studies have confirmed that cinnamon can improve blood glucose control and lipid profile.

In one study, supplementation with cinnamon bark extract for 90 days significantly reduced the level of glycosylated hemoglobin. This is a strong indication that cinnamon can produce sustained glycemic control.

Overall, Diabetes Support Pack is an effective dietary supplement for lowering blood sugar levels. It contains the right ingredients even though most of them do not directly improve glycemic control. However, the few ones that affect insulin and glucose levels are sufficiently potent.

Diabetes Health Pack: The One-Herb Formula

Diabetes Health Pack is a dietary supplement from Nature Made. It contains a similar set of minerals and vitamins found in the last two products described above. However, Diabetes Health Pack only contains one plant-derived ingredient.

The manufacturer advertises Diabetes Health Pack as nutritional support for diabetics. Basically, it is meant to replenish the vitamins and minerals lost due to the stress of diabetes and also to correct nutritional deficiencies that can cause serious complications.

However, at least one (chromium) of these nutrients can improve blood sugar control.

The active ingredients of Diabetes Health Pack include natural antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C, and selenium. These can help prevent oxidative damage to the pancreas and improve insulin secretion.

Besides these, other antioxidants found in this supplement include green tea leaf extract and alpha-lipoic acid. Alpha-lipoic acid can contribute to better blood sugar control because it stimulates cells to use up more glucose.

Although Diabetes Health Pack contains very few active ingredients that improve blood sugar control, it is well received by users and reviewers. Even then, there are better-formulated diabetes supplements discussed in this article.

Triple Complex Diabetonic: The Homeopathic Formula

Triple Complex Diabetonic is an all-natural, homeopathic diabetes formula from Native Remedies.

Each bottle of the supplement contains 360 tablets. The recommended adult dosage is 2 – 4 tablets taken 3 times daily.

There are 3 homeopathic ingredients in this product. These are kali sulphuricum (6X), natrum sulphuricum (6X), and Calcarea phosphorica (6X).

The first principle of homeopathy is “like treats like”. Therefore, homeopathic remedies are used to stimulate the body to heal itself. Few of such remedies are scientifically proven to work, and their exact mechanisms of action are usually unclear.

Information gathered from the product’s page indicates that kali sulphuricum boosts the immune system and promotes blood circulation. It increases the distribution of oxygen to the cells and organs of the body, and can, therefore, stimulate the functioning of the pancreas.

Natrum sulphuricum can help maintain electrolyte balance in the body and help remove toxins from the body. Calcarea phosphorica or calcium phosphate can stimulate the cells of the body to use up more glucose to drive cellular processes.

It is rather difficult to determine the effectiveness of Triple Complex Diabetonic from its active ingredients given the dearth of scientific studies done on homeopathic remedies.

Therefore, this supplement can only be recommended for those who prefer homeopathic remedies even though it is well-reviewed by its users.

Insulow: The 2-Ingredient Formula

Insulow is a dietary supplement from Glucorell. It contains only 2 active ingredients: R-alpha lipoic acid and biotin.

Each bottle of Insulow contains 180 capsules. Besides its unique formulation, the recommended dosage of Insulow is also unique. The manufacturer recommends that users take 1 capsule 15 minutes before a small serving of a carbohydrate meal. For large meals, 2 capsules are recommended and also to be taken 15 minutes before the meal.

For those who can keep count, 1 capsule of Insulow is to be taken with every 30 – 40 grams of carbohydrate.

The main active ingredient in Glucorell is R-alpha lipoic acid. It binds to biotin. Therefore, biotin also serves as a delivery vehicle for alpha-lipoic acid.

Alpha-lipoic acid is an organosulfur compound and only the R-form (there is also a synthetic S-form) is found in nature. R-alpha lipoic acid is needed by cells for aerobic metabolism. This means that it is needed for cells to turn glucose into energy more effectively. Therefore, R-alpha lipoic acid can improve glucose uptake and utilization.

R-alpha lipoic acid is also an antioxidant. Its antioxidant activities can protect the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.

Biotin is also known as vitamin B7. It is an important coenzyme involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and amino acids. It is also involved in glucose synthesis.

Because biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, biotin deficiency is common among diabetics. Studies have shown that biotin supplementation can help those suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels better.

In one of these studies, biotin supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose by half.

Diabetics can derive other benefits from biotin. Studies also show that biotin can help prevent nerve damage commonly associated with diabetes characterized by poor glucose control.

Even though Insulow contains only a couple of active ingredients, it is very effective. In fact, it is recommended by Dr. R. Bernstein, a physician, renowned expert on diabetes, advocates of low-carb diabetes diet, and author of several books including Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars.

Alpha betic: 4 Related Products

Alpha betic is a set of 4 related supplements from Enzymatic Therapy. These products are meant to provide nutritional support for diabetics and especially to prevent common health complications associated with the disease.

The core product in this set of 4 diabetes supplements contains cinnamon, chromium, and biotin.

These active ingredients can improve insulin function and help control blood sugar levels. They are combined in capsule form and each bottle of the product contains 60 capsules.

The next product in the alpha betic line contains 23 vitamins, minerals, coenzymes, and phytochemicals including alpha-lipoic acid, lutein, biotin, chromium, vitamin B12, and vanadium.

These nutrients are combined and formulated as tablets and there are 30 tablets in each bottle of the product. While this supplement is meant to supply diabetics with multivitamins and increase energy output, it also contains active ingredients that can lower blood glucose levels. Therefore, it can be taken alone (1 tablet per day) or along with the other members of the product line.

The third product in the line is meant to support nerve function. It comes in capsule form and only contains alpha-lipoic acid, a natural antioxidant that stimulates other natural antioxidants such as vitamins C and E.

The last product is meant to improve the eye, heart, brain, skin, and joint health.

It contains the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These fatty acids can improve the body’s lipid profile.

While the active ingredients of the 4 alpha betic products can be combined into one super-formula, the decision to separate them helps diabetics select the ones most appropriate for their current therapy.

By providing different products for different needs, the manufacturers can avoid overloading the users while still providing comprehensive support for diabetics.