What are natural treatments for diabetes?

Lose weight if you are overweight. This restores your own insulin's effectiveness and is often enough to make the diabetes go away - especially if you add regular exercise to your regimen.

Avoid sweets. Stevia, artificial sweeteners, and sugar free chocolate with maltitol like the "Russell Stover" sugar free brand are OK.

Increase fiber intake.

The vitamins B12, B6 and Inositol can help prevent (or heal) diabetic nerve injury. Treating the magnesium deficiency routinely caused by the diabetes helps decrease the risk of heart disease (do not take magnesium if you have kidney failure without your doctor's OK). The antioxidants may decrease the damage from the high sugar, and other components may help increase insulin sensitivity.

Take the supplement lipoic acid 300 mg 2x day to prevent and treat diabetic nerve pain.

If you have diabetic nerve injury, add acetyl-l-carnitine 1,500-3,000 mg a day.

Beta-glucan: Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber derived from the cell walls of algae, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and plants. It is commonly used for its cholesterol-lowering effects. There are several human trials supporting the use of beta-glucan for glycemic (blood sugar) control in patients with diabetes. Although early evidence is promising, additional study is needed before a firm recommendation can be made. Avoid if allergic or hypersensitive to beta-glucan. When taken by mouth, beta-glucan is generally considered safe. Use cautiously with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC). Avoid using particulate beta-glucan. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Chromium: Chromium has been studied in the treatment of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). More research is needed in this area. Avoid if allergic to chromium, chromate, or leather. Use cautiously with diabetes, liver problems, weakened immune systems (such as HIV/AIDS patients or organ transplant recipients), depression, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and stroke and in patients who are taking medications for these conditions. Use cautiously if driving or operating machinery. Use cautiously if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Ginseng: Several studies report a blood sugar-lowering effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) in individuals with type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia. Future research is needed to evaluate long-term efficacy of American ginseng compared to standard oral hypoglycemic drugs. Ginseng may increase the effects of blood sugar lowering medications, including insulin. Avoid ginseng with a known allergy to plants in the Araliaceae family. There has been a report of a serious life-threatening skin reaction, possibly caused by contaminants in ginseng formulations.