Type 2 Diabetes: Is Bitter Melon Helpful In Lowering Blood Sugar?

When it comes to type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise are the two most important areas to focus on on your blood sugar-lowering journey. You will have to make many changes to your lifestyle, especially with regard to what you eat. One of the options that you may come across when looking for helpful foods for diabetes is bitter melon. Not only is it known for its distinctive taste and appearance, but it can also have a positive effect on your health.

Bitter melon is a plant. commonly cultivated in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Bitter melon originated in India and has been introduced to China since the 14th century. It looks similar to a cucumber with rough, wrinkled skin. Other names for the fruit include…

• bitter Gourd,

• coloquinthid,

• apple balm,

• bitter Gourd,

• african Cucumber,

• balsamic pear, and

• Karela (in India).

You will be interested to know that bitter melon is commonly featured in traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases; one of which is type 2 diabetes.

The effect of bitter melon. It is known to promote weight loss and help control blood sugar. Studies have shown that bitter melon may be helpful in improving glucose intolerance. And this is closely related to the type of chemicals that are in the plant. These chemicals are similar to insulin in the way they work. Not only do they help push more sugar into the cells, they also help suppress the conversion of other stored nutrients to sugar.

Based on the result of a study carried out on a group of people with type 2 diabetes, it is also believed that bitter lemon could help reduce hemoglobin A1c levels (HbA1c levels).

How to use. Bitter melon is available as a supplement in capsule form, but there is still no concrete evidence on its effectiveness for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Factors may come into play, such as your general health, your age, and whether you have any other medical conditions .

If you decide to try bitter melon, be sure to follow the directions on the product’s package. It’s also a good idea to check with your doctor before taking it. Even though supplements appear to be safe, you don’t want to find out that they don’t interact with your prescription medications.

In addition to the supplement form, you can also try the fruit, flower, juice, or tea form, depending on your preference. The plant/fruit is commonly found in an Asian or African grocery store. If you decide to prepare the fruit as many people do, be sure to remove the seeds before cooking.