List of Medicinal Plants (Herbs) with Antidiabetic Properties

Though Diabetes is an incurable disease, but it can be controlled to a large extent by taking care of your food diet. Eating herbs can be really beneficial as these natural antidiabetic herbs have shown some promise in lowering blood sugar, boosting insulin sensitivity and reducing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and all. Most preferable list of antidiabetic plants has been mentioned below.

Gymnema Sylvestre (Gurmar or Miracle Fruit)

Gymnema Sylvestre known as Gurmar is one of the best herbs for controlling blood sugar. Sugar crusher/destroyer, translating it in Hindi, is well known for reducing the ability to detect sweetness.

It boosts the activity of enzymes helping the cells to use glucose. Thus, the sugar level decreases or it stimulates the production of insulin. Though, all its effects or possible side effects still hasn’t been studied extensively, but no report of serious side effects has been found.

Azadirachta Indica (Neem or Indian Lilac)

Azadirachta Indica, popularly known as Neem is widely popular as one of the best medicinal plants used for treatment of Diabetes in India. Since immemorial time, this has been used as an antidiabetic plant, even mentioned in the early Vedic text. It is used alone or combined with other antidiabetic herbs for decreasing the sugar levels.

But in some cases, it is found that the blood sugar level went too low due to the use of Neem. So, it is advisable to monitor your blood sugar level regularly while using Neem as an antidiabetic herb and change the dose of it according to the need.

Morus Indica (Mulberry)

Morus Indica or Mulberry leaves are recommended by Ayurvedic medics to decrease the sugar level and fight against Diabetes. According to the research, it is found that using Mulberry for at least 15 days on a regular basis with recommended dose will reduce the sugar level almost 38 to 40%.

Correcting lipid abnormality using Mulberry leaves is also popular. Diabetic patients can use this plant for the protection from oxidative stress as it improves the antioxidant defence system of the body. No report of side effects has been found.

Momordica Charantia (Karela or Bitter Gourd)

Also known as Bitter Gourd, Momordica Charantia has set a good example as a natural remedy for Diabetes and also used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines. It helps fighting Diabetes by increasing the insulin secretion and hence, improving the function of beta cells of the pancreas.

Bitter Gourd is among the sugar reducing herbs and its fruit pulp helps in increasing the number of beta cells in the pancreas. No serious side effect has been reported.

Eugenia Jambolana (Jamun or Java Plum)

It is known to us that Diabetes makes it harder for the body to heal a wound. Eugenia Jambolana seed extract makes wound healing process faster for a Diabetes patient. This is the reason of it being a preferable herb in the list of antidiabetic plants.

Its fruit and seeds reduce the sugar level effectively by stimulating the secretion of insulin. It also helps in reducing the risk of kidney dysfunction in Diabetes. It has no side effects.

Curcuma Longa (Haldi or Turmeric)

Studies have found that Curcuma Longa lowers plasma glucose level. It is a promising ingredient in functional food aiming at preventing different kinds of diabetes. It raises the secretion of insulin and thus glucose level stays in control. It has no side effects. It even helps in fighting different other diseases as well.

Tinospora Cordifolia (Guduchi or Heart-leaved Moonseed)

Tinospora Cordifolia is an herbal bush found usually in India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Its leaves, stems and root have different uses in Ayurveda. This plant not only reduces high cholesterol and allergic rhinitis, but also very useful in controlling Diabetes. It has antioxidant effects.

It also helps in improving the immunity system and fight against Diabetes. No noticeable side effect has been recorded. It is not only a medicinal plant used for treatment of Diabetes but also cures diseases like Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) too.

Best Fruits for Diabetic Patients to Eat

For those who were wondering what fruits are best for diabetics to eat, this list of healthy fruits for diabetics will help to solve their problem. So without a doubt include these delicious Diabetes fruits in your diet.

Peaches – Peachy Keen, Blood Sugar in Tune

Peaches are one of the best fruits for diabetics to eat. This fragrant and juicy fruit is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, Potassium, and fibre, all of which are very essential for your body. One can easily make a delicious smoothie using peach slices with buttermilk or crushed ice. You can even add a pinch of ginger or cinnamon to the peach salad to enhance the taste.

Apricots – Sweetness without the Sugar Rush

Highly available during summers, Apricot is a sweet mouth-watering fruit that has found its spot pretty high in the Diabetes diet chart. The nutritional value of one Apricot is 17g of calories and 4g of carbohydrates. Including 4 of them in your diet will provide you with 50% of your daily Vitamin A requirement. Being a good source of fibre, you can add it to your salad or cold cereal as well.

Apple – Taking the Bite out of Diabetes

As the famous saying goes, “An Apple a day keeps the doctor away”, Apple truly is a nutrient-packed fruit that will keep your health in check and also increases your fitness quotient. It is rich in Vitamin C and fibre. Apple is considered as one of the best fruits for diabetics as its outer skin too is high in nutritional values and is loaded with antioxidants, which are useful to prohibit the oxidation of molecules in our body.

Tart Cherries – Bursting with Flavour, Not Sugar

Tart Cherries are undoubtedly a popular choice among Diabetes patients due to its taste. It is for a reason known as the best fruit for diabetic patients as it has low GI (Glycemic Index) level and is quite rich in antioxidants.

Having a bowl of Tart Cherries regularly will help a person to tackle heart diseases, cancer, and other diseases as well. You will be surprised to know that Tart Cherries are also good at fighting inflammation. Therefore, these are one of the best dry fruits for sugar patients and must be consumed daily by the patients with Diabetes.

Berries – Berry Bliss, Blood Sugar Bliss

Whether it’s Strawberry, Blueberry or any other type of berries that you love to have, these tiny fruits are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and are high in fibre as well. They are also low in GI (Glycemic Index) levels.

The nutritional value for a three-quarter of a cup of Blueberries is approximately around 67 calories and 16g of carbohydrates, which is just perfect for evening snacks. The berries are a proud member of the Diabetes diet family.

Kiwi – The Fuzzy Fruit, Fights for You

One simply cannot avoid eating the delicious Kiwi fruit. If someone ever asks you, “What fruits are best for diabetics?” then without a second thought, prompt them Kiwi followed by other Diabetes friendly fruits. Kiwi is not only rich in Potassium but also fibre and Vitamin C that helps in maintaining the healthy blood sugar levels for diabetics.

Oranges – Squeeze the Day, the Healthy Way

Without a doubt, Oranges are among the best Indian fruits for Diabetes. Packed with Vitamin C, including one or two Oranges in your daily routine will fulfil your Vitamin C requirement. Potassium and Folate present in Orange also helps in maintaining the blood glucose levels in your body.

Your doctor or dietitian may help you in planning out a Gestational Diabetes diet plan but it is your job to stick to it. Thus, if you want to bring a change in yourself, you must follow Gestational Diabetes foods that are listed below.

Gestational Diabetes Diet in Pregnancy

Eating the right meals for Gestational Diabetes is highly important and knowing what to eat is equally important as well. Let’s see 10 of the most nutritious food for Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy that you must include in your diet.

Eggs – Your Gestational Diabetes Ally

Eggs are a great source of protein and iron. You can include it in your daily breakfast as a part of the Gestational Diabetes meal plan. Eating at least 1 or 2 eggs daily can keep you healthy during your pregnancy. Eating the egg also provides you with other important nutrients to and keeps you healthy.

Bananas – A Sweet Secret to a Healthy Pregnancy

Fruits must be an important part of your diet and Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6. You can have Bananas in your diabetic diet plan as it is also good for your pregnancy. The fruit is also effective in preventing leg cramps at night which can become common while you are pregnant. So, try including Bananas in your meal plan for Gestational Diabetes.

Oatmeal – Simple Choice, Big Impact

Oatmeal is one of the most effective food items for people suffering from diabetes. It can regulate your blood sugar levels and can bring it back to normal which is why it is highly recommended in every Gestational Diabetes diet menu. Moreover, it can also help you in reducing the number of insulin injections needed during the treatment.

Yogurt – Pregnancy’s Secret Ingredient

Yogurt is quite rich in protein too and it is advisable that you include it in your pregnancy diabetes diet menu which you can follow daily. If you have access to Greek yogurt (Strained yogurt), you can consume that too as it has double the amount of protein than the normal regular yogurt. Yogurt is included in probably all the Gestational Diabetes diet chart.

Sweet Potatoes – The Sweet Solution for Gestational Diabetes

Sweet Potatoes are rich in antioxidants as well as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. At times, you might have cravings to eat something like French fries and other similar food items. So, it’s better to replace potatoes in your daily pregnancy diabetes diet by sweet potatoes and it would make a world of difference.

Beans – The Fibre Powerhouse for Healthy Blood Sugar

If you are looking for a perfect food item that is great for both, you as well as your baby, you must consume beans frequently. There are various health benefits associated with it as it is full of fibre, protein, folate (Folic acid), and zinc among other healthy nutrients. It must definitely be a part of your Gestational Diabetes food list.

Tomatoes – Little Red Treasures

Tomatoes can be easily included in your Gestational Diabetes meals because it is too easy to make a recipe out of it or to include it to a recipe. It is rich in antioxidants like ‘Lycopene’ which helps in fighting against diseases and illnesses. They also have a good amount of Vitamin C and potassium which are important for your body.

Whole Grain Bread – A Versatile Companion from Breakfast to Dinner

We all need to eat bread but also make sure that they are made up of whole grain. White bread which is normally available will do more harm to your body than benefit so never include it in your Gestational Diabetes food list. Thus, if you like to consume bread, ensure that it is whole grain bread.

Lean Meat – Satisfy Your Cravings, Support Your Health

If you are more inclined towards non vegetarian food items, you can consume Lean meats as there are many Gestational Diabetes diet recipes you can make out of meat. They are a good source of iron and protein which are essential for your body.

Spinach – One Green Leaf at a Time for a Healthy Gestational Diabetes

You must have already heard about the health benefits of Spinach in a normal diet and when you are searching for foods to eat with Gestational Diabetes, it is something you will find in every list. Spinach is full of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins so make sure that you eat them frequently for health benefits.

5 Foods that cause Diabetes – Worst Food for Diabetic Patients

Here is a list of food items that are known to be among the worst foods for diabetics and rank high on the diabetic food list that causes the disease. Make sure that you stay away from these food items if you want to avoid Diabetes or even if you are already diagnosed with it.

Sugar Candies – Sweet Temptations, Tricky Truths

Sugar is highly dangerous for people suffering from diabetes. Even for healthy and fit people, it is advised to avoid too much of sugar. There is nothing good that sugar does.

In all kinds of diabetic food, sugar-free tablets are used to sweeten the food item. Diabetics or even non-diabetic people must not consume sugar candies too often for maintaining a good health.

You must try and find sugar substitutes that can play its part in your diet. The best sugar alternatives for diabetic patients are honey, stevia, coconut sugar and monk fruit extract.

White Bread – Fast Carbs, Faster Blood Sugar

White bread must be avoided at all costs in your daily diet in case you consume it for your breakfast. It is not directly linked to diabetes but it leads to some factors which in the long term can become the cause diabetes or aggravate it. It has some direct impacts on obesity which is one of the causes of diabetes.

Although this food item is often skipped when talked about what food causes diabetes but food authorities have advised using alternatives like brown bread or whole grain bread which are healthier than white bread.

White Rice – Illusion of Health, Reality of High Glucose

White rice is a highly processed grain and thus must be taken with precaution if you are a diabetic. The best advice would be to avoid it altogether but if you are habituated to it, you can moderate the amount of white rice you are consuming. You will find it in every diabetic diet chart among the unhealthy diet for Diabetes mellitus.

Pickles – Salty Crunch, a hidden Health Hunch

Although pickles do not cause much harm in triggering diabetes but if you want to keep your sodium levels in check, it is advisable that pickles must be avoided. Thus, it comes under the list of foods not to eat with Diabetes.

However if you include a small amount in your diet occasionally, it is fine as well. But if you overdo it, your sodium levels can rise and thus the chances of getting diabetes increase.

Fruit Juices – All the Sugar, none of the Fibre

There is a huge doubt over whether a diabetic must even consume fruits or not. But fresh fruits do no harm to regular people as well as the diabetics. But when you think upon the food items that cause diabetes, fruit juices are definitely not among them.

It is always better to avoid fruit juices as they contain high amounts of sugar for sweetening the juice which is harmful for diabetes patients. Thus, diabetic patients can only consume diabetic friendly fruits that are healthy and beneficial for them. Some people might also give you a list of diabetes fruits to avoid but it is a myth that eating fruits cause diabetes.