Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that has a significant impact on the health, and care of diabetes represents a substantial portion of the …


Alternative Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes
Lucy Dey, MD, Anoja S Attele, DDS, Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD
Abstract Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that has a significant impact on the health, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients, as well as on the health care system Exercise, diet, and weight control continue to be essential and effective means of improving glucose homeostasis However, lifestyle management measures may be insufficient or patient compliance difficult, rendering conventional drug therapies ie, oral glucose-lowering agents and insulin injection necessary in many patients In addition to adverse effects, drug treatments are not always satisfactory in maintaining euglycemia and avoiding late stage diabetic complications As an alternative approach, medicinal herbs with antihyperglycemic activities are increasingly sought by diabetic patients and health care professionals Commonly used herbs and other alternative therapies, less likely to have the side effects of conventional approaches for type 2 diabetes, are reviewed Altern Med Rev 2002;71:45-58 Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic metabolic disorder that has a significant impact on
the health, quality of life, and life expectancy of patients, as well as on the health care system In the United States, diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death1 Diabetes is divided into two major categories: type 1 diabetes formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or IDDM and type 2 diabetes formerly known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM The overall prevalence of diabetes is approximately six percent of the population, of which 90 percent is type 22 Treatment and care of diabetes represents a substantial portion of the national health care expenditure, over 105 billion annually This represents a substantial portion of the health care expenditure more than one of every 10 U S health care dollars and one of four Medicare dollars3 Type 2 diabetes represents a syndrome with disordered metabolism of carbohydrate and fat The most prominent clinical feature is hyperglycemia fasting plasma glucose level 126 mg/dL, or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c HbA1c 694 In most patients with type 2 diabetes, the onset is in adulthood, most commonly in obese people over 40 years of age Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and atherosclerosis are often
associated with diabetes Pathophysiology and Complications Type 2 diabetes is known to have a strong genetic component with contributing environmental determinants Although the disease is genetically heterogeneous, there

appears to be a fairly consistent phenotype once the disease is fully manifested Whatever the pathogenic causes, the early stage of type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in insulin-targeting tissues, mainly the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipocytes Insulin resistance in these tissues is associated with excessive glucose production by the liver and impaired glucose utilization by peripheral tissues, especially muscle These events undermine metabolic homeostasis, but may not directly lead to overt diabetes in the early stage With increased insulin secretion to compensate for insulin resistance, baseline blood glucose levels can be maintained within normal ranges, but the patients may demonstrate impaired responses to prandial carbohydrate loading and to oral glucose tolerance tests The chronic over-stimulation of insulin secretion gradually diminishes and eventually exhausts the islet beta-cell reserve A state of absolute insulin deficiency ensues
and overt clinical diabetes becomes fully blown5-7 The transition of impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes can also be influenced by ethnicity, degree of obesity, distribution of body fat, sedentary lifestyle, aging, and other concomitant medical conditions8 The quality of life of type 2 diabetic patients with chronic and severe hypoglycemia is adversely affected Characteristic symptoms of tiredness and lethargy can become severe and lead to a decrease in work performance in adults and an increase of falls in the elderly9 The most common acute complications are metabolic problems hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome or HHNS and infection The long-term complications are macrovascular complications hypertension, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, stroke, microvascular complications retinopathy, nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diarrhea, neurogenic bladder, impaired cardiovascular reflexes, sexual dysfunction, and diabetic foot disorders9 Conventional Therapies The general consensus on treatment of type 2 diabetes is that lifestyle management is at the forefront of therapy options In addition to exercise, weight control, and medical nutrition therapy, oral
glucose-lowering drugs and injections of insulin are the conventional therapies Since the most important pathological process during the development of diabetes involves three key organs, ie, pancreatic islets, liver, and skeletal muscle, almost all anti-diabetic therapies are aimed at these organs Pharmacological treatment is indicated when fasting glucose level exceeds 140 mg/dL, the postprandial glucose level exceeds 160 mg/dL or HbA1c exceeds 80 percent10 Pharmacological Treatment and Limitations Oral Glucose-Lowering Drugs: In the United States, five classes of oral agents are approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes By conventional standards, oral therapy is indicated in any patient with type 2 diabetes in whom diet and exercise fail to achieve acceptable glycemic control10 Although initial responses may be good, oral hypoglycemic drugs may lose their effectiveness in a significant percentage of patients The drug categories include sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and meglitinides

Sulfonylureas, including first generation eg, tolbutamide and second generation eg, glyburide sulfonylureas, enhance insulin secretion from the
pancreatic beta-cells A significant side effect is hypoglycemia Sulfonylurea therapy is also usually associated with weight gain due to hyperinsulinemia,11,12 which has been implicated as a cause of secondary drug failure10-12 Biguanides include the drug metformin, which was originally derived from a medicinal plant, Galega officinalis Metformin reduces plasma glucose via inhibition of hepatic glucose production and increase of muscle glucose uptake It also reduces plasma triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels Side effects include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, lactic acidosis, and kidney toxicity Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors include the drug acarbose This drug category decreases postprandial glucose levels by interfering with carbohydrate digestion and delaying gastrointestinal absorption of glucose The major side effects are gas, bloating, and diarrhea Thiazolidinediones are represented by troglitazone, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone These expensive oral agents work by improving insulin sensitivity in muscle and, to a much lesser extent, in the liver These drugs decrease plasma triglyceride levels, but such decrease may be associated with weight gain
and an increase in LDL-cholesterol levels Liver toxicity is a concern requiring monthly monitoring of liver function Since troglitazone Rezulin is more toxic to the liver than rosiglitazone and pioglitazone having resulted in dozens of deaths from liver failure, in March 2000 the FDA asked the manufacturer of Rezulin to remove the product from the market Meglitinides drug name Repaglinide augment insulin secretion, but weight gain, gastrointestinal disturbances, and hypoglycemia are possible side effects Insulin Therapy: Insulin is usually added to an oral agent when glycemic control is suboptimal at maximal doses of oral medications Some diabet-ologists prefer to initiate insulin therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes10 Weight gain and hypoglycemia are common side effects of insulin therapy13-16 Vigorous insulin treatment may also carry an increased risk of atherogenesis14 Table 1 summarizes various limitations of current drug therapies Exercise Any exercise prescription should be individualized to account for patient interests, physical status, capacity, and motivation Exercising five or six times per week enhances weight reduction Because many people with
diabetes have not been active, exercise should start at a low level and gradually increase to avoid adverse effects such as injury, hypoglycemia, or cardiac problems17,18 Conventional Approach to Diet Therapy Given the heterogeneous nature of type 2 diabetes, no single dietary approach is appropriate for all patients Meal plans and diet modifications are generally individualized by a registered dietitian to meet patient needs and lifestyle A typical

conventional approach would recommend a diet composed of 60-65 percent carbohydrate, 25-35 percent fat, and 10-20 percent protein, with limited or no alcohol consumption19 Alternative Approaches Alternative therapies with anti-diabetic activity have been researched relatively extensively, particularly in India Ideal therapies should have a similar degree of efficacy without the troublesome side effects associated with conventional treatments Alternative treatments for diabetes have become increasingly popular the last several years,16 including medicinal herbs, nutritional supplementation, acupuncture, and hot tub therapy Medicinal Herbs Many conventional drugs have been derived from prototypic molecules in medicinal plants Metformin
exemplifies an efficacious oral glucose-lowering agent Its development was based on the use of Galega officinalis to treat diabetes20 Galega officinalis is rich in guanidine, the hypoglycemic component21-23 Because guanidine is too toxic for clinical use, the alkyl biguanides synthalin A and synthalin B were introduced as oral anti-diabetic agents in Europe in the 1920s but were discontinued after insulin became more widely available However, experience with guanidine and biguanides prompted the development of metformin24,25 To date, over 400 traditional plant treatments for diabetes have been reported,20 although only a small number of these have received scientific and medical evaluation to assess their efficacy The hypoglycemic effect of some herbal extracts has been confirmed in human and animal models of type 2 diabetes The World Health Organization Expert Committee on diabetes has recommended that traditional medicinal herbs be further investigated20 The following is a summary of several of the most studied and commonly used medicinal herbs Ginseng Species: The root of ginseng has been used for over 2,000 years in the Far East for its health-promoting properties In recent
years, it has consistently been one of the top ten selling herbs in the United States Of the several species of ginseng, Panax ginseng Asian ginseng and Panax quinquefolius American ginseng are commonly used Constituents of all ginseng species include ginsenosides, polysaccharides, peptides, polyacetylenic alcohol, and fatty acids26 Most pharmacological actions of ginseng are attributed to ginsenosides, a family of steroids named steroidal saponins27,28 The chemical composition of ginseng products and potency may vary with the plant extract derivative, the age of the root, the location where grown, the season when harvested, and the methods of drying29,30 Data from animal studies indicate that both Asian ginseng31,32 and American ginseng33,34 have significant hypoglycemic action This blood glucose-lowering effect appears to be attributed to ginsenoside Rb-2 and more specifically to panaxans I, J, K and L in type 1 diabetic models35-39 But whether these constituents have a similar effect on type 2 diabetes is as yet unknown

There is some clinical evidence on ginsengs hypoglycemic activity Sotaniemi et al demonstrated a reduction in the levels of fasting blood glucose and HbA1c in
type 2 diabetics treated with a small dose 100-200 mg of ginseng relative to placebo40 Ginseng also elevated mood, improved psychophysiological performance and physical activity, and reduced body weight40 Vuksan et al also demonstrated that 3 g American ginseng, when given 40 minutes prior to the test meal, significantly lowered the blood glucose in both non-diabetic subjects and type 2 diabetic patients41 However, when ginseng was given together with meals, this effect did not persist in non-diabetic subjects Vuksan proposed several plausible hypotheses regarding ginsengs mechanisms of action: 1 ginseng may slow the digestion of food, decreasing the rate of carbohydrate absorption into portal hepatic circulation;30,42 2 ginseng may affect glucose transport, which is mediated by nitric oxide NO;32,43-45 and 3 ginseng may modulate NOmediated insulin secretion46 It was recently shown that NO stimulates glucose-dependent secretion of insulin in rat islet cells47 There are few reports of adverse effects of ginseng, despite the fact that it is estimated six million people ingest it regularly in the United States48 The most commonly reported side effects of ginseng are nervousness and
excitation, but these diminish with continued use or dosage reduction48 Ginseng may exert an estrogen-like effect in postmenopausal women, resulting in diffuse mammary nodularity and vaginal bleeding49,50 Ginseng may inhibit the effects of warfarin51 and interact with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine52 Often, such case reports fail to provide sufficient details concerning the type or quality of ginseng used, or whether the preparation actually contained ginseng or ginsenoside53,54 Massive overdose can bring about ginseng abuse syndrome, which is characterized by hypertension, insomnia, hypertonia, and edema48 The recommended daily ginseng dosage is 1-3 g of the crude root, or 200-600 mg of a standardized extract55 As the possibility of hormone-like or hormone-inducing effects cannot be ruled out, some authors suggest limiting treatment to three months55 Momordica charantia Bitter Melon: Momordica charantia, also known as bitter melon, balsam pear, or karela, has been referred to as both a vegetable and a fruit, and is widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, and South America It has been used extensively in folk medicines as a remedy for diabetes The blood sugar-lowering action
of the fresh juice or unripe fruit has been established in animal experimental models as well as human clinical trials56,57 Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed anti-diabetic properties Alcohol-extracted charantin from Momordica charantia consists of mixed steroids and was found to be more potent than the oral hypoglycemic agent tolbutamide in an animal study58 Bitter melon also contains an insulin-like polypeptide, polypeptide-P, similar in structure to bovine insulin It was found to decrease blood sugar levels when injected subcutaneously into type 1 diabetic patients59 The oral administration of bitter melon preparations has also shown satisfactory results in clinical trials in type 2 diabetic patients Welihinda et al showed glucose tolerance was improved in 73 percent of type 2 diabetic patients given 57 g of the juice56 In another study, 15 g of the aqueous extract of bitter

melon produced a 54-percent decrease in postprandial blood sugar levels and a 17percent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin in six patients57 The mechanism of bitter melons activity in lowering blood glucose is unknown, but in diabetic rabbit models it has been proposed to possess
a direct action similar to insulin and was found effective in lowering blood glucose in alloxan-treated rabbits60 Bailey and Day report the herb appears to inhibit gluconeogenesis20 The recommended dose of bitter melon depends on the form it is being consumed Dosage for tincture ranges from 5 mL two to three times daily to as high as 50 mL per day61 However, bitter melon juice is very difficult to make palatable since, as the name implies, it is quite bitter To avoid the bitter taste, the Indians and Chinese crush the herbs and form tablets In Central America, it is prepared as an extract or decoction Hepatic portal inflammation and testicular lesions in dogs have been reported with excessive administration of cerasee a component of the wild variety of bitter melon62 Dosages of capsulized dried powder range from 3-15 g daily That is quite a large dose so to avoid the necessity of taking so many capsules, a standardized extract may be used at dosages of 100-200 mg three times daily Trigonella foenum graecum Fenugreek: Trigonella foenum graecum has been used as a remedy for diabetes, particularly in India63 The active principal is in the defatted portion of the seed, which contains
the alkaloid trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and coumarin Administration of the defatted seed 15-20 g/kg daily to both normal and diabetic dogs reduced fasting and postprandial blood levels of glucose, glucagon, somatostatin, insulin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increased HDL-cholesterol levels64 Human studies have confirmed the glucose- and lipid-lowering effects58 At least 50 percent of seeds is fiber and may constitute another potential mechanism of fenugreeks beneficial effect in diabetic patients65 In type 2 diabetic patients, the ingestion of 15 g of powdered fenugreek seed soaked in water significantly reduced postprandial glucose levels during the glucose tolerance test65 Dosages of the fiber range from 10-100 g daily in divided dosages Urine may have a maple syrup smell after fenugreek consumption66 No other side effects have been reported to date although, because of the possibility of it affecting blood sugar by slowing absorption, oral medications should be taken at a different time than fenugreek Gymnema sylvestre Gurmar: Gymnema sylvestre, a plant native to the tropical forests of India Figure 1, has long been used as a treatment for diabetes Gymnema
sylvestre appeared on the US market several years ago, hyped as a sugar blocker In a study of type 2 diabetes, 22 patients were given 400 mg Gymnema sylvestre extract daily along with their oral hypoglycemic drugs All patients demonstrated improved blood sugar control Twenty-one of 22 were able to reduce their oral hypoglycemic drug dosage considerably, and five patients were able to discontinue oral medication and maintain blood sugar control with the Gymnema extract alone67 It was postulated that Gymnema sylvestre enhances the production of endogenous insulin68 A typical dosage of Gymnema sylvestre extract is 400-600 mg/day One of its side effects may be a reduction or loss of the taste sensation of sweetness and bitterness, although this occurs only if the plant is directly exposed to the tongue61

Allium cepa and Allium sativum: Studies have found both Allium cepa onions and Allium sativum garlic have blood sugar lowering effects69,70 Volatile oils in raw onion and garlic cloves have been shown to lower fasting glucose concentration in both diabetic animals and human subjects71 The active components are believed to be sulfurcontaining compounds allyl propyl disulfide APDS in
onions and diallyl disulfide allicin in garlic Researchers have postulated that these active ingredients lower glucose levels by competing with insulin which is also a disulfide for insulin-inactivating sites in the liver,70 resulting in an increase of free insulin Onion extracts reduce blood sugar levels in a dose-dependent manner69 A typical dosage of Allium cepa is one 400 mg capsule daily The general daily dosage of garlic is 4 g fresh garlic or 8 mg essential oil72

Pterocarpus marsupium and other Epicatechin-containing Plants: Pterocarpus marsupium has a long history of use in India as a treatment for diabetes The flavanoid, -epicatechin, extracted from the bark of this plant has been shown to prevent beta-cell damage in rats In addition, both epicatechin and a crude alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupiumPool15852shown to regenerate functioouvl-143 pavctetic-153 be-191e-153n-413e-153t-have been ,-2996a-1858 ga-1916t-2616Poolu-1916tp20o-25ol139 -20hf-686vl-148 068 a l15418n i lS-2618li15418nt h da-1877l3563t-2437e123t-285n1785nt-2437i1563tv1785ne,-116 a-1877l3563tP67 pt-2228p355e-17638nn1774s lo-21016Pd-774s bl355eo-2103lo-21016Pd–036ts-886vugtr-9726 c235eo-2103ln
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both type 2 diabetic patients and in an animal model84 Aloe vera juice is prepared from Aloe vera gel, a mucilaginous preparation obtained from the leaves of the plant Oral administration of the juice has been reported to reduce fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetic patients with or without combination of a conventional anti-diabetic agent85-87 The amount used was one tablespoon of Aloe vera juice twice daily with no significant adverse effects reported Mineral Supplementation The treatment of diabetes requires nutritional supplementation, as these patients have a greatly increased need for many nutrients Supplying the diabetic with additional key nutrients has been shown to improve blood sugar control as well as help prevent or ameliorate many major complications of diabetes Chromium: Chromium is an essential micronutrient for humans Considerable experimental and epidemiological evidence now indicates that chromium levels are a major determinant of insulin sensitivity, as it functions as a cofactor in all insulinregulating activities88 Chromium facilitates insulin binding and subsequent uptake of glucose into the cell Supplemental
chromium has been shown to decrease fasting glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin levels, and decrease total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL cholesterol in normal, elderly, and type 2 diabetic subjects89,90 Without chromium, insulins action is blocked and glucose levels are elevated89 Chromium picolinate, a trivalent chromium Cr3, is one of the forms of chromium that exhibits biological activity91 A large clinical study on 180 diabetic patients documents the benefit of chromium picolinate for type 2 diabetic patients In the study, while patients continued their normal medication, they were placed in one of three groups: placebo group, 100 mcg chromium picolinate twice daily, or 500 mcg chromium picolinate twice daily There were significant dose- and time-dependent decreases in glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, two-hour postprandial glucose levels, fasting and two-hour postprandial insulin values, and total cholesterol, particularly in the 500 mcg twice daily group92 However, not all studies on chromium have yielded positive results In a controlled six-month study to determine the effect of 200 mcg/day chromium picolinate on individuals
with type 2 diabetes, Lee and Reasner reported a decrease in triglycerides but no statistical difference between control and chromium-treated subjects with respect to measured parameters of glucose control93 This dosage is considerably smaller than that found effective at lowering glucose in other studies so may explain the disparate findings among studies Although no recommended daily allowance RDA has been established for chromium, over 200 mcg/day appears necessary for optimal blood sugar regulation A good supply of chromium is assured by supplemental chromium94 in addition to dietary sources Good dietary sources are brewers yeast63 and barley flour,95 while refined sugars, white flour products, and lack of exercise can deplete chromium levels Trivalent chromium has long been considered to be a safe nutritional supplement96 Although the hexavalent form of chromium is a known human respiratory tract

carcinogen when inhaled in high-exposure industrial settings, there is no evidence of any carcinogenesis in humans from the trivalent form of chromium found in chromium supplements97,98 Further evaluation of the safety and efficacy of trivalent chromium in diabetes treatment may be
warranted Vanadium: Prior to the discovery of insulin in 1922, vanadium was used for the control of blood sugar Two small studies one with six type 2 diabetic patients, one with seven type 2 diabetic patients have confirmed the effectiveness of vanadyl sulfate at a dose of 100 mg/day in improving insulin sensitivity99,100 Magnesium: A deficiency of magnesium is significantly more common in type 2 diabetics than in the general population101 Magnesium deficiency has been associated with complications of diabetes, retinopathy in particular One study found patients with the most severe retinopathy were also lowest in magnesium102 Nutrients used in type 2 diabetes are summarized in Table 2 Physical Interventions: Acupuncture and Hydrotherapy Acupuncture is best known in the United States as an alternative therapy for chronic pain However, it has been used for the treatment of diabetes and related complications during the past several decades There are numerous Chinese publications on the use of acupuncture for diabetes, but only those published in English will be cited here Acupuncture may be effective in treating not only diabetes, but also in preventing and managing complications of
the disease103 The effects of acupuncture on diabetes have been observed experimentally and clinically104,105 Animal experiments have shown that acupuncture can activate glucose-6phosphatase an important enzyme in carbohydrate metabolism and affect the hypothalamus106 Acupuncture can act on the pancreas to enhance insulin synthesis, increase the number of receptors on target cells, and accelerate the utilization of glucose, resulting in lowering of blood sugar106 Data from other studies have shown the beneficial anti-obesity effect of acupuncture,105 which is the most modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes It appears that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetes is not the result of its action on one single organ, but on multiple systems Four commonly used points are: 1 Zusanli point, located three inches below the lateral knee depression, one finger width from the lateral side of the anterior crest of the tibia; 2 Sanyinjiao point, located three inches above the tip of the inner ankle, on the posterior margin of the metatarsal bone; 3 Feishu point, located 15 inches lateral and inferior to the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra in a prone position; and 4
Shenshu point, located 15 inches lateral to the posterior midline, lateral and inferior to the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra in a prone position These acupuncture points were selected based on traditional Chinese medicine theory During the treatment, other points can be added according to symptoms and signs103 Other methods have also been employed such as point injection with normal saline, small dose insulin, and Chinese herbal medicine extracts Treatment is generally given once daily or once every other day as a course of 14-21 treatments It is believed that the longer the course of treatment, the more marked will be the effect

Acupuncture can be effective in treating complications of diabetes, often with marked improvement in clinical symptoms Better therapeutic results are obtained in patients with dietary control than in those without it Physical exercise, breathing exercises, and massage can help improve the therapeutic effect Although acupuncture shows some effectiveness in treating diabetes, its mechanisms of action are still obscure Since hot-tub therapy can increase blood flow to skeletal muscles, it has been recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes
who are unable to exercise107 A study reported that eight patients were asked to sit in a hot tub for 30 minutes daily for three weeks During the study period, patients weight, mean plasma glucose level, and mean glycosylated hemoglobin decreased107 Caution should be taken that the water not be too hot as neuropathy may prevent the patient from noticing they are burning themselves In addition, poor circulation can result in increased metabolic demands when feet become heated demands that cannot be met by the diabetic patient Proper water sanitation and appropriate guidance should be considered when prescribing hot-tub therapy for diabetic patients108 Conclusion Alternative therapies with anti- hyperglycemic effects are increasingly sought by patients with diabetes This comes as no surprise since alternative treatments have been most widely used in chronic diseases, which may be only partially alleviated by conventional treatment Herbal medications are the most commonly used alternative therapy for blood sugar control; however, their safety and efficacy need to be further evaluated by welldesigned, controlled clinical studies Because various non-standardized forms of the herbs have
often been the testing material, the results have been difficult to replicate Therefore, preparation of standardized medicinal herbs is urgently needed in future studies and therapies Although herbs used for diabetes are less likely to have the drawbacks of conventional drugs, potential adverse herb-drug interactions should be kept in mind for patients also receiving conventional anti-diabetic medications Several minerals have been found to benefit people with diabetes, either because of potential deficiencies or because of the beneficial effect on glucose metabolism Among the most important minerals for supplementation are chromium, magnesium, and vanadium Other potentially beneficial treatments for type 2 diabetes include acupuncture and hydrotherapy This work was supported in part by the Tang Family Foundation References 1 National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diabetes Statistics Bethesda, MD: NIDDK; 1995; NIH publication no 96-3926 2 Diabetes 1996 Vital Statistics Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association

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12 Kelly DE Effects of weight loss on glucose homeostasis in NIDDM Diabetes Rev 1995;3:366-377 13 No authors listed United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study 24: a 6-year, randomized, controlled trial comparing sulfonylurea, insulin, and metformin therapy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes that could not be controlled with diet therapy United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Group Ann Intern Med 1998;128:165-175 14 No authors listed Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes UKPDS 33 UK Prospective Diabetes Study UKPDS Group Lancet 1998;352:837-853 15 No authors listed Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes UKPDS 34 UK Prospective Diabetes Study UKPDS Group Lancet 1998;352:854-865 16 Sinha A, Formica C, Tsalamandris C, et al Effect of insulin on body composition in patients with insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes Diabetes Med 1996;13:40-46

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49 Palmer BV, Montgomery AC, Monteiro JC Gin Seng and mastalgia Br Med J 1978;1:1284 50 Hammond TG, Whitworth JA Adverse reactions to ginseng Med J Aust 1981;1:492 51 Janetzky K, Morreale AP Probable interaction between warfarin and ginseng Am J Health Syst Pharm 1997;54:692-693 52 Jones BD, Runikis AM
Interaction of ginseng with phenelzine J Clin Psychopharmacol 1987;7:201-202 53 Cui J, Garle M, Eneroth P, Bjorkhem I What do commercial ginseng preparations contain? Lancet 1994;344:134 54 Awang DV Maternal use of ginseng and neonatal androgenization JAMA 1991;266:363 55 Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler VE Rational phytotherapy In: Agents that Increase Resistance to Diseases New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1998:269-272 56 Welihinda J, Karunanayake EH, Sheriff MH, Jayasinghe KS Effect of Momordica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:277-282 57 Srivastava Y, Venkatakrishna-Bhatt H, Verma Y, et al Antidiabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momordica charantia extract An experimental and clinical evaluation Phytother Res 1993;7:285-289 58 Sarkar S, Pranava M, Marita R Demonstration of the hypoglycemic action of Momordica charantia in a validated animal model of diabetes Pharmacol Res 1996;33:14 59 Baldwa VS, Bhandari CM, Pangaria A, Goyal RK Clinical trial in patients with diabetes mellitus of an insulin-like compound obtained from plant sources Upsala J Med Sci 1977;82:39-41 60 Akhtar MS, Athar MA, Yaqub M Effect of Momordica charantia on
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65 Madar Z, Abel R, Samish S, Arad J Glucose-lowering effect of fenugreek in noninsulin dependent diabetics Eur J Clin Nutr 1988;42:51-54 66 Bartley GB, Hilty MD, Andreson BD, et al Maple syrup urine odor due to fenugreek ingestion N Engl J Med 1981;305:467 67 Baskaran K, Kizar Ahamath B, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Shanmugasundaram ER Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus patients J Ethnopharmacol
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81 Collier GR, Collier FM, Sanigorski A, et al Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in Psammomys obesus is independent of changes in tissue fatty acid composition Lipids 1997;32:317-322 82 Stern E Successful use of Atriplex halimus in the treatment of type II diabetic patients A preliminary study Unpublished study conducted at Zaminhoff Medical Center, Tel Aviv, 1989 83 Earon G, Stern E, Lavosky H Successful use of Atriplex halimus in the treatment of type II diabetic patients
Controlled clinical research report on Atriplex Unpublished study conducted at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 1989 84 Ghannam N, Kingston M, Al-Meshaal IA, et al The antidiabetic activity of aloes: preliminary clinical and experimental observations Horm Res 1986:24:288-294 85 Bunyapraphatsara N, Yongchaiyudha S, Rungpitarangsi V, Chokechaijaroenporn O Antidiabetic activity of Aloe vera L juice: II Clinical trial in diabetes mellitus patients in combination with glibenclamide Phytomedicine 1996:3:245-248 86 Yongchaiyudha S, Rungpitarangsi V, Bunyapraphatsara N, Chokechaijaroenporn O Antidiabetic activity of Aloe vera L juice: I Clinical trial in new cases of diabetes mellitus Phytomedicine 1996:3:241-243 87 Vogler BK, Ernst E Aloe vera: a systemic review of its clinical effectiveness Br J Gen Pract 1999;49:823-828 88 Offenbacher EG, Pi-Sunyer FX Beneficial effect of chromium-rich yeast on glucose tolerance and blood lipids in elderly subjects Diabetes 1980;29:919-925 89 Mooradian AD, Failla M, Hoogwerf B, et al Selected vitamins and minerals in diabetes Diabetes Care 1994;17:464-479 90 Baker B Chromium supplements tied to glucose control Fam Pract News 1996;15:5 91 Mertz M
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96 Nielsen FH Chromium In: Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, eds Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed Philadelphia, PA: Lea Febiger; 1994:264-268 97 Reading SA Chromium picolinate J Fla Med Assoc 1996;83:29-31 98 Stearns DM, Wetterhahn KE Chromium picolinate FASEB J 1996;10:367-369 99 Cohen N, Halberstam M, Shlimovich P, et al Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus J Clin Invest 1995;95:2501-2509 100
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