• Find Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

dLife Daily Tips

Do you have hypoglycemic unawareness?

Read More View All Tips

Diabetes Questions & Answers
Your diabetes questions answered by our Experts and Community.


Can't find the answer you are looking for?
Ask a new question
The Question
11/14/09 05:30 PM

"My naturopath has put me on Glucoplex to help with my sugar levels. Has anyone heard of this herbal supplement?"
Asked By: lucyegor  
Category: Oral Medications

Background Info Hide
Type 2, 60 years old. Take metformin, januvia and glyburide. As well, I have been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Started going to the naturopath because of digestive/bowel problems that none of my medical practioners seemed to be alarmed about, now I'm confused and don't know if the herbal things he has put me on conflicts with my meds. My pharmacist didn't really know either.

Expert Answers (1)

11/16/09 06:28 PM

Hello lucyegor
I cannot recommend herbal treatments for diabetes or any other health problem. They are not tested or regulated as are medications. They do not have to prove their efficacy or safety they way medications do. Please talk to your primary care physician about your GI symptoms. Ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist. Consider researching about diabetes related gastro problems. You did not describe what is going on with your metabolism. Always remember that herbal product do run the risk of interacting with your prescribed medications.

My advice is to see your primary doctor. See a endocrinologist if your diabetes is not controlled and have a full evaluation by a gastroenterologist. If you are having difficulty eating and you feel full all the time, you may have gastroparesis related to diabetic neuropathy in your GI tract.

Please seek the care of board certified medical specialists and do not rely on a self-titled naturapath. You health is too important to be taken in by a salesman.

Try dLife's community and blog tabs at the top of our site. I think there are others out there that share similar GI symptoms and they may have advice that will help you cope better. Be sure you are exercising 30 minutes a day to aid in good digestion. Let us know how it goes after you see a GI specialist!

Answered By: Rita Juray
Accreditations: RN, MLT-ASCP, CCM, CDE
Sources Show

Community Answers (11)

12/08/09 10:13 AM

IF you have made all the recommended lifestyle changes recommended for persons with diabetes, AND you have the disease well-managed using frequent BG testing, AND you are looking for ways to further improve your control, THEN it might be reasonable to _cautiously_investigate_ adding an herbal supplement to your regimen. When trying an unproven substance, you need to be wary of side effects and the placebo effect. (It's not uncommon for someone with diabetes, adding a new component to his regimen, to subconsciously make other changes in his daily regimen that produce all the improvements attributed to the new component.) Glucoplex is a tradename for an herbal supplement mixes using a small amount of one active ingredient that changes over time, and whose effectiveness in controlling blod glucose in humans has not been proven. . The original Glucoplex contained: "Foodstate Vitamin A 667iu, Magnesium 7mg, Chromium 50µg, Vanadium 33µg and Molybdenum 7µg, Phaseolus 50mg and Glucosol TM 8mg." The Douglas Labs version contains: "thiamin, biotin, chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and standardized extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaf". Most of the ingredients are found in readily available, inexpensive. vitamin supplements. Phaseolus is a family of beans. Glucosol TM is Corosolic Acid. Glucosol's makers claimed without standardized clinical trial data that 48 mg per day was effective in reducing blood sugar levels. The one glucose-related study of the active ingredient of Gymnema Sylvestre, whose active ingredient is gymnemic acid IV, was in MICE. A reasonable person would conclude that Glucoplex is marketing gimmick, but probably safe.
Answered By: psdaengr
FLAG
SourcesShow


12/08/09 10:12 AM

IF you have made all the recommended lifestyle changes recommended for persons with diabetes, AND you have the disease well-managed using frequent BG testing, AND you are looking for ways to further improve your control, THEN it might be reasonable to _cautiously_investigate_ adding an herbal supplement to your regimen. When trying an unproven substance, you need to be wary of side effects and the placebo effect. (It's not uncommon for someone with diabetes, adding a new component to his regimen, to subconsciously make other changes in his daily regimen that produce all the improvements attributed to the new component.) Glucoplex is a tradename for an herbal supplement mixes using a small amount of one active ingredient that changes over time, and whose effectiveness in controlling blod glucose in humans has not been proven. . The original Glucoplex contained: "Foodstate Vitamin A 667iu, Magnesium 7mg, Chromium 50µg, Vanadium 33µg and Molybdenum 7µg, Phaseolus 50mg and Glucosol TM 8mg." The Douglas Labs version contains: "thiamin, biotin, chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and standardized extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaf". Most of the ingredients are found in readily available, inexpensive. vitamin supplements. Phaseolus is a family of beans. Glucosol TM is Corosolic Acid. Glucosol's makers claimed without standardized clinical trial data that 48 mg per day was effective in reducing blood sugar levels. The one glucose-related study of the active ingredient of Gymnema Sylvestre, whose active ingredient is gymnemic acid IV, was in MICE. A reasonable person would conclude that Glucoplex is marketing gimmick, but probably safe.
Answered By: psdaengr
FLAG
SourcesShow


11/22/09 05:33 AM

My aunt and I tried this supplemented by a Swiss scientist that contains ALA and Chromium Picolinate among other ingredients and it has helped us reduced our BG level to between 90 to 100 from above 200 after only four weeks. My friends who tried it are happy too. My endocrinologist reduced my insulin dosage and I felt healthier too. More energy and I am able to do more at work and my colleagues are amazed with my improved condition. It is more than a year now I would recommend anyone to Dbethics. You may check it out at www.dbethics.com
Answered By: diabetesgeorge
FLAG
SourcesShow


11/21/09 02:14 PM

I am also type 2 and developed, "digestive issues" on metformin. Get off the metformin and you will see a change in less than 48 hours. My docs told me I had been on it for over 3 years and if it was going to do that to my digestive system it would have shown up much sooner. I finally got someone to listen and they took me off the metformin. No more problems.
Answered By: mcantlin@sover.
FLAG
SourcesShow


11/21/09 02:03 PM

Answered By: cindy_1
FLAG
SourcesShow


11/20/09 11:09 PM

Haven't heard of that one but my natropath has me taking Chrominum and Cinnamon capsules. It definetly is helping me/
Answered By: higgrp
FLAG
SourcesShow


11/20/09 05:02 PM

Not a Dr. either but Type 2 since 1995. Struggling to keep control until primary referred me to endocronologist (sp)? as being non-compliant. Seems med combo was contra-indicated. 2 weeks after appt and endo straightening meds out I feel 100% better and have lost 10 lbs. Primarys may or may not be knowledgeable...don't screw around with your life...see a specialist. Mine knew a fair amount about supplements and herbals also. (First thing he did was take me off Actos--has terrible side effects-- and start me on Byetta). Good luck and don't ever quit asking questions!
Answered By: satchmo864
FLAG
SourcesShow



Most Recent Oral Medications Questions:

Is there a medicine for diabetics that won't make me dizzy.I take Metformin twice a day and I'm bouncing off the walls.
I read somewhere that there is now Metformin that doesn't have that fishy smell. For the life of me, I can't remember the name. Help! & Thank u
Victoza and Metformin for a type 1
My hubby is a diabetic for the past 3 mnths.his bs levels r ok.but he has put on 1 kg.isit due to medicines.he is on very good diet,exercise .pls help
Why would a non diabetic be prescribed Actos/ Met combo if not diagnosed as a diabetic.
There is a product called Supple which is a drink. This product claims to lower blood sugar. Is this product safe for type 2 diabetics.
my hubby is on glciphage metformin.rt now his bs levels are fast 77 & pp is 123.can we lessen the dose or quit the drugs & stay only on diet,exercis

 

*** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

Sign up for FREE dLife Newsletters

dLife Membership is FREE! Get exclusive access, free recipes, newsletters, savings, and much more! FPO

FPO

Congratulations!
You are subscribed!
Congratulations!
You are subscribed!
Congratulations!
You are subscribed!

dLife Weekly Poll

Has diabetes made it difficult to get/renew a driver's license?

View Results
More Polls
More Diabetes Information
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
More dLife Information
Copyright © 2012 LifeMed Media, Inc.    All Rights Reserved.
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.