30+ Easy and Effective Home Remedies to Control Blood Sugar
Did you know India has an estimated 31,705,000 diabetics and is expected to grow over 100 % by 2030? Yes! According to WHO, Diabetes is one of the prevailing lifestyle diseases all over the world. It is high time we start exploring home remedies for blood sugar to make life easier and healthy.
A sedentary lifestyle and genetic susceptibility are some of the prominent reasons for diabetes in many of us. When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t respond to the insulin had resulted in diabetes. You are at a greater risk of getting this metabolic disease if you consume a high-calorie diet with little to no physical activity. Try the home remedies for blood sugar to fight this silent killer.
Table of content
- Causes Of Blood Sugar
- Symptoms Of Blood Sugar
- Prevention Of Blood Sugar
- Best Home Remedies For Blood Sugar
Causes of Blood Sugar:
Here is a list of the types of diabetes and what causes them.
What Causes Type 1 diabetes:
- Type 1 Diabetes is a health condition in which your immune system destroys the insulin-making cells in your pancreas.
- It is also called juvenile diabetes since it is usually diagnosed in children and young people.
- Environmental factors and genes play an essential role in causing type 1 diabetes.
What Causes Type 2 diabetes:
Your body will not be able to use insulin properly if you have type 2 diabetes, often referred to as having insulin resistance. Some of the cause for this condition is:
- Obesity is one of the primary triggers that cause type 2 diabetes.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Type 2 diabetes starts of as insulin resistance.
- Fat accumulation around the waistline.
What Causes Gestational Diabetes:
As the name suggests, gestational diabetes is a condition that affects pregnant women where blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy.
- There are two classes in gestational Diabetes, A1 and A2.
- A1 can be managed by following a proper diet and exercise. At the same time, A2 needs medical intervention in the form of medications or insulin shots.
- Being overweight is one of the prominent reasons for diabetes in pregnant women.
- Hormonal changes can also be another cause.
Symptoms of Blood Sugar:
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes appear suddenly, whereas the symptoms of type 2 diabetes build up gradually and take years to show any notable difference. Although symptoms for diabetes vary from person to person, here is a list of the most common symptoms for this medical condition:
- Fatigue.
- Intense thirst.
- Frequent urination.
- Extreme hunger.
- A sudden decrease in weight.
- Blurred vision.
- Numbness id feet or hands.
Prevention of Blood Sugar:
Prevention is better than cure is a common phrase we hear regarding many health issues. Here is a list of things you can do to prevent diabetes.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat a well-balanced and low-calorie diet.
- Drink water adequately.
- Maintain a proper sleep pattern.
- Follow a proper exercise routine.
Best Home Remedies For Blood Sugar:
1. Giloy:
Madhunashini is an ayurvedic name of Giloy, which translates to a destroyer of sugar, consumed in capsule, juice, or powder. This ayurvedic herb for diabetes has anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties that help moderate blood sugar by burning extra glucose. Giloy lowers the glucose levels in your system by acting as a hypoglycemic agent. (1)
Ingredients:
- Pieces of giloy stem.
- A small glass of water.
- Few drops of lemon juice.
Preparation:
- Chop the stems of giloy and place it in a blender.
- Add some water and blend it till it forms a smooth paste.
- Add some more water for liquid consistency.
- Sieve the pulp and take the juice into a cup.
- Add lemon juice and mix it.
Precaution: Although there are no severe side effects for giloy, Check your blood sugar levels regularly if you have diabetes.
2. Pomegranate:
The potent phytochemical compounds of pomegranate protect your cells from damage. It helps you save you from chronic diseases and free-radicles since pomegranate has a rich combination of antioxidants. Consuming pomegranate in juice or as fruit is beneficial for type 2 diabetics by managing blood sugar levels. (2)
3. Knol Khol juice:
Knol khol, or also called Kohlrabi, is effective in treating diabetes. It reduces the risk of insulin resistance with its anti-inflammatory properties. Adding knoll khol juice to your diet helps you control your blood sugar levels with the help of an array of antioxidants.
Ingredients:
- One Kohlrabi.
- Some water.
Preparation:
- Wash the knol khol and slice it into pieces and place them in a blender.
- Blend the contents into a smooth paste.
- Add some water for liquid consistency.
- Sieve the pulp and add the liquid into a cup.
4. Eucalyptus Leaves:
Eucalyptus leaves might help reduce the blood sugar levels in your body since it is abundant in anti-microbial properties and antioxidants (3). It is helpful for diabetic patients suffering from fungal infections like candidiasis.
Ingredients:
- Spoonful crushed eucalyptus leaves.
- One cup of hot water.
- Spoonful honey.
Preparation:
- Boil a cup of water with eucalyptus leaves.
- Let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the liquid into a cup, add honey and mix it well.
5. Hibiscus:
The leaves of the hibiscus plant are said to have the potential to be a therapeutic agent for diabetes since it has ferulic acid. Animal testing proves that it helps restore the insulin sensitivity of the cells. It lowers the blood sugar level due to the presence of a plant-derived compound called phytochemicals. Much more research is needed on human trials. (4)
6. Ivy Gourd:
Coccinia cordifolia is the scientific name of Ivy gourd. It is useful for patients with mild diabetes with potential hypoglycemic action (5). Consuming the leaf of ivy gourd works well in controlling blood sugar and many other health conditions like constipation, gonorrhea, and wounds.
Precaution: Monitor blood sugar levels closely when you are using ivy gourd and medications simultaneously.
7. Prickly Pear:
Preliminary researches show a 17 % to 46 % decrease in blood sugar levels by consuming prickly pear (6). It is a perfect home remedy for type 2 diabetes. However, more research is needed for the effects of using it daily. It is a rich source of carotenoids, antioxidants, and a rich source of fiber. The leaves, flowers, stems, and fruit of this plant are edible parts. This plant is used in juices, jams and can also be used grilled or boiled.
Precaution: Try to ease into this plant as it may cause mild diarrhea, abdominal fullness, increased stool volume in some people.
8. Mango Seeds:
Mango seeds are useful home remedies to control blood sugar as they help control blood glucose in your body (7). It is filled with bioactive compounds that lower blood sugar by reducing glucose absorption in your body. It is also useful in reducing body weight, which is necessary for controlling diabetes.
9. Curry Leaves:
Control your high blood sugar levels by consuming curry leaves regularly. It helps keep many diseases at bay with the help of antioxidants like beta-carotene. Vitamin C. Curry leaves control of the blood sugar in your body by preventing the metabolism of starch into glucose due to the presence of flavonoids (8). Try to include these wonder hers into your cooking and reap the benefits.
10. Garlic:
Consuming garlic raw, cooked, or aged can be an effective home remedy for diabetes (9). It helps lower some of the complications caused by diabetes by regulating the blood glucose levels in your body. By adding garlic into your diet, you can fight many more infections along with some chronic conditions.
Precaution: Consumption of garlic in excess may cause side effects in some people.
11. Ginseng:
Ginseng is a root used in Chinese and Korean medicines that are gaining popularity. It helps improve glucose control by significantly reducing insulin resistance in diabetic patients (10). The anti-diabetic properties of ginseng make it an excellent herbal treatment for diabetes.
Ingredients:
- Ginseng root.
- Honey to coat the root.
- One cup of hot water.
Preparation:
- Slice the ginseng root into thin slices and coat them with honey.
- Leave it for some time.
- Pour hot water over the honey-coated root.
- Let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the liquid into a cup.
12. Holy Basil:
Tulsi is not only sacred; it is an excellent remedy for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is power-packed with elements like methyl eugenol, caryophyllene, and eugenol. Basil helps in the production of the required amount of insulin by stimulating beta cells in the pancreas. (11)
Ingredients:
- Few basil leaves.
- Shredded ginger.
- One spoonful of lemon juice.
Preparation:
- Boil a cup of water and add basil leaves and ginger to it.
- Let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the liquid into a cup and add a spoonful of lemon juice and mix it well.
13. Exercises:
Exercise is one of the best ways to stabilize diabetes and protect your body from all the harmful effects (12). Staying fit is the key to a healthy lifestyle that helps you fight not only small health issues but also chronic conditions like diabetes. Aerobics is a perfect option for intense workout sessions. You can again try, including jogging, skipping, or running into your daily routine for significant results.
14. Indian Gooseberry:
Indian gooseberry is also known as amla, is the best home remedy for diabetes. It helps manage blood sugar by controlling pancreatitis. It also makes your body more responsive to insulin by regulating carbohydrate metabolism with chromium in it (13).
Ingredients:
- Fresh amla.
- Some water.
Preparation:
- Wash the Indian gooseberry thoroughly, and place them in a blender.
- Blend them till it forms a smooth paste by adding some water.
- Sieve the pulp and pour the liquid into a cup.
15. Bilberry:
Bilberry is a perfect way to keep your diabetes in check in an all-natural way. Berries of bilberry can be useful after a high sugar meal in reducing the glucose response of your body. Anathocyanosides are a compound found in bilberry that strengthens the blood vessels protecting the diabetic from any retinal damage (14). It also helps combat diabetes by metabolizing and breaking down sugar.
16. Bitter Gourd:
Bitter gourd is an apt home remedy to control sugar. It controls diabetes naturally since it has polypeptide-p or p-insulin, a compound similar to insulin (15). It helps reduce blood sugar levels by working either individually or together. Drink a glass of fresh bitter gourd juice first thing in the morning to control spikes in blood sugar.
Ingredients:
- One cup of chopped and deseeded bitter gourd.
- Half spoonful lemon juice.
- One cup of water.
Preparation:
- Blend the bitter gourd in a blender by adding water.
- Add some more water making it to a running consistency.
- Strain the pulp and pour the liquid into a cup.
- Add lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
17. Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera consumption regularly has been useful in treating people with diabetes according to preliminary research. It helps improve blood glucose levels in diabetic patients (16). It also has many beauty and health care benefits too. Aloe vera keeps a check on the symptoms that cause diabetes due to vitamin E and many other natural minerals.
18. Cinnamon:
Cinnamon, or commonly known as dalchini, reduces the risk factors that cause diabetes by improving blood glucose and cholesterol levels. It is a quick remedy for diabetes since it helps absorb excess sugar from the blood improving insulin sensitivity (17).
Ingredients:
- One glass of water.
- Cinnamon stick.
Preparation:
- Soak the cinnamon stick in water overnight.
- Train the cinnamon stick and drink the water first thing in the morning.
19. Guava Fruit and Guava Leaf Tea:
Some studies suggest that consuming guava as a fruit of preparing tea with its leaves effectively improves the blood sugar in your body (18). Improvement in blood sugar levels is found with the consumption of guava leaf extracts (19). It helps diabetic patients with insulin resistance long-term. Consume fresh guava fruit by slicing it into pieces.
Ingredients:
- Guava leaves.
- Half spoonful tea leaves.
- One cup of water.
- One spoonful of honey.
Preparation:
- Boil a cup of water and add fresh guava leaves to it.
- Add some tea leaves too.
- Strain the leaves and pour the water into a cup.
- Add honey and mix it well.
20. Flax Seeds:
Flax seeds are one of the readily available and effective home remedies for blood sugar. It helps your body improve glycemic control with the help of flax lignin (20). Studies show a significant reduction of blood sugar levels in your body by consuming flaxseed powder daily. Add flax seeds to your smoothie, breakfast cereal for effectively combating diabetes.
21. Green Tea:
Green tea helps improve the functioning of the metabolic system of your body since it contains polyphenols. Researches show positive results of green tea on not only diabetes but also decreases the chance of heart diseases (21).
Ingredients:
- Green tea bag.
- One cup of hot water.
- One spoonful of honey.
Preparation:
- Place the green tea bag in a cup and pour hot water into it.
- Let the aroma and goodness of green tea infuse into the water.
- Add honey and mix it well.
22. Okra:
Okra is an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber and antioxidants that delay the digestive process making it one of the best home remedies for diabetes (22). It helps manage the blood glucose level by having a hypoglycemic effect on your body. It also helps decrease the level of lipid and fat in the blood by reducing cholesterol absorption.
23. Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar helps eliminate unwanted elements from your body, resulting in the maintenance of blood sugar. Drinking some ACV after a meal rich in carbs, sugar can effectively reduce blood sugar levels, making it a good home remedy for blood sugar.
Ingredients:
- Half a cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Half a cup of water.
- A spoonful of honey.
Preparation:
- Mix apple cider vinegar, water, and honey in a glass.
- Mix it thoroughly and drink it first thing in the morning.
Precaution: Consult your medical practitioner before you increase the dosage of apple cider vinegar.
24. Psyllium Seeds:
Deal with the high blood sugar in your body with the intake of psyllium seeds. It regulates the blood sugar levels in your body by slowing down the digestive process with gel-forming fibers (23). Consuming two spoonfuls of psyllium seeds mixed with juice or water is preferable twice a day.
25. Neem:
Neem is a plant that has many wonderous applications making it one of the natural cures for diabetes. Drinking tea prepared from neem leaves neutralize sugar content in your body, is an effective treatment for diabetes (24). It controls diabetic symptoms in people with high blood sugar levels.
Ingredients:
- Few neem leaves.
- A cup of water.
Preparation:
- Boil a cup of water with neem leaves in it.
- Let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the leaves, and pour the liquid into a cup.
26. Indian Blackberry (Jamun):
Indian blackberry, or commonly known as kaala jamun, slows down the release of sugar into your body with the help of fruit substances called jamboline and jambosine. It is considered a natural treatment for diabetes because it keeps your blood sugar level checked by converting starch into energy (25). You can either eat these fruits whole or add it to salads; you can also prepare juice with it.
27. Moringa Leaves:
Moringa leaves help your body process sugar in a better way that may change the way your body releases insulin with the help of plant chemicals in it. It also helps reduce the blood sugar level in your body due to proteins similar to insulin (26). Prepare a tea with moringa leaves, making it a herbal cure for diabetes.
Ingredients:
- Fresh moringa leaves.
- A bowl of water.
Preparation:
- Boil a bowl of water with moringa leaves in it.
- Let it steep for a few minutes.
- Strain the leaves and pour the liquid into a cup.
28. Cut Down Alcohol:
Consuming alcohol in large amounts or regularly damages your liver in the long run due to the sugar content in it. Even if you do not have diabetes, drinking alcohol causes a boatload of health issues. It may also adversely affect diabetes treatment or worsen the symptoms too.
29. Reduce Stress Level:
One of the root causes of diabetes in the young generation is stress. Unknowingly stress has become a way of living for many of us due to pressure in jobs. People with anxiety tend to suffer from chronic illnesses like diabetes more often. Keep your stress in check by taking a break from work once in a while. You can even pick up a hobby or do something you are passionate about.
30. Fenugreek Seeds:
Fenugreek seeds help slow down the digestive process with its soluble fiber, improve the absorption of carbohydrates lowering the blood sugar levels in your body. The vital neutralizing factor of fenugreek seeds makes it a perfect way to treat diabetes at home. (27)
Ingredients.
- Two spoonful fenugreek seeds.
- One glass of warm water.
Preparation:
- Dry roast fenugreek seeds in a pan.
- Grind them into a fine powder.
- Mix one spoonful of powder into a cup of water and mix it well.
- You can soak it overnight and then drink it in the morning, including the seeds.
31. Sun to the Rescue:
Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of your body and improves the regulation of blood sugar levels. It reduces the risk of insulin resistance, thereby preventing type 2 diabetes. For people suffering from diabetes, maintaining around 60-80ng/ml vitamin D is necessary to control blood glucose levels.
There is a spike in the number of people who have diabetes due to the increased stress embodied in the lifestyle. Since it is a hereditary condition, it becomes a leading cause of many more diseases like high blood pressure and cataract. With the best home remedies for blood sugar in this article, you can deal with it effectively.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article are mere suggestions. They are not a replacement for your doctor’s advice. Consult your doctor before you make any significant changes in your lifestyle. The website is not responsible for the effects it may have on your body.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the foods that people who have diabetes need to avoid?
Ans: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a step in the right direction to ease the symptoms of diabetes. If you have diabetes, you need to avoid certain foods; they are:
- Sugar.
- Transfat.
- Cereals loaded with sugar.
- Dried fruits.
- White bread.
- Flavoured yogurt.
- White pasta.
- White rice.
2. Is diabetes a hereditary condition?
Ans: The answer is yes! Diabetes is a hereditary condition. If your parents or multiple family members have this health condition, then there is a chance you might have those genes too. Not every person that inherits these genes have diabetes, but the risk is more significant.
3. What are the severe side effects diabetes may have on your body?
Ans: The proper functioning of your body depends upon maintaining adequate blood sugar levels. If you do not get the necessary treatment and leave this condition untreated, it may cause many risks for your body, such as:
- Failing of kidneys.
- Damage to your nerves.
- Blindness.
- Affects heart health.
- Stroke.