Diabetes is often described as being at epidemic proportions and type 2 diabetes is a heavily lifestyle-related condition. There are more than 380 million people living with diabetes worldwide and the estimates are that, by the year 2030, the cost of managing it will be $490 billion every year. It is no wonder that ways to manage the condition are being eagerly sought. The prime ways to manage type 2 diabetes should always be lifestyle related (diet and exercise) but a new study has suggested that a future aid in this management could be the aloe vera plant.
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) has been used medicinally for centuries, using both the gel within the leaves and the outer leaf rind. It is an excellent external remedy as it is very useful for minor burns and irritations but can also be used internally as a laxative. The new study has involved analysing research that has focused on using it internally to help manage blood sugar levels.
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The researchers found nine studies of adequate quality that looked at the effect of aloe vera taken internally on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). FBG measures blood glucose levels when you have not had anything to eat or drink except water for eight hours; and HbA1c measures haemoglobin damaged by glucose and gives you an average of your blood glucose over the preceding two to three months.
The normal range for FBG is anything from 3.0 to 5.5 mmol/l. An FBG repeatedly over 7 indicates diabetes. If you have not fasted, the normal range for random blood sugar is between 3.0 and 7.8 mmol/L. A HbA1c level above 6.5 per cent is considered diabetic.
The combined analysis of these studies showed that aloe vera decreased FBG by an average 2.5 mmol/l and HbA1c by 1 per cent. The greatest benefit was seen in people with very high FBGs above 11.
Of course, you should not treat your diabetes without consulting your health professional and you need to use proper preparations of aloe vera for internal consumption.
The limitation of these results is that the studies were not of the highest quality; however, there is enough encouragement there to warrant further research, as aloe vera may offer help for this pressing health problem.
