[In photo: Fenugreek seeds]

On top of diabetes drugs, herbs can be used to help manage blood sugar levels of those with type 2 diabetes.

Also, vegetables such as bitter melon are beneficial to those with type 2 diabetes- the type of diabetes that is not dependent to insulin.

Dr. Astrid Pujari, M.D. in the Seattle Times column, specified two herbs that will benefit those with type 2 diabetes:

1) Fenugreek

Powdered fenugreek seeds have a high amount of soluble fiber, which helps slow down the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed from the intestine. Soluble fiber is well-known, even in conventional medicine, to help people with diabetes. It keeps blood sugar from peaking as fast and as high. This means that diabetics don't need to secrete as much insulin to keep up.

In addition, fenugreek seeds have a special amino acid known as 4-hydroxyisoleucine. This compound may directly stimulate insulin release from the pancreas, but it seems to depend on how high the blood sugar is.

[In photo: Source Naturals Gymnema Sylvestre 260mg, 120 tablets]

2) Gymnema sylvestre

Also called "Sugar Taste Destroyer". While still under investigation, some laboratory studies have found that gymnema may reduce the amount of glucose (sugar) people absorb from their intestines. It may also help stimulate growth of the pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for making insulin.

Read the rest of Dr. Pujari's article.

What about you, do you use any herb to help manage your type 2 diabetes?