Limiting the Symptoms of Diabetes: Product 6

It is suggested that Bitter Melon helps support healthy blood
sugar levels with compounds called charantin and momordicin.  It
is further suggested that bitter melon helps maintain a normal
level of triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver and blood. 
A member of the squash family, bitter melon is considered the
most bitter of vegetables.  It is native to South China and green
in color.  Bitter melon is claimed to be very high in quinine
though Wikipedia disputes this, and has been considered for
centuries to help fight against malaria in Asian countries. 
Rich in iron, bitter melon has twice the beta carotene of
broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach, twice the potassium of
bananas, and contains vitamins C and B 1 to 3, phosphorus and
good dietary fiber. It is believed to be good for the liver and
has been proven by western scientists to contain insulin, act as
an anti-tumor agent, and inhibit HIV-1 infection.  For a very fun
article amplifying these points, giving recipes and discussing
lots of other interesting things, see
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/bitterm.html ]

Besides China, bitter melon can be found in India, Southeast
Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.  In Panama, bitter melon leaves
are boiled and the tea is used to treat both malaria and
diabetes.  According to Wikipedia, A recent scientific study at
the Jawaharlal Institute
of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India, has
proved that bitter melon increases insulin sensitivity.  Also, in
2007, the Philippine Department of Health issued a circular
stating that bitter melon, as a scientifically validated
herbal medicinal plant, can lower elevated blood sugar levels.
The study revealed that a 100 milligram per kilo dose per day is
comparable to 2.5 milligrams of the anti-diabetes drug
Glibenclamide  taken twice per day.  Medicinal bitter Melon is
commonly sold under the trade name Charantia and widely marketed
throughout the world today.  The treatment given bitter melon in
Wikipedia is well worth reading and can be found at: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon ]

Two studies can be found at clinicaltrials.gov.  One involves
Metabolic Syndrome and has been completed.  The other is under
way and directly addresses the effects of bitter melon on
people with Type 2 diabetes.  See
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=bitter+melon.

There are many sources for bitter melon products.  One is 
http://www.herbalprovider.com/bitter-melon.html.  Herbal Provider
is inexpensive and right now has 60 caplets with 660 mg bitter
melon for $15.95 except it is on sale at the time of this writing
for $9.95.  It is also possible to purchase bitter melon for as
much as $53 for a 3-bottle pack of 250 mg for 60 capsules, see
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/bittergourd.htm.

Of the various possibilities I've researched in the past several
days, bitter melon has one of the more convincing stories to go
with it as far as web research is concerned.  It's very tempting
to consider using it.  There seems to be quite a bit of
convincing evidence that it really can help cure the effects of
diabetes as a natural nonpharmaceutical remedy.

Disclaimer:  The information contained in this and all other blog
postings is provided for informational purposes only, and is not
intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for advice
from your own physician.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or
prevent any disease. Consult a physician before taking any
nutritional supplement.