Fenugreek Diabetes

This diabetes natural herb may help to support healthy blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Fenugreek's(Trigonella foenum-graecum) traditional uses; promote digestion, impro appetite and to support respiratory health. The high fiber seeds also provide support for healthy bowel function, and its Lecithin content promotes fat metabolism.
           

Studies on fenugreek show improvement in HDL-cholesterol levels (31% increase). These findings also indicate as a useful and well-tolerated treatment for insulin resistance, both directly as a hypoglycemic and also as a protective agent for the liver.

Many study concluded that Trigonella foenum-graecum extract can lower kidney /body weight ratio, blood-glucose and blood-lipid levels in experimental diabetic rats following repeated treatment for 6 weeks.

Scientific evidence

1. Soluble dietary fibre fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed improves glucose homeostasis in animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes by delaying carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancing insulin action. By Hannan JM, Ali L, Rokeya B, Khaleque J, Akhter M, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. at School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. The present findings indicate that the Soluble Dietary Fiber fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds exerts antidiabetic effects mediated through inhibition of carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancement of peripheral insulin action.
2. Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) extract on blood-glucose, blood-lipid and hemorheological properties in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. By Xue WL, Li XS, Zhang J, Liu YH, Wang ZL, Zhang RJ. at Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China 710061. xwl0908@163.com. Trigonella foenum graecum extract can lower kidney /body weight ratio, blood-glucose, blood-lipid-levels and improve hemorheological properties in experimental diabetic rats following repeated treatment for 6 weeks.
3. The hypoglycaemic activity of fenugreek seed extract is mediated
   through the stimulation of an insulin signalling pathway. By Maleppillil Vavachan Vijayakumar, Sandeep Singh, Rishi Raj Chhipa & Manoj Kumar Bhat at National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune-411 007, India.  In conclusion, we have clearly demonstrated that a dialysed aqueous extract of fenugreek seeds possesses hypoglycaemic properties and that it stimulates insulin signalling pathways in adipocytes and liver cells. Also, the in vitro models and methods described in this study could be used for screening the activity of natural compounds suitable for the development of new anti-diabetic drugs. For further information visit Pubmed (National Center for Biotechnology Information).
4. Hypoglycemic effect of a novel dialysed fenugreek seeds extract is sustainable and is mediated, in part, by the activation of hepatic enzymes. By Vijayakumar MV, Bhat MK at National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411 007, India. The present study concludes that this novel FSE preparation corrects metabolic alterations associated with diabetes by exhibiting insulin-like properties and has a potential for clinical applications. For further information visit Pubmed (National Center for Biotechnology Information).

Fenugreek dosage
Recommended dosage is 5 to 30 g of defatted fenugreek taken 3 times a day with meals.

Fenugreek safety
Widely used commonly eaten food, fenugreek is generally regarded as safe. The only common side effect is mild gastrointestinal distress when it is taken in high doses.
Extracts of fenugreek shows to stimulate uterine contractions in guinea pigs.  Thus pregnant women should not take high dosages of fenugreek, perhaps 5-g daily.