- Researchers found mixture of 10 herbs called Tianqi prevented people with pre-diabetes – slightly elevated blood glucose levels – developing disease
- People who are pre-diabetic face a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke
By
Emma Innes
13:07 EST, 16 January 2014
|
13:09 EST, 16 January 2014
Traditional Chinese herbal medicines can stave off the onset of type 2 diabetes, new research has revealed
Traditional Chinese herbal medicines can stave off the onset of diabetes, a new study has revealed.
A clinical trial found herbs were comparable to prescriptions for controlling pre-diabetes.
Researchers say their findings show traditional Chinese herbal medicines hold promise for slowing the progression from pre-diabetes to an official diabetes diagnosis.
Pre-diabetes is diagnosed when a person has developed elevated blood sugar levels, but glucose levels have not yet risen to the point of developing type 2 diabetes.
People who are pre-diabetic face a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke.
One of the study’s authors, Doctor Chun-Su Yuan, of the University of Chicago, said: ‘With diabetes evolving into a serious public health burden worldwide, it is crucial to take steps to stem the flood of cases.
‘Patients often struggle to make the necessary lifestyle changes to control blood sugar levels, and current medications have limitations and can have adverse gastrointestinal side effects.
‘Traditional Chinese herbs may offer a new option for managing blood sugar levels, either alone or in combination with other treatments.’
During the trial, 389 people at 11 research sites in China were randomly assigned to take either a capsule containing a mixture of 10 Chinese herbal medicines or a placebo.
For a year, they took capsules of either the Chinese herb mixture, called Tianqi, or the placebo three times a day before meals.
All the participants received a month of lifestyle education at the outset of the trial and met with nutritionists several times during the course of the study.
Their glucose tolerance was measured on a quarterly basis.
At the end of the trial, 36 participants in the Tianqi group and 56 in the placebo group had developed diabetes.
The analysis found taking Tianqi reduced the risk of diabetes by 32.1 per cent compared with the placebo, after adjusting for age and gender.
A trial found the Chinese herbs were comparable to prescription medications for controlling pre-diabetes
The overall reduction in risk was comparable to that found in studies of diabetes medications acarbose and metformin, and study participants reported few side effects from the Tianqi herbs.
Tianqi includes several herbs that have been shown to lower blood glucose levels and improve control of blood glucose levels after meals.
One of the study’s lead authors, Doctor Xiaolin Tong, of Guang’anmen Hospital in Beijing, China, said: ‘Few controlled clinical trials have examined traditional Chinese medicine’s impact on diabetes, and the findings from our study showed this approach can be very useful in slowing the disease’s progression.Â
‘More research is needed to evaluate the role Chinese herbal medicine can play in preventing and controlling diabetes.’
The study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM).
or comment on this article
-
Gosselin’s 13-year-old twins go silent on air
-
Porn star fears her illegal O-sized breasts could kill her
-
Hilarious video of husky ‘saying no’ to going into his…
-
Devil Baby terrorizes New York
-
Woman rushed to hospital after THREE-HOUR orgasm
-
World’s dirtiest man has not washed for 60 years
-
Python swallows impala whole in 45 minutes
-
Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza’s 2011 call into radio station
-
Shocking moment CrossFit athlete is paralyzed by dumbbell
-
See Home Depot worker’s amazing catch as baby falls
-
Hoover the cat gives baby a good wash with his tongue
-
‘Extreme baby yoga’ caught on camera. NOTE distressing…
-
Called to The Bar before she’s old enough to go to a bar:…
-
‘He jumped almost like someone shot him’: Shocking moment…
-
Born into brothels: Behind the scenes of Calcutta’s…
-
Mom who made sex tape with son, 16, is jailed for four…
-
Touching moment CNN reporter breaks down after learning her…
-
Playboy playmate, 34, found dead in a friend’s bathtub…
-
Police believe 32-year-old mother killed her daughters, 13…
-
‘I will not take the blame for his outfits!’: Wife of 49ers…
-
Parents’ fury as list of explicit acts is posted in MIDDLE…
-
China starts televising the sunset on giant TV screens…
-
‘I felt such relief she was no longer on the earth’: Woman,…
-
Did Phil’s anti-gay slurs hurt Duck Dynasty’s ratings? Hit…
Comments (7)
what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
Primalist,
Safely over the Border, United Kingdom,
31 minutes ago
Want to reduce your risk to zero, without dodgy snake oil? Cut the carbs, increase the fat. It really is as simple as that, and FREE.
wendyM,
glasgow, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
Natural foods that help to control diabetes are Kerala and Guava
Adelaide hillman,
Adelaide,
4 hours ago
The myth of the benefits of Chinese medicine was invented by Chairman Mao and was promoted as fact by his useful fools in the west many of who worked in the media and universities.
Taxed to death,
Penury UK, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
Tianqi probably includes metformin.
friendlyric,
cleethorpes,
7 hours ago
This proves that Chinese medicine should be tighter regulated in the UK.
Sansparen,
Earth,
11 hours ago
Indians and Chinese are supposed to have some of the best alternative medicines in the world passed down though the generations, thanks to their centuries old tradition and culture. As long as it works it’s definitely a step in the positive direction in tackling one of the worst lifestyle diseases in the world today.
redquark,
Winterfell, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Find out now