Anyone with diabetes have
Experience using bitter melon to lower their A1c ?
no_hypocrisy
(48,677 posts)thinkingagain
(991 posts)I dont think I ever cross posted.
Dear_Prudence
(817 posts)I searched on Google Scholar and it appears that clinical data on bitter melon and A1C is sparse and poor quality (link to a review article is posted below). I haven't tried it personally but I recommend conducting your own personal "clinical trial". Here is what I found recently through monitoring. I lost 30 pounds last year due to grief over losing my Mom and am no longer "obese". However, my A1C did not budge and my doctor concluded that I was eating the right amount but the wrong stuff. Over the last 3 weeks, I have been staying on my metformin, but have cut my carbs (tracked with free app MyFitnessPal), substituting fat calories. I have also been using the free app MySugr, which will calculate my A1C with 21 recent blood sugar readings. My A1C has gone down about 1 point (6.4 to 5.4) with lower carb eating (carbs down from 45% carbs to 17-30% carbs). I gained a pound, so right stuff, wrong amount? I'll find out with my annual blood labs next February. Don't know if lower carb will stick, but I did find out that I can have an evening cup of decaf Chai with heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon of honey without disturbing my blood sugar level. So, hot cocoa is out and Chai is in. Good luck Thinkingagain. 👍
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/antidiabetic-and-hypoglycaemic-effects-of-momordica-charantia-bitter-melon-a-mini-review/178D6AD854F78BC646ED1D761A394D6D
thinkingagain
(991 posts)I did some research online but your never sure sometimes personally stories mean more.
Thats why I thought I would ask if anyone had any info on it for them vs just what I found online.
Hubby had to get a new Dr recently
Who said his blood sugar is super high
while he has changed his diet some his at home blood sugar level has dropped a lot in just the last few days since he started taking the bitter melon.
The Dr wanted to put him on medicine that was $400+ Or $500+ Which we cant do.
Bitter melon is fairly cheap
but I did my own research and a little nervous If I guessed his dosage right with it dropping so fast. I dont want it to go dangerously low.
I have tried to tell him try apps but so far no luck
I am also suggesting tea at night instead of milk.
Old habits hard to break😊