Before starting metformin for diabetes — or if you’re already taking it — there’s a natural compound worth discussing with your doctor.
Ask your doctor if they know about berberine, an herbal compound derived from barberry. Research suggests it may be just as effective as metformin for blood sugar control, may help manage cholesterol, and appears to be gentler on the kidneys.
What the Research Shows
In a clinical trial involving people with newly diagnosed diabetes, participants given 500 mg of berberine three times a day for three months experienced a decrease in blood sugar comparable to that produced by metformin. Hemoglobin A1c levels dropped from 9.5 to 7.5 over the course of the study.
An Important Note
This isn’t a recommendation to stop or replace any prescribed medication on your own. Metformin is a well-established, effective treatment, and any changes to your diabetes management should be made only in consultation with your doctor. But if you’re curious about natural options — or looking for something that may be gentler on the kidneys — berberine is worth bringing up at your next appointment.
For more tips on natural blood sugar control, download the free eBook Health Secrets at peacediet.org.
About Dr. Terry Shintani, MD, JD, MPH
Dr. Terry Shintani is a Harvard-trained physician and nutritionist, named a Living Treasure of Hawai’i and recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence. He is the creator of the Peace Diet and the landmark Waianae Diet — published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and cited over 137 times — and the author of 16 books on natural health and nutrition, drawing on more than 35 years of clinical practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Shintani’s work and recognition: NLM Native Voices
Sources:
- Journal of Metabolism — Berberine vs. Metformin: Comparative Clinical Trial
- NIH/PubMed — Berberine and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes
- NIH/NCCIH — Berberine: Uses and Safety