Diabetes

Metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels

Quick Answer

What it is

Metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels

Key findings

Grade B: Safety and Tolerability (Bitter Melon)
Grade B: Hypoglycemia Risk (Bitter Melon)
Grade C: Fasting Blood Glucose (Bitter Melon)

Safety

RCTs show good tolerability - adverse events similar to placebo.
Risk increases when combined with diabetes medications.
Caution required with concurrent antidiabetic therapy.

ℹ️ Quick Facts

Quick Facts: Diabetes

Supplements Studied:2

2 supps · 6 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Safety and Tolerability

RCTs show good tolerability - adverse events similar to placebo. Common AEs: GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort), headache. No significant liver enzyme changes in 12-week trials. ALT/AST stable or slightly declined.

moderate↑Improves

Hypoglycemia Risk

SAFETY CONCERN: Hypoglycemic coma and convulsions reported in children. Risk increases when combined with diabetes medications. Case reports of serious hypoglycemia. Caution required with concurrent antidiabetic therapy.

moderate↑Worsens

Fasting Blood Glucose

Meta-analysis of RCTs: No significant effect on fasting blood glucose vs placebo (MD -0.03, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.31). High heterogeneity among studies. Individual trials show mixed results with some showing reductions and others showing no effect.

none

HbA1c Reduction

Meta-analysis: No significant effect on HbA1c (MD -0.12, 95% CI -0.35 to 0.11, I²=56%). Short study durations and small sample sizes may explain inconsistent results. Some individual studies report modest HbA1c reductions.

none

Postprandial Glucose

Korean prediabetes RCT (12 weeks): Improved postprandial glucose levels, possibly via glucagon suppression. More consistent effect than fasting glucose. Long-term cohort studies needed to confirm prophylactic benefits.

small↑Improves