Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterized by fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can have negative effects on the body. However, you can manage these levels by making smart dietary choices.
A groundbreaking study has found that a common vegetable can reduce high blood sugar levels by up to half. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels or when the body's cells cannot effectively utilize the insulin produced.
Insulin is essential for controlling blood sugar levels, the main type of sugar present in our blood. Without this control, blood sugar levels can rise to dangerously high levels.
Fortunately, an effective solution may be closer than we think. In a study presented at the Endocrine Society's 97th Annual Meeting in San Diego, Allium cepa, extracted from onion bulbs, significantly reduced hyperglycemia (sugar) in diabetic rats when combined with the antidiabetic drug metformin. It has been shown that it reduces Surrey Live reported.
“Onions are cheap and readily available and have been used as a dietary supplement,” said lead researcher Anthony Ojie, MBBS, MSc, from Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. “It has the potential to be used to treat diabetic patients.”
Ogier and his team administered metformin and various doses of onion extract (200 mg, 400 mg, and 600 mg per kilogram of body weight daily) to three groups of rats with medically induced diabetes. We investigated whether the effect of
The study involved administering metformin and onion extract to three groups of normoglycemic, non-diabetic rats for comparison. Two control groups, one non-diabetic and one diabetic, received neither metformin nor onion extract.
Two other groups (one with diabetes and one without diabetes) received only metformin and no onion extract. There were 5 rats in each group.
Ogier reported that at doses of 400 mg and 600 mg, onion extract significantly increased fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic rats by 50 percent and 35 percent, respectively, compared to baseline levels before onion extract administration. lowered.
However, onion extract caused an increase in average body weight in non-diabetic rats, but not in diabetic rats. “Onions are not high in calories,” Ogier says.
“However, it appears that the metabolic rate increases and the appetite increases accordingly, leading to increased food intake.”
Ogier continued, “We need to investigate the mechanism by which onions lower blood sugar levels. It is not yet clear.”
The onion extract used in the experiment was made from common onion bulbs, such as those sold at local supermarkets. If it were to be used in humans, it would typically be purified to measure only the active ingredients and get the right dosage, Auger added.
The NHS advises: “Eating a healthy diet and staying active will help manage your blood sugar levels. It will also help control your weight and make you feel better overall.”
They suggest incorporating a variety of foods into your diet, including vegetables such as onions, to maintain blood sugar levels. “Minimize sugar, fat, and salt,” the health department recommends.
If you have any health concerns, it is best to consult your local GP.