Diabetes Type 2

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Six Flavor Tea (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Rehmannia Six) [1, 34, 35]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to show that Six Flavor Tea helps in any way in the treatment of diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense) [1, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Red Clover helps to treat diabetes. Early tests done had unreliable results. More tests are needed.)

Grade of Evidence: low of evidence

Pine Bark Extract [1, 24, 25, 26]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Pine Bark extract helps to treat diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: very low of evidence

Phytochemicals (Antioxidants) [1, 21, 22, 23]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that phytochemical supplements can prevent or treat diabetes. More studies are needed. A balanced diet with fruit, vegetables, and grain is recommended to prevent illness until further research into supplements is done.)

Grade of Evidence: low of evidence

Milk Thistle [1, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Milk Thistle helps to treat diabetes.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) [1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show that Goldenseal may help stabilize diabetes. However, more studies are needed. In addition, Goldenseal may produce toxic effects, including depression, constipation, rapid heartbeat, stomach pain, mouth ulcers and vomiting.)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Germanium (Germanium Sesquioxide, Vitamin O) [1, 6, 7, 8]:

WARNING: Germanium may cause permanent Kidney failure. Even organic supplements, though less toxic than inorganic supplements, have caused kidney and liver damage. NOT TO BE USED.

Recommendation: strongly against (Evidence shows that Germanium is not effective in treating diabetes in any way, and is also toxic, causing severe kidney and liver damage.)

Grade of Evidence: moderate quality of evidence

Chlorella (Green Algae, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa) [3, 4, 5]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that Chlorella helps to treat diabetes in any way)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Cats Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa) [1, 2]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recomendation (insufficient evidence to support claims that Cats Claw can help to treat diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

Calcium Gluconate:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing insulin resistance in diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Calcium Supplements:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.

Recommendation: weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing insulin resistance in diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Reflexology:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that reflexology helps to treat diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: low quality of evidence

Biofeedback:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: no recommendation (there is insufficient evidence to show that biofeedback helps to treat diabetes. However, small studies have shown that biofeedback can help with migraines in people with diabetes)

Grade of Evidence: very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.nutrasanus.com/cats-claw.html

3. Nakano, S et al. “Maternal-fetal distribution and transfer of dioxins in pregnant women in Japan, and attempts to reduce maternal transfer with Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) supplements...” Chemosphere 2005 Dec; 61(9): 1244–55.

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11347287&dopt=Abstract

5. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/chlorella

6.  Baselt, R. (2008). Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man (8 ed.). Foster City, CA: Biomedical Publications. pp. 693–694.

7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9237323

8. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/germanium

9. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/goldenseal

10. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/goldenseal/

11. Tierra Michael (1998): The Way of Herbs. New York, Pocket Books

12. Grieve M. (1971): A Modern Herbal. New York, Dover Publications, Inc

13. Mills S. and Bone K. (2000): Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Philadelphia, Churchill Livingstone

14. Tice Raymond (1997): Goldenseal and Two of its constituent alkaloids: berberine and hydrastine Research Triangle Park, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in Seiger E: Review of Toxilogical Literature

15. http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/ellingwood/hydrastis.html

16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/milk-thistle

17. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/milkthistle/ataglance.htm

18. Kroll DJ, Shaw HS, Oberlies NH.(2007). Milk thistle nomenclature: why it matters in cancer research and pharmacokinetic studies. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 6: 110-119.

19. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16279916

20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14506392

21. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/phytochemicals

22. http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/LabelClaims/QualifiedHealthClaims/ucm073992.htm

23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20216418

24. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00214032

25. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/pine-bark-extract

26. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-pycnogenol.html

27. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/redclover/

28. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19609225

29. http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/natural-fertility-boosters.html

30. http://indigo-herbs.co.uk/acatalog/Red_Clover_Flowers_Info.html

31. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/trifolium_pratense.html

32. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/red-clover

33. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69350.cfm

34.  Shen JJ, Lin CJ, Huang JL, Hsieh KH, Kuo ML. The effect of liu-wei-di-huang wan on cytokine gene expression from human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(2):247-57.

35. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/six-flavor-tea