Saturday Nov 16, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Supplementation with a phytochemical called resveratrol, which is found in red wine and red grapes, can significantly lower blood sugar in patients  with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, according to a new study released in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Resveratrol supplements significantly decreased systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glcuose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin and insulin resistance while significantly increasing good cholesterol in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who were also using standard antidiabetic medications, compared to baseline levels.

The study led by Ali Movahed from The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, Bushehr, University of Medical Sciences in Bushehr, Iran also found the control group that did not receive resveratrol had their fasting glucose and bad cholesterol slightly increased, compared with their baseline levels.

For the study, type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were given placebo or one grams of resveratrol per day for 45 days.  Relevant metabolic parameters were measured at baseline and the end of the 45-day study. 

However, resveratrol supplements did not change liver and kidney function biomarkers.

The researchers concluded "Overall, this study showed that resveratrol supplementation exerted strong antidiabetic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes."

Doctors say there is no cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus although the condition can be controlled.  But research has revealed that quite some alternative remedies can be used to help treat type 2 diabetes mellitus even though the disease can't be cured.  Supplements that may help diabetes patients or prevent the disease in the first place include curcumin, thiamine, cinnamon, vitamin d, Korean red ginseng, cholesterol lowering statins, Kalpaamruthaa, green tea, arginine, sesame seed paste and food proteins.

An estimated 25 million Americans live with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  The disease if not well controlled, can lead to severe complications that can eventually kill the patients. (David Liu, PHD)