How Berberine Lowers Blood Sugar
The name Berberine may make you think of those roughly woven area rugs. No, I am not suggesting that chewing on a piece of berber carpeting (not the same berber) will lower your blood sugar. Berberine is a naturally occurring plant compound that boasts impressive health benefits. Not only has berberine been shown to improve heart health, it may also assist in weight loss and lowering blood sugar. Berberine has a long and varied history. The compound, which is found within several different plants (including a group of shrubs called Berberis) and is yellow in color, GlycoMode Formula has often been used as a dye. Berberine also has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various ailments. Modern science has finally caught up and is now suggesting that Berberine does offer impressive benefits for several different health issues, in particular type 2 diabetes. How Does Berberine Work? After you ingest berberine, it travels along your blood stream and eventually gets into your body’s cells.
Once inside, it binds to several different "molecular targets" and essentially, changes their function. One of the main actions of Berberine is the activation of an enzyme inside the cells called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). 3 This enzyme, which is found in the cells of various organs including the heart, kidneys and brain, is so important, it is often referred to as a "GlycoMode metabolic support master switch." In other words, AMPK plays a MAJOR role in regulating your metabolism. With the incidence of type 2 diabetes on the rise, we need more practical ways to combat the disease. As I’m sure you know, type 2 diabetes affects your body’s ability to optimally utilize insulin. The result is higher blood sugar levels, and, if left unchecked, diabetes can lead to heart disease, tissue damage, organ failure and even death. The great news is, many studies have shown that berberine can significantly reduce blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
4 In fact, some studies have suggested that berberine is as effective at treating blood sugar issues as the popular diabetes drug metformin. Berberine decreases insulin resistance, making insulin more effective. It increases glycolysis, helping the body break down sugars inside cells. It decreases sugar production in the liver. Increases the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut. In one study of 116 diabetic patients, just 1,000mg (1 gram) of berberine daily lowered fasting GlycoMode blood sugar supplement sugar by a whopping 20%. This means blood sugar levels went from diabetic to normal. Even more astounding is the fact that berberine has also been found to lower hemoglobin A1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels) by 12%, and also improved blood lipids like cholesterol and triglycerides. During a 12-week period, obese adults took 500 mg three times daily and lost an average of five pounds each. 9 Beyond reducing levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, berberine was also able to improve the production and utilization of hormones such as leptin, and GlycoMode Formula adiponectin.
This gives berberine the ability to reduce visceral (abdominal) fat. Even better, berberine seems to be able to enhance brown fat activity. Brown fat is the good kind of fat that actually burns energy instead of storing it (white fat stores energy AKA more fat!). Obviously, anything that enhances brown fat’s function is going to have an impact on weight loss. And, since berberine can reduce bad cholesterol, control blood sugar and help you lose weight, it is highly beneficial for heart health. Do I think berberine is the be-all-end-all to diabetes management? No, but I do think it makes a great inclusion into a common-sense treatment plan. What is that plan? It has to start with diet. Changing your diet. Eliminating refined sugars and carbohydrates from your diet, increasing protein, and using healthy fats instead of carbs for fuel. Forget low-fat high-carb diets. Eat plenty of healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and avocado.