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Berberine

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Diabetes
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/21/2020 4:03 PM (GMT -6)
I’ve been reading about it for diabetes - anyone try it?

My husband takes metformin but is thinking of trying the Berberine.

Wouid like to know how to add it in.
Don’t want his blood sugars to drop too low.
He’s currently on 2500 mg metformin Hcl
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 7/21/2020 4:26 PM (GMT -6)
Hi, I've read about berberine and other natural herbs/berries, etc. but I honestly don't know how effective they are. Frankly I feel the best way to deal with high blood sugar is by diet and exercise: no white food except cauliflower and regular sustained exercise like walking, biking, swimming, etc. "No white food" actually means to stay away from carbs because most of them are white: food made with flour, potatoes, rice and sugar.

Please have your husband read through the website in my signature for more understanding of the effects of high blood sugar, even elevated blood sugar. His metformin dosage is rather high. What is he eating?
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Girlie
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Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/21/2020 8:39 PM (GMT -6)
Up to 2500 daily is fine.

But he’d like to try reducing it if he can take something more natural.

He is athletic and exercises a lot and isn’t overweight.
He does know what foods are bad - and is eating healthy - except on occasion.
He tests his blood sugar at least once a day and his numbers have been good for quite awhile now.

But he’d like to try something natural if it indeed does work.
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Lanie G
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Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 7/22/2020 6:38 AM (GMT -6)
I understand what you're saying about taking something natural but you know that even natural herbs or other plants can have side effects, some of which we might not be aware of. I am a big proponent of natural food.

If his blood sugar levels are high enough to be on 2500 mg metformin, he's either very insulin resistant or not making enough insulin (I mean his pancreas is not making enough insulin.) or both. I don't know of any natural herb or plant that has that kind of control. I did try berberine, Ceylon cinnamon and gymnena sylvestre at different times over the past 14 years but didn't find any effects on my blood sugar.

Here is a website that talks about these supplements. The bottom line is what his blood sugar readings are and that they are fairly consistent and don't fluctuate widely. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/blood-sugar-supplements.
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Girlie
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Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/22/2020 9:27 AM (GMT -6)
“ If his blood sugar levels are high enough to be on 2500 mg metformin, he's either very insulin resistant or not making enough insulin (I mean his pancreas is not making enough insulin.) or both. I don't know of any natural herb or plant that has that kind of control. “

He isn’t expecting to replace his Metformin - just possibly lower it.

We both take a variety of supplements already and know they can have side effects too.

I’m just posting to see if anyone has tried it and what their experience was - ie did it help..

Not wanting to argue about it or convince anyone
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Lanie G
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Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 7/22/2020 10:19 AM (GMT -6)
Me neither! smile

Have a great day, really!
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Girlie
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Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/22/2020 12:49 PM (GMT -6)
smile
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/22/2020 10:48 PM (GMT -6)
This evening he had a 4.9 blood sugar reading. He doesn’t get low readings like that in the evening!
I think he took two Berberine today.

I’ll have to check with him for what/when he took metformin and berberine and how much.
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Lanie G
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Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 7/23/2020 6:55 AM (GMT -6)
That's completely normal! What were his readings before? Do you know what his H1c was on the last test?
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Girlie
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Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/23/2020 9:17 AM (GMT -6)

Lanie G said...
That's completely normal! What were his readings before? Do you know what his H1c was on the last test?

He usually has 5.2 to 5.5 - I should have mentioned that he dropped one metformin as well. So he took 2000 metformin yesterday. (Sometimes it is higher than 5.5 (around 6)

I don’t have his lab work handy now to check his A1C

** Edited to add: It really is too early to tell, but if the Berberine is making a difference, and he can reduce his Metformin...that would be great.
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 7/23/2020 3:15 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Girlie, please make sure he informs his doctor what he's doing. The doctor really needs to know. Best of luck to him!
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Girlie
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Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 7/25/2020 11:31 AM (GMT -6)
The berberine is working well so far.

He has reduced metformin to 1000 per day and taking berberine with it.

He will be making an appt with his Dr and let her know.
He will get a lab req for an A1C - although it’s too early for assessing the berberine.
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Sometimes i am me (HT)...
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2009
Posts : 22545
Posted 8/21/2020 7:09 PM (GMT -6)
The combo may be effective.
Metformin is for (generally) onset of diabetes and creates longevity with indulin. Cinammon i gave a crack bit diet is the most effective unless a reactive or metabolism isdue. Hba1c yep very important.

Ig shoveling better down the gut and the berberine and reduced metformin this indeed positive. Only factor to check is making sure hypos ate npt indicative of the berberine.

Keep 💪. Great discussion. If not seeing pne consult and endo. I have crapty vision diabetes and on ph so i might have missed it. HT
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 8/23/2020 10:47 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Turtle, yes, I think people with vision problems might have trouble using a phone to read forums because of the size of the print. Maybe there are different phones or apps that can adjust font sizes?

Hope you are well!

Good health and happiness to everyone!
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Sometimes i am me (HT)...
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2009
Posts : 22545
Posted 8/26/2020 4:42 AM (GMT -6)
On tablet tonight.
I tease me pharmacist and take a pill in
And say my tablet is stuffed won't reboot.
Keep strong.

My favourite is when in the mood as I walk in....
I don't want ya money honey I won't your drugs!
Transmission vamps.

Or I go Marilyn. I don't like the drugs the drugs like me. HT
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 8/26/2020 6:42 AM (GMT -6)
You have a great attitude, HT. I've never heard that expression to "go Marilyn". Hope you're having a good day!
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 4/15/2021 12:07 PM (GMT -6)
Husband - still taking the Berberine...along with the Metformin. Glad he's not needing the insulin yet.

He is due for a lab test for A1C.
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Lanie G
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Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 4/15/2021 8:48 PM (GMT -6)
I hope his labs are good! Thanks for keeping us updated. If he's keeping away from heavy carbs, then that should be the key here.

A person would only need insulin shots if his (or her) pancreas stops making insulin. Some people develop that early on as a type 1 or in later years. It's a progression that the person has no control over. Some type 2 diabetics may need insulin if they're not producing enough insulin OR if they load up on carbs in meals to the point that other diabetes meds can't bring the blood sugar down. In that case, then they would need insulin - and that would totally be avoidable.

And of course being active is another way to help control blood sugar.

Good luck to him! smile
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 4/16/2021 1:27 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks Lanie!

I am doing my best to keep him on track and cook healthy meals most of the time.
Keep him away from things like pasta, white rice, white bread...

He does exercise most days so that helps too.
Yah - likely will be on insulin eventually - he’s 61 now. His father was on insulin by the time he was 57.
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 4/16/2021 7:53 AM (GMT -6)
My mother was type 2 but ended up on insulin by the time she was in her 50's. She did not control her eating in any way. However, back then in the 70's and 80's she did not have a blood sugar meter. She had urine strips. She ate rice, potatoes and pastries thinking it was ok because she was on oral meds first and then insulin. Her thinking was it was ok as long as she took her medication. It wasn't.

I also wanted to remind you (and your husband) to make sure you get copies of your lab reports. Keep them in your home file. In his case, his doctor will be watching his kidney function because in diabetes, the kidneys often stop functioning well and many need dialysis. We do have to be self-advocates for our health.

Have a great weekend!
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 4/16/2021 11:04 AM (GMT -6)
Lanie - I am concerned about his kidney function. It is okay (not great) so far. (just over 60 GfR)

Will his kidneys suffer even if he keeps his diabetes numbers down?
I have an elderly friend (92?) that has diabetes and her GfR is in the high 20's.
She's been at that point for a few years.


Our Dr. recently retired......and I'm not liking her replacement (but that's another story)....so it looks like we're going Dr. shopping.
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 4/16/2021 2:39 PM (GMT -6)
As far as I understand, kidney function does lessen in all of us as we age. After all, I suppose you would say this might be true with all our organs but with diabetics our kidneys (and heart) may deteriorate faster. This is only one reason to make sure our blood sugar is as close to normal as we can get it.

At least once a year, we should have a urinanalysis which will check for protein (albumin) in the urine. So both blood and urine tests help doctors understand about our kidney function. There are several sites that talk about these tests.

Also, he needs to have his eye pressure checked by an ophthalmologist every year whether he wears glasses or not. This specialist has special equipment that can see behind the eyes, measure their pressure, the health of the blood vessels, etc.

Since he is taking berberine, he and the doctor should also pay attention to his liver function. I hope everything comes out well!
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Girlie
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2014
Posts : 46709
Posted 4/17/2021 12:32 AM (GMT -6)
My husband is overdue for an eye exam... I will discuss with him. Thanks for the reminder.

I read that berberine was good for liver health - have you seen info that it’s hard on the liver?
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Lanie G
Forum Moderator
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 6960
Posted 4/17/2021 7:45 AM (GMT -6)
No, I haven't read anything about the liver. I was just stating in general. Anytime we take any medication or supplement we have to be careful of its effects on the body and this is why it's important to have these tests.

Even too much aspirin is bad on the stomach which is why it's coated. My doctor told me to avoid ibuprophen because of its effects on the kidneys (being a diabetic) and that I should use Tylenol (acetaminophen) if I need to for headaches. However, Tylenol at very high dosages is bad for the liver in long term but normal usage is not a problem.

So, my point is we do have to be our own health advocates and be schooled in accurate information.
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