High Blood Sugar & Insulin Levels

1 of the 12 leading causes of
high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes

Why is keeping your high blood sugar/insulin
levels down important?

Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) means there is too much sugar in the blood because the body lacks enough insulin. Insulin helps to regulate blood sugar levels by allowing cells to use glucose for energy. When insulin levels are too low or the body becomes insulin resistant, blood sugar levels can rise.

Keeping blood sugar levels within a healthy range is important for several reasons:

  • High blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other complications.

  • Chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can lead to damage of your small blood vessels in the body, which can lead to kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage.

  • High blood sugar levels can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition in which the body begins to break down fat for energy instead of glucose, leading to a build-up of acids in the bloodstream.

  • High blood sugar can also lead to a condition called hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, which is a severe form of diabetes characterized by high blood sugar, dehydration, and a decreased level of consciousness.

  • Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is important for people with diabetes, as uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious long-term health complications.

Prevention

There are several nutrients that have been studied for their potential to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. 

Tikva Heart has 11 nutrients that target high glucose & proper insulin levels

Below are clinical trials and research on these nutrients.

1. Chromium https://www.mountsinai.org/

There is evidence that supplementing with chromium can help lower blood sugar levels. People with diabetes cannot properly use the insulin their bodies make, so sugars build up in their bloodstream.

90% of American diets are low in chromium. The people most likely to be deficient in chromium are the elderly, people who do a lot of strenuous exercise, those that ead a lot of sugary foods and preganant women.

Low chromium levels have been shown to increase blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol and the risk for diabetes and heart disease.

2. Vitamin D https://diabetesjournals.org

There is growing evidence that Vitamin D deficiency could contribute to the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A deficiency in Vitamin D leads to reduced insulin secretion and supplementation improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.

3. L-Carnitine https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

L-Carnitine is involved in the proper function of your muscular system and cardiac functions. It contributes to the proper use of glucose by your cells which improves the regulation of glucose metabolism in diabetic patients. It has been shown to help prevent fatigue, insomnia and decreased mental activity

4. Coenzyme Q10 https://www.thelancet.com

Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to improve glycemic control, especially in people with diabetes. 100-200 mg/day of CoQ10 was shown to have the best benefit and may serve as a basis for dietary guidelines for people with glycemic disorders.

5. Magnesium https://www.everydayhealth.com

Supplementing with magnesium has been shown to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Low magnesium levels are linked to insulin resistance. Studies suggest supplementing with 100mg of magnesium may decrease the risk of diabetes by 15%.

A study in the World Journal of Diabetes noted that people that are deficient in magnesium are more likely to have heart health complications and the CDC says that people with diabetes are 2x as likely to die of heart disease.

6. Alpha Lipoic Acid https://www.webmd.com/

There is strong evidence that supplementing with alpha lipoic acid improves type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Several studies found it to help with neuropathy (nerve damage) and reduce the associated pain and tingling in the feet and legs. It has also been shown to protect your retina from damage associated with diabetes.

7. Zinc https://www.medicalnewstoday

A 2020 study found that people with diabetes are more likely to have a zinc deficiency than those without the condition. The researchers also suggest that individuals with glycemic control issues also led to lower zinc levels. Similarly, a 2021 study also states that low zinc levels are a good indicator of issues with glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Another 2019 meta-analysis also suggests that a moderately high dietary zinc intake could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 13%. A 2020 meta-analysis indicates that low dose, long-duration zinc intake from supplements and food may reduce risk factors for the condition.

8. Manganese https://healthline.com

Manganese appears to play a role in regulating blood sugar

Manganese is heavily concentrated in the pancreas. It’s involved in the production of insulin, which removes sugar from your blood. Thus, manganese may contribute to the proper secretion of insulin and help stabilize blood sugar.

9. L-Taurine https://healthline.com

Taurine supplementation is beneficial in reducing glycemic indices, such as HbA1c, Fasting Blood Sugar, HOMA-IR in diabetic patients, but has no significant effect on serum lipids or body composition in diabetic patients. Taurine emerges as a new option for the management of patients with diabetes.

10. Nitrosigine (L-Arginine) 

Arginine, an amino acid, is known for its role in the production of nitric oxide, which helps improve blood flow. There’s evidence suggesting that arginine may also have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, particularly in people with glucose metabolism issues or diabetes.

A study supporting this is:

Lucotti, P., Setola, E., Monti, L.D., Galluccio, E., Costa, S., Sandoli, E.P., Fermo, I., Rabaiotti, G., Gatti, R., & Piatti, P. (2006). Beneficial effects of a long-term oral L-arginine treatment added to a hypocaloric diet and exercise training program in obese, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patients. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 291(5), E906-E912.

This study found that long-term L-arginine supplementation, alongside a hypocaloric diet and exercise, improved insulin sensitivity and reduced waist circumference in obese, insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic patients.

11. Citrus Bergamot

Citrus bergamot has been researched for its potential to influence metabolic conditions, including blood sugar levels. The polyphenols found in Citrus bergamot might play a role in modulating glucose metabolism, making it an area of interest for managing blood sugar levels.

Supporting research includes:

Mollace, V., Sacco, I., Janda, E., Malara, C., Ventrice, D., Colica, C., Visalli, V., Muscoli, S., Ragusa, S., Muscoli, C., Rotiroti, D., & Romeo, F. (2011). Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal models to human studies. Fitoterapia, 82(3), 309-316.

This study reports that bergamot polyphenols have hypolipemic (lipid-lowering) and hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lowering) activities, suggesting potential benefits in improving cardiovascular risk factors and blood sugar regulation.

Some people need some
ADDED Blood Sugar Support 

That is where Tikva Blood Sugar Support Comes In

Below are clinical trials and research on these additional nutrients.

Tikva Blood Sugar Support adds more Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, Alpha Lipoic Acid and L-Taurine from the Tikva Heart list above and multiple other nutrients below, shown in clinical trials to be effective.

1. Banaba Leaf https://www.healthline.com

The antidiabetic effect of banaba leaves is one reason why they’re popular.

Researchers attribute this effect to several compounds, namely corosolic acid, ellagitannins, and gallotannins.

Corosolic acid lowers blood sugar levels by increasing insulin sensitivity, enhancing glucose uptake, and inhibiting alpha-glucosidase — an enzyme that helps digest carbs. That’s why it’s claimed to have an insulin-like effect. 

In addition to corosolic acid, ellagitannins — namely lagerstroemin, flosin B, and reginin A — also improve blood sugar levels. They promote glucose uptake by activating glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), a protein that transports glucose from the bloodstream into muscle and fat cells.

Likewise, gallotanins seem to stimulate the transportation of glucose into cells. It’s even hypothesized that a type of gallotanin called penta-O-galloyl-glucopyranose (PGG) has higher stimulatory activity than corosolic acid and ellagitannins.

2. Bitter Melon https://www.healthline.com

Bitter melon is linked to lowering the body’s blood sugar. The consumption of bitter melon can help your cells use glucose and move it to your liver, muscles, and fat. The melon may also be able to help your body retain nutrients by blocking their conversion to glucose that ends up in your blood stream.

  • A study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology compared the effectiveness of bitter melon with a current diabetes drug. The study concluded that bitter melon did reduce fructosamine levels with type 2 diabetes participants. However, it did so less effectively than a lower dose of the already approved medication.

3. Licorice Root Extract https://www.diabetes.co.uk

According to American Diabetes Association, the root of licorice contains amorfrutins which are known to have anti-diabetic properties. Amorfrutins also have many anti-inflammatory properties that helps keep diabetes-related conditions at bay.

4. Cinammon Bark https://www.healthline.com

In those with diabetes, either the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or cells do not respond to insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels.

Cinnamon may help lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing glucose transport into cells.

It can also help lower blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient at moving glucose into cells.

5. Gymnema Sylvestre https://www.healthline.com

Gymnema sylvestre is considered to have anti-diabetic properties.

When consumed prior to a sugary food or beverage, gymnemic acid blocks the sugar receptors on your taste buds.

Research shows that Gymnema sylvestre extracts can reduce the ability to taste sweetness and thus make sweet foods less appealingSimilar to its effects on your taste buds, Gymnema sylvestre can also block receptors in your intestines and thus sugar absorption, lowering your post-meal blood sugar levels.

In one study, Gymnema appeared to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels.

The study concluded that reducing blood sugar after a meal resulted in a decrease in average blood sugar levels over time. This could help decrease long-term complications of diabetes.

Gymnema’s role in insulin secretion and cell regeneration may also contribute to its blood-sugar-lowering capabilities.
Higher insulin levels mean that sugar is cleared from your blood at a faster rate.

If you have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, your body tends to not make enough insulin, or your cells become less sensitive to it over time. This results in consistently high blood sugar levels.

Gymnema sylvestre may stimulate insulin production in your pancreas, promoting the regeneration of insulin-producing islet cells. This can help lower your blood sugar levels.

6. Cayenne Pepper https://www.healthyeating.sfgate.com

A study published in the July 2006 issue of “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that blood glucose levels were lower between 20 minutes and 120 minutes after a cayenne-containing meal in human subjects. Lower blood glucose levels were accompanied by lower blood insulin levels, especially in a subgroup of subjects that had consumed a cayenne-containing diet for an entire month prior to the test. Therefore, over a period of time, cayenne may improve the sensitivity of your tissues to insulin, and less insulin will be required to efficiently cause the movement of glucose from your blood into your tissues.

7. Juniper Berries https://www.healthline.com

Studies connecting juniper berries with treatment for diabetes have been limited to lab and animal testing. The initial results, though, seem promising.

A study in rats with diabetes observed that supplementing with juniper berry extract significantly reduced blood sugar and increased heart-protective HDL (good) cholesterol.

Similarly, another study on the antidiabetic effects of Chinese juniper berry extract found that it significantly reduced blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in rats with diabetes.

Researchers believe that these antidiabetic effects are due to the berries’ high concentration of antioxidants.

8. White Mulberry Leaf https://www.healthline.com

Several studies have found that white mulberry and its components may help improve blood sugar management.

One small study in 24 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking mulberry leaf extract 3 times daily for 3 months significantly reduced blood sugar levels after meals, compared with a control group.

In another study in 12 healthy adults, a compound isolated from mulberry leaf extract was shown to improve blood sugar regulation after 12 weeks.

My cart
Your cart is empty.

Looks like you haven't made a choice yet.