I am not diabetic but was diagnosed with insulin resistance a few years ago. I was prescribed Metformin (500 mg x 3) but, before I had a chance to start it, I stumbled upon an article about Berberine and have been taking it since (500 mg x 3). My cravings are gone, and I have lost 20 kilograms rather effortlessly (without dieting). I no longer need to snack between meals, but just stick to three main meals a day.
However, I just stumbled upon this article which I find rather worrying, although I am not sure how much faith I should put in it:
Has anyone else successfully tried Berberine and, if so, do you plan to stay on it long-term? I have to admit I'd find it difficult to stop taking it as it has proven so helpful to lower my blood sugar and insulin levels (both have gone from top of normal lab range to below midrange after 12 h fasting).
berberin is said to whip pancreas to release insulin. It's akin to su drugs. Stop taking berberine and start lchf diet, exercise and yoga to control your bs.
I differ...I am taking Liv D 38 by Patanjali 2 tabs at morning and 2 tabs at evening for last 3 months...'Daruharidra' which contains Berberine is included as one of the ingredient along with other herbs in Liv d 38
By fasting insulin is 7 ....which was 10+at the time of diagnosis.
However...one should not consume any medicine(herbal or otherwise) for longer time...
Best way is to control Diabetes is diet (low carb Diet) and exercise....
In order to heal liver...and to get faster results .....for shorter time we can opt for some herbs( as besides herbs we do not have any other options to help our liver to heal faster)
Please let's know the machanism of action of berberine. You are the master of herbs.
"However...one should not consume any medicine(herbal or otherwise) for longer time...". You are sounding like endos. Day in and day out i have debate with my fellows and endos. They say drugs should be started and i'm of the opposite opinion. Endos have many bizarre concepts.
1) even preD should be put on metformin
2) after 40 everyone should take statins and ecosprin.
First of all D is absolutely a different kind of "disease ". We take the food - carbs - which we can't burn off. And carbs are not at all necessary for our survival. I firmly believe that once a t2d "patient " start taking low carb or keto diet his / her physical condition starts to reverse to normal or near normal . No need to take any medicine except in few cases like undergoing a surgery etc.
I have seen many patients having gross K failure and on dialysis. S cr 10. Advised renal transplant but not keto diet. It's really very frustrating to find such patients and doctors .
That means that my fasting (12 h after eating) insulin and blood sugar levels were in range, but high in range (close to upper normal limit).
Any medicine even herbs should not be taken for too long . After taking for some time we have to stop for some time and try other herbs which are equally efficacious. In case of food also we don't take same thing day in and day out . We go by the seasonal vegetables and fruits.
Many studies conducted on turmeric concluded that Berberine present in turmeric controls and cures in some cases high BP , high cholesterol , excess weight and even high blood sugar . But to see the result atleast 4 months period is needed . Even if taken for more period not much harm is seen . But since we were told that excess of any thing is not good I have been telling to take for 3 to 4 months.After some time giving a gap of one or two months , again the same or any other herb which comes some where near that herb can be taken . Now coming to the point of why herbs --- no modern medicine is safe . When sugar levels are high to get immediate reduction Metformin may be taken . But the main constituent of metformin is hydrochloric acid and it is not good to take any acid for long in any form . Turmeric ,zinger , zeera , pepper ,Dhania ,bay leaf , fenugreek etc all are natural ingredients which have been used since thousands of years in cooking in many parts of the world with out any bad results . Even then any thing in excess is not good . So to get immediate effect modern medicine is taken , and to continue the good results ,to avoid any relapses herbs should be taken . If this procedure is followed for an year or so one would get complete relief from any disorder .Even cancer is also due to wrong life style in most of the cases .
I am talking about curcuma longa But even tree turmeric has all the properties which are very good and give excellent results when compared to drugs used for different ailments ----drugs used as-- anticoagulants , steroids , chemotherapy drugs , Arthritis drugs , cholesterol drugs , inflammatory bowel disorders and above all metformin . Curcuma longa even taken in the form of turmeric powder is the best for sugar control.Many of our group members tested for various ailments including DIABETES .
There is a slight difference . But both have curcumin . I am talking about curcuma longa ---ordinary turmeric powder which is used in our cooking.
I am talking about curcumine . Yes , there is some difference in both varieties as far as berberine is concerned . But curcumine is present in both as per my limited knowledge .Only CURE has to clarify . Curcumine acts in controlling sugar as per my experience .Experience is different from knowledge.
I don't understand why the whole world is after medicines, herbs ( which i consider medicines or say crude medicines ) to "cure" or control D. It's a simple fact that we are not able to clear carbs from our blood and the raised glucose level cause harm to our body. So we should not eat carbs.
In a recent cme on nafld, the no 1 diabetologist affiliated to apollo hospital was the speaker and when i said that nothing but low carb diet would heal nafld i was literally shocked to find him saying that the low carb diet is a new concept 🐒🐒🐒🐒. The doctors and everybody has been so much disguised that they want to treat t2D by drugs. Another misconception deeply engrossed in the minds of people and doctors is about cholesterol and fat free diet. Everybody seems to have switched off their thought process. Just stop taking carbs. Accept that that's our destiny. Not to take carbs. And that's it. Difficult to follow noncarb diet but not impossible.
There is no logic in anything except low carb low protein ( .75 - .8 g / kg body weight ) and high fat diet, exercise and yoga. High protein diet is said to upregulate mTor system responsible for cell divisions and thus cancer production.
But cure , what about glucagon . In case of high protein meals glucagon levels in the blood raise and in case of high carb meals glucagon levels fall which prevent the blood glucose raising . So for a change the attention can be with drawn form insulin to glucagon so that spikes may not take place in blood glucose. Mucus , pepsin and hydrochloric acid ---the mixture of these three is known as gastric juice . So according to me hydrochloric acid is also one of the contenders for the insulin malfunction which is giving positive results when prescribed in the form of metformin .So I hope enough attention be paid to glucagon and hydrochloric acid .
Yes daruharidra has berberine and turmeric powder has curcumine and both act on the liver . We in our group advised many people to take turmeric paste for a period of 4 months as it is safe , inexpensive , gives relief from many problems like infections , inflammations , digestive disturbances , BP, Cholesterol , excess weight , blood sugar .etc .Like a member pointed out it is not an opinion but practical observation .We are all free from medicines ----modern medicines , of course taking herbs .
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Please help me out I am 28 years old 
I am diabetic for the last 10 years, using Metaformin HCL 500mg ,is it having any side effect?
My Fasting @102 just with diet and Exercise in 15 days.
Can insulin cause weight gain?
