4 Alternative Treatment for Diabetes

Treating diabetes depends on a few factors, including type and severity. Some people may be able to treat some diabetes with natural and alternative methods to medications. These are considered complementary and alternative methods or traditional medications for diabetes. Examples include increasing exercise and using specific herbal remedies for diabetes. Every case of diabetes is unique to the person experiencing it.

This article can help you learn about natural and alternative methods for treating some diabetes types, but it’s crucial to consult your healthcare provider about any treatment options. 

Can You Treat Diabetes Without Medication?

Whether or not you can treat diabetes without medication depends on the type of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, a person either makes too much or too little insulin, causing blood sugar spikes and crashes. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin medication to help them regulate their blood sugar levels. You cannot replace insulin with alternative treatments.

Type 2 diabetes (diabetes mellitus) may be treated without medication. This depends on the severity of the diabetes and whether or not other health complications exist. Some people may be able to treat type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes like increasing physical activity and choosing diabetes-friendly foods and beverages.

Diabetes during pregnancy, or gestational diabetes, can also be treated (in most cases) without medication.

Types of Alternative Treatment

There are several types of alternative treatment for diabetes, including the following:

Ayurveda Yoga

Being more active can make your body more sensitive to insulin and help you control your blood sugar levels. They also note regular exercise helps lower your risk of heart disease and nerve damage associated with diabetes. 

While physical activity is better than none, consider Ayurveda yoga for diabetes. Ayurveda is a traditional medicine system that originated in India thousands of years ago.

Yoga for diabetes works in the following ways, according to a 2018 review:

• Improves blood circulation
• Increases oxygenation to the brain
• Reduces stress (which impacts blood sugar levels) 
• Certain poses, such as forward bend, have been demonstrated to stimulate insulin production
• Breathwork techniques in yoga have been shown to help with blood sugar control and insulin secretion 

Herbal Acupuncture

One 2017 research review of studies on herbal acupuncture for type 2 diabetes management found it to be a safe complementary and alternative treatment method (i.e., it didn’t have significant or severe side effects).

Herbal acupuncture demonstrated more effectiveness than non-herbal acupuncture treatment. However, more research is needed.

Herbal acupuncture combines traditional method acupuncture with herbal therapy injected into the acupuncture points.

Herbs and alternative therapies used include:

• Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus or Astragalus membranaceus)
• Red sage (salvia miltiorrhiza)
• Dong quai AKA female ginseng (Angelica sinensis) and vitamin B12 mixture

The exact benefits of natural remedies can be difficult to determine due to poor quality control measures leading to inconsistent effects of the remedies.

Vanadium Supplement for Diabetes

Vanadium is an element naturally found in mushrooms, grains, herbs, and spices such as parsley, dill, and pepper. While it has shown some promise as an anti-diabetic herbal remedy, experts say more research is necessary before using vanadium for diabetes.

Side effects from excess vanadium can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Green-black tongue

DASH Diet 

Consider the DASH diet, which is similar to the Mediterranean diet. The DASH diet or the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension is a widely-promoted eating pattern said to be suitable for treating high blood pressure. It includes complex carbohydrates (whole fruits, vegetables, grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy) and recommends avoiding alcohol, high-sodium, and sugar-added foods. 

Documented benefits of the DASH diet for people with diabetes include:

• Blood pressure control
• Improves insulin resistance
• Lower cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
• Helps with healthy weight goals, which is part of diabetes management

Summary 

People with type 2 diabetes may benefit from adding complementary and alternative methods of treatment for diabetes into their wellness routine. Specific therapies include exercises like yoga, acupuncture or herbal acupuncture and natural remedies, and dietary changes including adopting the DASH diet. 

A Word From Verywell

Complementary and alternative methods of treatment for diabetes may work for some cases of diabetes and not for others. There may also be other health complications to consider before starting any new remedy or routine. If you are considering how to treat diabetes without medication, do consider speaking with your healthcare provider about your options.