Best Supplements for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

In 2018, the world produced about 185 million tons of sugar, averaging 23 kilograms (or nearly 51 pounds) per person per year, with India, Brazil, and Thailand leading production (1). While sugar used to be considered a luxury item centuries ago, it's now omnipresent in our diets, found in everything from cheap drinks and yogurts to bread and sauces. 

The accessibility of sugar has come at a cost. As sugar consumption has soared, so too have health issues linked to sugary diets, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, leading to increasing evidence supporting moderate or low sugar intake for optimal health.

The Role of Healthy Blood Sugar Levels for Longevity

Why do "Blue Zones"' and Mediterranean diets, known for their longevity benefits, restrict consumption of added sugar? These diets minimize glucose from processed foods and sweetened beverages, instead opting for whole vegetables and legumes, which are known to contribute to longer, healthier lives. 

In contrast, modern Western diets are laden with empty carbs and refined sugars, which are linked to chronic diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer's, and, ultimately, shorter lifespans (2).

The Science of Excess Glucose

When we eat foods high in sugar, glucose enters our bloodstream. This prompts the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that helps glucose enter cells by binding to receptors on the cell's surface.

This binding opens glucose transporters, allowing glucose to flow into cells where it's used for energy. However, each cell has a limited number of insulin receptors and can only take in a certain amount of glucose. (4).

If we consistently consume too much sugar, the pancreas is forced to release more insulin than necessary because the cells' receptors are already saturated and cannot respond to additional insulin. This condition reduces the effectiveness of insulin receptors, a phenomenon known as decreased insulin sensitivity. As a result, insulin and glucose build up in the blood, leading to insulin resistance. 

Over time, this can cause blood glucose levels to remain high, which may lead to diabetes. Essentially, the blood becomes syrup-like, causing damage to other organs. Meanwhile, cells deprived of glucose starve and lack energy, further complicating health.

High insulin levels cause chronic inflammation and disrupt mitochondrial function (5). Excess glucose also leads to the formation of AGEs, accelerating aging and contributing to wrinkles (6). 

AGEs, or Advanced Glycation End-products, are harmful compounds that form when protein or fat combine with glucose. They play a critical role in aging and the development of chronic diseases due to their ability to promote inflammation and damage tissues, including skin.

Best Supplements for Blood Sugar Levels

While a healthy diet is crucial for stabilizing blood sugar, life's unpredictability often makes ideal eating habits challenging. Supplements can help support healthy blood sugar levels, reduce the progression of age-related disorders, and support overall health and longevity, offering a practical solution when dietary consistency isn't feasible (7).

Here’s a closer look at some top supplements for managing blood sugar:

• Berberine: Berberine, a compound extracted from various plants, is renowned for its potent effects on blood sugar regulation, mirroring the actions of metformin, a widely used diabetes medication. It enhances insulin sensitivity, helping the body to manage blood sugar levels more effectively. In addition to its role in glucose metabolism, berberine activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical enzyme in cellular energy homeostasis, thereby boosting metabolic efficiency (8).

Furthermore, berberine's benefits extend to longevity through its interaction with the FOXO3 gene, a pivotal factor in aging and cellular stress resistance. FOXO3 is known for its role in DNA repair and apoptosis, processes essential for healthy aging. By activating AMPK, berberine indirectly influences FOXO3 activity, promoting the cellular mechanisms that contribute to extended lifespan and improved overall health.

• Chromium Chloride: Known for its role in carbohydrate metabolism, chromium chloride enhances insulin action, aiding glucose absorption by cells and helping regulate blood sugar levels effectively (9).

• White Mulberry Leaf: White mulberry leaf inhibits the breakdown of sugars in the gut, helping to prevent rapid glucose spikes post-meal and improving insulin sensitivity (10).

• Gymnema Sylvestre: Traditionally used to block sugar absorption, this herb also enhances insulin function, potentially reducing sweet cravings and supporting steady blood sugar levels (11).

• White Kidney Bean Extract: This supplement contains phaseolamin, which blocks the digestion of complex carbs, reducing the amount of glucose absorbed from the diet and aiding in blood sugar management (12).

How to Use Supplements to Support Metabolic Health

Each of the supplements mentioned above is backed by research underscoring their benefits in regulating blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity. For example, berberine has been shown to suppress NF-κB, one of the key molecules that promotes inflammation. Therefore, it can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, thus supporting metabolic health. 

Moreover, chromium content aids in reducing inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (13). White mulberry leaf extract contains DNJ, which limits the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, effectively reducing glucose absorption and post-meal blood sugar levels (14).

Similarly, the synergistic effects of these supplements (how they work together to produce even more powerful results) can enhance their overall efficacy when combined correctly, such as pairing berberine with chromium for enhanced blood sugar control (14).

You'll find these ingredients in our Glucose Blocker formula, which is taken prior to meals to help mitigate the effects of modern high-glucose diets by regulating blood sugar levels. It can help prevent blood sugar spikes that lead to insulin resistance, glycation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage—all key contributors to aging and chronic health issues. Its natural ingredients can help support longevity and aid in weight management by limiting sugar absorption.

Dosage and Timing Recommendations:

For optimal results, it's recommended to take these supplements regularly, ideally 15 minutes before meals or with meals. Correct dosing and strategic combinations, such as berberine with Gymnema for sugar control, can significantly improve their effectiveness.

The recommended dosages for these supplements are as follows: 

• Chromium Chloride: 200 mcg/day
• White Mulberry Leaf: 200 mg/day
• Berberine HCL: 200 mg/day
• Gymnema Sylvestre extract: 180 mg/day
• White Kidney Bean Extract: 400 mg/day

Always consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on a new supplement regimen, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are currently taking medications. 

Key Takeaways on the Best Supplements for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is essential for overall health and longevity.

Incorporating the right supplements such as Glucose Blocker, in conjunction with a balanced diet and regular physical activity, can significantly enhance your metabolic health. Remember, while supplements can support your health regimen, they're most effective when used as part of a comprehensive approach that includes healthy eating and lifestyle choices (16).

References:

1. The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (2015). Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.
2. Berberine, a natural plant product, activates AMP-activated protein kinase with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic and insulin-resistant states (2006). Diabetes.
3. The potential value and toxicity of chromium picolinate as a nutritional supplement, weight loss agent and muscle development agent (2003). Sports medicine. 
4. Comparison of glycemic response to carbohydrate meals without or with a plant-based formula of Kidney Bean Extract, White Mulberry Leaf Extract, and Green Coffee Extract in individuals with abdominal obesity (2022). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 
5. Mulberry leaf extract improves glycaemic response and insulaemic response to sucrose in healthy subjects: results of a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study (2021). Nutrition and Metabolism.
6. Methanolic leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre augments glucose uptake and ameliorates insulin resistance by upregulating glucose transporter-4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, adiponectin, and leptin levels in vitro (2016). Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology. 
7. Subchronic Study of a White Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Extract with α-Amylase Inhibitory Activity (2019). BioMed Research International. 
8. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of berberine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (2014). Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
9. Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease (2022). Molecules. 
10. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes (1997). Diabetes. 
11. Effect of a deacyl gymnemic acid on glucose homeostasis and metabolic parameters in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (2013). The Indian journal of medical research. 
12. New potential phytotherapeutics obtained from white mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves (2016). Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy.
13. Effect of chromium supplementation on hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 as risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (2021). Complementary therapies in clinical practice.
14. Mulberry leaf extract reduces the glycemic indexes of four common dietary carbohydrates (2018). Medicine.