How to Choose a Natural, Herbal Blood Sugar Control Remedy

By now, Type 2 diabetics, you've heard the bad news (no I'm not talking about being diagnosed as having diabetes. I'm talking about the remedy your doctor may have prescribed for you).

Three of the best-selling blood sugar control drugs, prescribed by most doctors in the U.S., have been found to have side effects - some fatal.

First there was Avandia. It got the notorious 'black label' from the Food and Drug Adimnistration, indicating serious concerns. Then it got totally recalled from the market for potential side effects including heart attacks.

Next, Actos was fingered, again by the Food and Drug, for causing serious heart conditions.

Finally, Metformin, the highly popular drug, was more closely scrutinized and found to have as a possible side effect rapid weight gain.

While not as life threatening as the previous two products, the highly effective Metformin had a side effect with considerable impact on struggling diabetics - keeping their weight and as a result blood sugar in check.

This is discouraging news for any one suffering from the Big D. Not only is this disease a pox on humanity, the cure most commonly prescribed by your friendly doctor actually can turn out to be worse.

What is a long suffering Type 2 to do? Fortunately, many diabetics decided that enough was enough and started taking their health into their own hands.

Many got on the web or read Kevin Trudeau's book Natural Cures and decided to seek out a remedy that wasn't built in a lab, like a medical Frankenstein.

But to find something that grew naturally or hadn't been chemically altered or adulterated.

Here are 6 tips for finding a natural, herbal solution to blood sugar problems that is both effective and safe to use:

#1 Active Ingredients Should Be Clincally-tested for Efficacy. Some supplements claim to have been tested for effectiveness. Others make only claims with no substantiation. Make sure your product has been clinically-tested at a reputable medical institution. Don't accept marketer's claim without proper documentation of health benefits.

#2 Active Ingredients Should Clinically-tested for Safety. Few supplements go through the test process for safety. It's mandatory for prescription drugs but a loophole that many unscrupulous marketers jump through. Look for a clinical test report, from an independent source that attests to your product's safe use in the short and long run.

#3 Look for Certification of Accurate Dose, Ingredient Level and GMP. Even effective and safe products can be adulterated by unscrupulous marketers who dilute or water down the ingredients so that they can make a bigger profit. This is done fairly regularly, particularly by overseas manufacturers not subject to the same strict regulations required in the U.S. A USP or NF symbol on the label, helps to ensure a quality product.

#4 Make Sure You Understand the Product's Side Effects. Few products have non side effects. Some have very unacceptable side effects. Make sure the manufacturer states clearly what the impact could be on your health or if taken with other drugs.

#5 Be Sure the Ingredients Are Truly 'Natural'. The active ingredients in your diabetic supplement should be botanical, organic and or herbal in origin. Take a close look at your label to be sure your not getting a heavily synthetic, processed ingredient. It's always best to check with your health care provider first, before taking any natural supplement.

#6 Evaluate the Cost/Benefit of Natural Products. Most truly natural products cost less than prescription drugs. On average, depending on product quality, dosage, etc., natural products generally cost about $1-3 per day. If you feel that your prescription works better than your natural product, without side effects, you may want to consider staying on the prescription.

These 6 tips should be considered every time you evaluate buying and taking a natural product to lower blood sugar. And it's strongly suggested that you consult with your doctor before trying these products.