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Red Wine Ingredient May Help Control Blood Sugar
Diabetics may have a natural way to help control blood sugar. Resveratrol, the chemical compound found in red wine and other foods touted as heart healthy, may actually help balance blood sugar as well. This according to a new study published last month by Nutrition Research.
A study of 62 people with type 2 diabetes were separated into two groups. One group was given Resveratrol and the other was given a placebo. They were followed for a period of three months and their Hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, protein, and lipids were monitored. According to the report, “supplementation of resveratrol for 3 months significantly improves the mean hemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure, and total protein.”
The study authors speculate that oral supplementation of Resveratrol may be an effective tool in helping to control blood sugar. They do however say that the supplement would most likely be in addition to any traditional diabetic treatment.
Where to Get Resveratrol
While some heart patients can tolerate one small glass of wine with a meal, those with diabetes probably should not indulge that often. According to WebMD:
Alcohol is processed in the body very similarly to the way fat is processed, and alcohol provides almost as many calories. Therefore, drinking alcohol in people with diabetes can cause your blood sugar to rise. If you choose to drink alcohol, only drink it occasionally and when your diabetes and blood sugar level are well-controlled. If you are following a calorie-controlled meal plan, one drink of alcohol should be counted as two fat exchanges.
Instead, diabetics may want to take a supplement, or increase their intake of resveratrol containing foods, while cutting back on others. Resveratrol can be found in cocoa powder, baking chocolate and mulberries. In a report in the Journal of Agricultural Chemistry, when peanuts were sprouted, their resveratrol levels were even higher than red wine.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol#In_foods http://www.nrjournal.com/article/S0271-5317(12)00120-0/abstract
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2012/08/resveratrol-may-help-...
http://diabetes.webmd.com/drinking-alcohol
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