Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Q&A » I Heard That Taking Herbal remedies with Diabetes Medication can be Harmful is There any Truth to that Statement?

I Heard That Taking Herbal remedies with Diabetes Medication can be Harmful is There any Truth to that Statement?

Yes there can be complications associated with taking herbal remedies and prescribed diabetes medication.

Why is this a taking herbal remedies and prescription drugs for diabetes a problem?

First of all 2 out of ten people take prescribed medication and some kind of supplements such as ginseng, or gingko and to not report using them to their doctors or their pharmacists. The main problem is that some supplements and herbal remedies can actually interfere with the ability of the prescription drugs to work. People suffering from diabetes often take garlic supplements to lower the high blood pressure. At the same time their doctor may have prescribed a medication to do just that.

Doctors and pharmacists alike warn that the consequences of mixing the herbal medication and prescription drugs can even be dangerous.

How is it that a natural product can do any harm?

Unfortunately just because a label indicates that a product is natural it may not necessarily be true because natural and safe to not go hand in hand.

Why then, do we have packaging saying ingredients are natural if they are not?

There is a lack of standardization, which means in prescription diabetes medication the dosages are standard and they are measured to make sure that the proper amount is exactly what is indicated on the label. However, with herbal remedies there is no standardization and there is no proof that dosages are measured.

Furthermore, there aren’t enough studies done to show that the products are safe or that they do not interfere with standard prescription diabetes medication or that there will not be any long-term effects.

Are the consequences the same for everyone?

It doesn’t appear to be that way, studies have shown that overall, and women are more prone to serious side effects from taking natural remedies and prescribed medication. Women also have a greater chance of ending up with heart disease, as reported by M.D. and cardiologist, Dr. Denise Hermann.

Why are herbal supplements sold if they can interact with other medications?

First off herbal medications represent a 5 billion dollar business in the USA. Secondly, there are not enough studies to prove or disprove the validity and effectiveness for taking these herbal remedies in the first place. There is also the problem that many of these herbal remedies are safe taken at a certain dosage but may be toxic ingested at another. Herbs can counteract the effects of certain medications either increasing or decreasing their potency. Dr. Meletis states that herbal remedies and prescribed medications that are supposed to have the same effects on diabetes should be avoided because in a sense the patient will be overdosing, he calls this condition synergetic overload.

Seek a diabetes specialist

The first order of the day is that a diabetic patient needs to be followed by a diabetes specialist. He or she will be responsible for monitoring your diabetes and your health. If you are planning to take supplements please inform your doctor, and you should also inform your pharmacist, who is the specialist in chemistry and chemical interactions. Sometimes your doctor may not know of different chemical interactions and this is where your pharmacist is there to help you out. When you visit your doctor and or pharmacist have a list of all your proscribed medications and all the herbal supplements you are taking as well. Don’t forget that even though you may be taking gingko for your memory and not necessarily for you diabetes, that this product may affect your prescribed medications. Only a doctor or a pharmacist can best decide which of these herbal remedies may counteract with your diabetes medication.

Another issue that comes up is what is known as polypharmacy, which refers to the various different amounts of medication that a diabetic is taking. Sometimes there are as much as three different medications taken for high blood pressure alone. It is difficult enough to figure out the side affects and which prescription drug is causing what. Add that already complicated situation to the possible side affects from taken herbal remedies on top of the medication and you have a very difficult situation to deal with.

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