A study published in Diabetes Care (December 2007; published online) examined the effects of the Indian herb Coccinia indica on blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 60 participants between the ages of 35 and 60 were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 1 gram per day of an alcohol-extracted Coccinia indica preparation for 90 days. None of the participants were using medication to manage their diabetes.
At the end of the study, fasting blood glucose levels in the group receiving the herbal extract were reduced by approximately 18%. Postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels were reduced by about 16% compared with baseline values.
