Green Tea for Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition which is broadly classified into type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If an individual is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, then the pancreas produce no or very minimal amount of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is required to lower the blood sugar levels, as well as to regulate the normal functioning of the cell. In type 2 diabetes the cells in the body are not able to respond to the insulin that is produced by the pancreas. More on foods for diabetes

Typically green tea and other fiber rich foods are known to be very beneficial for diabetic patients.

In fact green tea for diabetes is known to be very beneficial as it stimulates the production of insulin and also triggers the functioning of the pancreas. Green tea for diabetes is also highly recommended as it helps in both normalizing as well as regulating the levels of blood sugar in the body.
The relation between green tea and type 2 diabetes is less known, but the concoction is extremely beneficial to the condition. Green tea contains catechins and many other nutritional products that regularize the blood sugar levels considerably. Green tea contains polysaccharides which help minimize the levels of glucose in the blood and also have anti-radiation and anti-cancer properties. Research has also shown that the ECGC present in green tea is beneficial against type 2 diabetes because it helps in absorbing the glucose in the required quantities by the body cells. Green tea is also known to be effective against various cardiovascular problems. This is mostly because green tea tends to fight obesity which is one of the main triggers for coronary problems. Green is one of the best natural treatments for type 2 diabetes as it not only lowers the sucrose levels, but the catechins that are present in green tea also help in blocking the natural glucose within the digestive tracts. Green tea is also effective against type 2 diabetes because it lower the frequency of blood sugar spikes which would have otherwise resulted in other medical issues such as kidney, nerve and eye damage. Similarly green tea for type 1 diabetes is also considered beneficial, as green tea is known to slow down as well as prevent type 1 diabetes. Also see health benefits of green tea

Green tea is also beneficial for type 2 diabetes because it tends to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. In fact research has shown that after just 12 weeks of glucose consumption, individuals were known to have lower levels of triglycerides, glucose, insulin as well as free fatty acids. Additionally, the consumption of glucose by type 2 diabetes patients resulted in an increase in the ability of the fat cells to be able to absorb sugar as well as respond to insulin. The main active component of green tea that is responsible for improving insulin sensitivity in those suffering from type 2 diabetes is epigallocatechin 3-gallate or (EGCG). This constituent of green tea not only minimizes the production of free radicals but also tends to affect the genetics of the individual. Green tea is effective against both type 1 and type 2 diabetes as it tends to reduce the messenger RNA’s numbers which perform the function of directing the liver cells to produce the enzymes that are responsible for the production of glucose. While selecting and purchasing green tea you should try and sample some prepared tea. High quality green tea is yellowish green or pale green. Green tea is available in the form of loose tea or in the form of tea bags. To ensure that your green tea remains fresh for a longer period of time if purchased in the loose form, green tea should be stored in an opaque air tight container. This will help in protecting the green tea from moisture, food odors and light. Some of the different types of green teas available are Chinese, Indian, Organic and Japanese green teas.

Precautions For Green Tea Consumption:

Those who intend consuming green tea as a natural treatment for type 1 and type 2 diabetes should be aware that the tannins present in green tea are known to adversely affect the absorption as well as the effectiveness of certain drugs. Alternatively, the caffeine that is present in green tea may heighten the effect of certain medications to dangerous levels.

Green tea is also not advisable to be consumed in excess by those who are prone to iron deficiency or are already deficient in iron, as the tannin tends to prevent iron absorption.

The consumption of green tea should also be minimized in the first trimester of pregnancy, as green tea when consumed in large quantities could minimize the effectiveness of DHFR. This in turn increases the risk of development of neural tube defects.

Submitted on January 16, 2014