| My Account | Subscribe | Contact Us | Donate |
Home
-
Diabetes and Adoption
Rachel and her husband chose to adopt a baby instead of meeting the challenges of handling a high risk pregnancy and Rachel’s type 1 diabetes at the same time. She shares their thought process and ultimate happy ending about the decision to bring a child into their lives.
-
Chris Matthews Makes Time for Diabetes
Hosting Hardball on MSNBC and The Chris Matthews Show keep Chris Matthews working long hours. But Matthews got a lesson in priorities and made some life changes when he was diagnosed with type 2.
-
A Chihuahua with Diabetes
Olivia and her dog both have diabetes and today they comfort and encourage each other through the rigors of dealing with the disease. Plus, find out what it means when your domestic pet is diagnosed with diabetes.
-
Smoking and Diabetes
Smoking has severe effects on your diabetes and your health. Learn why diabetes and smoking are an especially bad combination and get some tips from the experts on how to quit.
-
Continuous Glucose Monitors
CGM is a relatively new technology, but the information it provides is invaluable. Find out what CGM offers and whether it could help you.
The must-have resource for physicians, educators and medical professionals who focus on the treatment of diabetes.
Finally! A fresh take on the “professional” journal. Each bi-monthly issue cuts through the jargon and presents the most important information you need to enhance your practice and assist your patients.
Each bi-monthly issue of Diabetes Health Professional is a self-contained handbook covering products, educational resources and the latest diabetes research, complimented by balanced editorial focused on medical news, drug prescription information, clinical practice recommendations and changing treatment options.
Each quarter we send you the latest, most updated research guides, product guides and educational resource guides available for you and your patients.
Each week the Diabetes Health E-Newsletter delivers links to the very latest in news, reviews, blogs and videos from Diabetes Health direct to your inbox.
As a subscriber you'll get access to the amazing Diabetes Health Digital Advantage™ so you can read the current issue of Diabetes Health magazine online wherever you are!
Latest Vitamins Articles
Supplement of the Month
Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum)
Sep 1, 2005
Consult your diabetes care team before starting any nutritional supplement. Blood glucose levels should be checked more often to determine the effectiveness of the supplement or if a medication change is needed.
Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, is an herb native to India and is regarded as one of the most important plants used in Ayurvedic medicine.
Holy basil is also known as “tulsi.” It has a pleasant aroma and is available in both red and green varieties. It grows abundantly around Hindu temples, and although it is native to India, it is now widely grown throughout the world. The plant is hairy with multiple branches and small, tender leaves. The leaves and stems are used medicinally.
May Improve Beta Cell Function
The leaves of the holy basil plant contain essential oils that yield eugenol, methyl eugenol and caryophyllene, and they also yield other substances such as ursolic acid and apigenin. Researchers have theorized that holy basil leaves may improve pancreatic beta cell function and thus enhance insulin secretion.
Research Supports Herb’s Diabetes Benefits
There has been one small controlled trial of 40 people with type 2 diabetes. Patients were asked to stop their diabetes medications seven days before the start of the trial. Then all patients were given holy basil leaves for a run-in period of five days. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to take 2.5 grams of powdered holy basil leaf, and 20 were given placebo for four weeks and then were crossed over to the other treatment group without a washout period for another four weeks.
In the first group, average fasting glucose declined from 134.5 mg/dl to 99.7 mg/dl after four weeks of treatment with holy basil. After being crossed over to placebo for four weeks, it increased to 115.6 mg/dl. In the placebo-first group, average fasting glucose declined from 132.4 mg/dl to 123.2 mg/dl after four weeks and then declined even further to 97.2 mg/dl after being crossed over for four weeks to holy basil.
Overall, mean fasting blood glucose was 21 mg/dl lower in the holy basil group. There were no adverse effects reported by those taking the holy basil or the placebo.
Holy Basil
Holy basil has not yet been studied in people with type 1 diabetes.
There is no typical dose for holy basil, but in the one human study, 2.5 grams of a dried leaf powder was used once per day on an empty stomach.
Side Effects
Although holy basil has been used to treat diabetes, it has primarily been used to treat other ailments such as asthma, heart problems, arthritis and respiratory infections. Another popular use is for stress management.
Drug Interactions
There are no reported cases of drug interactions involving holy basil. Theoretical interactions would be possible hypoglycemia when taken by diabetics treated with insulin or insulin secretagogues such as sulfonylureas (glyburide, glipizide, Amaryl), Prandin or Starlix.
Holy basil is available from www.iherb.com and www.drugstore.com.
Facebook
MySpace 
Digg
Email to a Friend
Send a link to this page to your friends and colleagues.