Does Green Tea Lower Blood Sugar?

Does green tea lower blood sugar or have other benefits for those that suffer from borderline or type II diabetes?  Researchers are still looking at these questions.  There may be several benefits, depending on the strength of the tea or, in the case of a supplement, the potency of the extract. 

In the most recent study, researchers looked at 35 male volunteers between the ages of 23 and 63.  The average fasting blood glucose levels were lower among men that drank a “stronger brew”.  That is a 3% concentration as opposed to a 1% concentration.

Since a stronger brew time also increases the tea’s caffeine content, it is not clear what the active compound in the leaves may be.  That has been a question for quite some time. 

The leaves contain catechins, several types of natural caffeine and other polyphenols.  The catechins are known to have antioxidant activity.  Antioxidants are beneficial to people that suffer from type II diabetes for several reasons.

But, if you ask, does green tea lower blood sugar, by itself, the answer appears to be “no”.  There have been several animal studies showing that the plant improves glucose tolerance and metabolism. 

One of the risks of consistently high glucose levels is damage to the heart, the kidneys and other bodily organs.  Glucose, which is normally used by the cells for energy, starts to damage the cells, instead.  After all of these years, the condition is still not well understood. 

In type I diabetes, insufficient or non-existent insulin production is the problem.  In type II diabetes, there are two problems.  One is decreased insulin production, which is caused by damage to specialized cells that produce it, the other is decreased insulin sensitivity, which basically means that the cells don’t recognize insulin and they cannot use the glucose for energy.  Without this energy supply, many cells begin to die.

Researchers began to look at the question; does green tea lower blood sugar, because it is sometimes used for this purpose in Asian countries.  What they have actually found is that it seems to improve insulin sensitivity and possibly enable the cells to use the glucose for energy.  In addition, it may help people lose weight, a problem for most people with type II diabetes. 

People with normal glucose levels don’t need to worry about the question; does green tea lower blood sugar levels.  There is no indication that it has any effect on normal insulin production or glucose transfer. 

People that are looking for a supplement specifically for type II and borderline diabetes may be interested in a multi-ingredient supplement that contains dietary minerals, antioxidants, black cumin, bitter melon, milk thistle and green tea extract.  These ingredients work together to improve insulin sensitivity and to repair damage that has been done to insulin producing cells. 

Hopefully, the information in this article helped answer the question; does green tea lower blood sugar.  As far as supplements go, you get better results and more value for your money from multiple, rather than single ingredients. If you have two minutes to spare, please take a look at my website now.