Berberine vs Metformin for Blood Sugar Control 101
Have you heard the buzz about berberine for diabetes? Some people are claiming that it is just as (or even more) effective as Metformin for blood sugar control… but is this true? And is it safe? Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about berberine vs metformin. Let’s dive in!
What is berberine?
Berberine is a powerful compound found in certain plants, including the Berberis shrubs, that is commonly used as a dietary supplement.
This bioactive substance is yellow in color, and has been used both as a dye and as a treatment for various ailments for over 3000 years in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Recently, there have been claims that berberine has the ability to lower blood sugar, along with promoting heart, kidney, liver, and overall immune health.
The vast majority of the research around berberine has been conducted within the last 10 years, making berberine a hot topic in the scientific community, especially as a possible diabetes treatment.
How does it work?
Berberine impacts multiple systems within the body through the activation of an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This enzyme is found within cells throughout your body and helps regulate metabolism and impacts your blood sugar levels.
By activating this enzyme, berberine triggers multiple pathways in the body that help to regulate blood sugar.
Does it lower blood sugar?
Yes! Berberine does lower blood sugar. This has amazing implications for people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, however you should never take berberine without speaking to your doctor first.
Berberine has been shown to have anti-diabetic effects in the body, lowering blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity. Even further, berberine has been shown to slow down carbohydrate digestion in the gut, slowing down sugar absorption into the bloodstream.
Another impact of berberine is that it can help you to lose weight. Higher levels of fat tissue are associated with higher levels of insulin resistance, so losing weight (aka losing fat) can actually help to further improve your blood sugar levels. In addition, berberine may even help to inhibit fat storage, which also aids with weight loss efforts and blood sugar balance.
These effects all together suggest that berberine could be used in place of other blood sugar-lowering drugs in certain people. In fact, according to a recent review, berberine has been found to be just as effective as certain diabetes medications, including metformin.
Are there downsides?
Since berberine can lower blood sugar, this also means that there is a chance that you can have your blood sugar go too low (hypoglycemia), which can be extremely dangerous.
If you are already taking blood sugar-reducing medications or you have been told you’re at risk for hypoglycemia, you run the risk of getting dangerously low blood sugar from adding a berberine supplement to your repertoire.
Hypoglycemia presents with symptoms including weakness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, shakiness, sweating, headaches, looking pale, anxiety, and more.
In addition to the risk of hypoglycemia, there can also be some digestive side effects from taking berberine, including gas, bloating, constipation, abdominal cramping and pain, and diarrhea. However, berberine is considered to be well-tolerated by most people and these side effects are rare.
What does the science say on berberine vs metformin?
Studies have shown that berberine has similar impacts on blood sugar as metformin. Both berberine and metformin seem to equally reduce A1C, fasting blood glucose, post-meal blood glucose, fasting insulin, and post-meal insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Benefits of taking one over the other
Just like any supplement, berberine is not heavily regulated. This means you should be extra cautious about the source of your berberine supplement, and seek out high quality, third-party tested brands to ensure purity.
Another potential downside is that some healthcare professionals may not understand how to utilize berberine for diabetes. On the flip side, metformin is both heavily regulated and widely understood by healthcare providers.
The uncomfortable digestive side effects are similar with berberine and metformin, however, nausea and appetite reduction are included for many on metformin. These side effects may go away after you adjust to the supplement/medication and fine-tune your dosage schedule.
One major benefit of berberine over metformin is that it also can be used for other health impacts. Berberine is also shown to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. Additionally, berberine is shown to have benefits for obesity, cardiovascular health, liver health, and much more.
On the other hand, metformin may help slow aging, lower the risk of cancer, and lower the risk of cognitive decline.
Both berberine and metformin appear to have both side effects and possible benefits beyond blood sugar control. Speak with your doctor to decide which one is best for you.
How to discuss berberine with your doctor
You can find berberine as a supplement in the form of a capsule, tablet, or powder. It is typically recommended to take it about 30 minutes before a meal to aid in blood sugar regulation after meals.
However, there is not a standard recommendation in terms of dosage and scheduling when it comes to berberine. This is because people will require individualized dosages and schedules due to their current health and blood sugar goals.
I do not condone blindly taking berberine for all of these reasons, plus the possibility that you may be taking something that can interact with this supplement. When considering berberine, please make sure to speak with your doctor, dietitian, and diabetes care team before beginning to take this supplement.
This article is meant to be purely educational, and should not be considered medical advice. If you are interested in trying berberine, please discuss with your healthcare provider first to ensure it will be done safely for you to determine the dosage that works best for you.
The bottom line on berberine vs metformin
Berberine is a powerful supplement which can be used to reduce blood sugar levels to the same extent as diabetes medications like metformin.
Since supplements are less regulated, it is important to find a high quality brand.
Before taking berberine, I urge you to speak with your doctor and dietitian to ensure that this supplement is appropriate for you and your individual health needs.
Both berberine and metformin have side effects. In addition, each of these options can impart other health benefits. It is important to compare the two heavily before making a decision on which of the two you should take.
Disclaimer:
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.