Ginseng for Diabetes: Can It Help Lower Blood Sugar?

If you’ve been diagnosed prediabetes, finding natural ways to prevent type 2 diabetes is important.

Optimizing nutrition and doing regular exercise are the best ways to get blood sugar levels back to normal, some natural remedies may also help.

A study published in Medicine (Dec 2024) looked at whether red ginseng extract powder could improve blood sugar control in people with prediabetes.

The results suggest that red ginseng may help lower fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels, improve insulin function, and support better long-term blood sugar management.

What Was the Study About?

The study followed 98 people with prediabetes over a 12-week period. They were divided into two groups:

• One group took 1,000 mg of red ginseng extract powder per day
• The other group took a placebo (a pill with no active ingredients)

Researchers measured their fasting blood sugar, blood sugar levels after eating, HbA1c (a marker of long-term blood sugar control), and insulin levels.

They also looked at hormones that affect blood sugar, like GLP-1, which helps the body release insulin, and DPP-4, an enzyme that breaks down GLP-1.

What Did the Study Find?

After 12 weeks, the people taking red ginseng saw several improvements compared to the placebo group:

• Fasting blood sugar dropped by 6.6 mg/dL (0.4 mmol/L)
• Post-meal blood sugar levels were lower at all time points in the glucose test
• HbA1c improved slightly (by 0.13%)
• Insulin sensitivity improved, meaning their body was able to use insulin more effectively
• GLP-1 levels increased, which can help lower blood sugar naturally
• DPP-4 levels decreased, which may help GLP-1 work longer

These changes suggest that red ginseng could help improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

How Does This Compare to Other Research?

Red ginseng has been studied for years for its potential role in lowering blood sugar.

Previous studies have also show that ginseng:

• improves insulin sensitivity
• reduces inflammation
• lowers fasting blood sugar levels
• improves cholesterol levels by lowering LDL and triglyceride and raising HDL

The new study adds to this research by showing how red ginseng may affect specific hormones like GLP-1 and DPP-4, which are also targets of certain diabetes medications.

The increase in GLP-1 is particularly noteworthy because this hormone plays a key role in helping the body manage blood sugar.

Some diabetes medications, like GLP-1 receptor agonists (ozempic and wegovy), work in a similar way by enhancing this hormone.

Is Red Ginseng Safe?

There were no serious side effects reported in this study, which suggests that red ginseng is well tolerated.

However, some people may experience mild side effects like digestive discomfort.

It’s also important to be cautious if taking medications for diabetes, as red ginseng may lower blood sugar and increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Should You Try Red Ginseng?

The study suggests that red ginseng helps lower blood sugar and improve insulin function in people with prediabetes. We’ve also seen similar results from studies in people with type 2 diabetes.

Red ginseng could be a useful addition to naturally support blood sugar control.

Keep in mind though, that there are other supplements for blood sugar that have more of an impact.

Take Berberine supplements for example. Studies show it has a much greater impact on fasting and post-meal blood sugar and A1c levels. Berberine even outperforms Metformin, the most common diabetes medication.

The key with any supplements, is to understand their effects and evaluate which ones are right for you.

Need help to do that? Visit our supplements store here.