Is Berberine Better Than Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes?
Berberine and Metformin are showing to be effective in treating Type 2 Diabetes.
Berberine is an alkaloid extracted from various plants, including the barberry plant. Chinese medicine uses this in a lot of formulas, and in fact has been doing so for centuries.
Metformin is a synthetic drug that was first used in the 1950s. It is a second-line treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. Most doctors will prescribe Metformin after diet and exercise did not work control blood sugar levels. It is also the most commonly prescribed medication to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
Berberine has a long history of use in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medicine. It has a hypoglycemic effect when given orally. This means that it helps to decrease blood sugar levels1https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/. Berberine is often used by people to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), to lose weight, and to treat prediabetes.
Meanwhile, the very popular and highly prescribed medication is Metformin. It was derived from the French lilac plants initially. Metformin is usually is the first medication prescribed for Type 2 Diabetes patients. Metformin lowers Hemoglobin A1c levels.
When making a decision between these
berberine and Metformin, it is important to consider a range of factors. You should consider the side effects, effectiveness, benefits, and safety. This will help you to make the best decision for your individual needs.
Which is Better for Type 2 Diabetes- Berberine or Metformin?
Metformin and berberine both help keep hemoglobin a1c levels under control. They also have comparable results on rising blood sugar levels after eating. This means that these two treatments are effective in managing Type 2 Diabetes2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/.
Berberine reduces both total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871262/. Meanwhile, metformin does not affect cholesterol levels in the same way. Thus, berberine may be a more effective treatment than metformin for high cholesterol.
Berberine boosts the immune system and reduce inflammation4https://www.nature.com/articles/aps2016125#:~:text=Berberine%20possesses%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20activity,reactive%20oxygen%20species%20production9. In contrast, metformin does not seem to have these same benefits.
According to a study done in 2016, berberine is as effective as Metformin in treating Type 2 Diabetes5https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/. But berberine may even be better than metformin because it does not have the same side effects. For example, Metformin has the common side effects of nausea and diarrhea. But berberine does not seem to have these same side effects.
Both berberine and Metformin are safe for patients with Type 2 Diabetes to take, even long term.
In conclusion, berberine seems to offer more advantages than Metformin in managing diabetes. Berberine can help to improve insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels, and lipid profiles. In contrast, Metformin may only improve blood sugar levels. Berberine also has a lower risk of side effects than Metformin. So, berberine may be a better option for managing diabetes.
Author at Help For Your Diabetes
Sherry studied Traditional Chinese Medicine for 9 years in Japan and had hospital intern privileges with an MD there for 5 years, specializing in treating patients with autoimmune diseases.
Her tragic family history of Type 2 Diabetes, and her own diagnosis of prediabetes in 2021 caused her to research more deeply, leading to a passion in educating people on how to hopefully put this disease into remission.
Her tragic family history of Type 2 Diabetes, and her own diagnosis of prediabetes in 2021 caused her to research more deeply, leading to a passion in educating people on how to hopefully put this disease into remission.
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