DIACLEAR INGREDIENTS

This guide is a general-health document for adults 18 or over. Its aim is strictly educational. It does not constitute medical advice.

This guide is based on scientific studies, but individual results do vary. If you engage in any activity or take any product mentioned herein, you do so of your own free will, and you knowingly and voluntarily accept the risks. While we mention major known interactions, it is possible for any supplement to interact with other supplements, with foods and pharmaceuticals, and with particular health conditions. Please consult your doctor for advice.

This Supplement can lower your blood sugar. When taken in combination with each other or drugs known to lower blood sugar (i.e., antidiabetic drugs). they might have additive effects and could cause a hypoglycemic event (i.e., very low blood sugar). For these reasons, take the following precautions. Prior to beginning a combo, speak with your healthcare provider about your intention to begin taking supplements that can affect blood sugar, as adjustments to current medications or treatments may be needed.

Drawing from all we’ve learned, we’ve designed DiaClear based on the scientific evidence

Insulin (a hormone produced in your pancreas) rises when blood glucose [1] rises; it lowers blood glucose by telling various cells to absorb it (for storage in your liver or muscles, or for immediate use) and your liver to stop producing it.[2]

The ability of cells to absorb glucose in response to insulin is called insulin sensitivity, and low insulin sensitivity is called insulin resistance — the more sensitive, the less resistant, and vice versa. It is also possible for you to produce too little insulin, if you have type 1 diabetes or are in the late stages of type 2 diabetes, in which case you suffer from insulin deficiency. In either case, glucose can’t be removed efficiently from your blood, causing hyperglycemia (overly high glucose levels).[3]

Hyperglycemia causes oxidative stress and inflammation and impairs several physiological processes,[4][5][6] thereby damaging your body and increasing the risk of many diseases — cardiovascular diseases, mostly,[7] but probably also cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.[8][9][10]

Insulin resistance paves the road to type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases and has become a global health issue. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the percentage of diabetics in the world population had nearly doubled since the 1980s, for a total of 422 million diabetics. However, while the incidence keeps increasing in some countries, on a worldwide scale it seems to have either leveled off or decreased since the early 2000s.[11]

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an important, steady increase in the rate of diabetes in the US over the past 60 years, with 30.3 million Americans (nearly 1 in 10) having diabetes and 84.1 million American adults (approximately 1 in 3) having prediabetes [12] (which is to say, blood glucose levels high enough to be harmful and lead to diabetes[13]).

The major cause of type 2 diabetes is excess caloric intake and the resulting obesity. Unsurprisingly, weight loss can help. One review found that weight loss from all kinds of interventions — surgery, appetite-suppressing medicines, lifestyle interventions, or a combination — alleviates diabetes.[14]

Surprisingly, many long-term studies that used only a diet to achieve weight loss reported only modest improvements in diabetes. Why? Probably because few achieved substantial long-term weight loss.[15] Moreover, exercise in itself can help reduce the risk and severity of type 2 diabetes. [16][17][18]

Measuring blood glucose

Glycemic control can be tested in several ways, each with its own cutoff values indicating impaired glucose regulation.[19] Of these tests, fasting blood glucose is the most common, followed by HbA1c.

• Fasting blood glucose levels can vary from day to day, and so a single test may not be entirely reliable.[20][21]

CORE INGREDIENTS

Diaclear has the best safety-efficiency profile. When used responsibly, they are the supplements most likely to help and not cause side effects.

Fiber from Husk of Plantago ovata

Fiber can improve blood sugar control in healthy and diabetic individuals. It may also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Fiber is a category of carbohydrates resistant to digestion that pass through our small intestine to be excreted or fermented in the large intestine by microbes. Fiber helps slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, which explains why it — notably the soluble type — has a favorable effect on blood sugar regulation.

Soluble fiber dissolves in your stomach into a gel that slows down the digestion of food. This gel also helps lower blood sugar by delaying and reducing carbohydrate absorption in the body.[22] Soluble fibers may also increase insulin sensitivity, possibly due in part to the short-chain fatty acids born from their fermentation by the gut microbiome.[23]

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in your stomach but gently “scrubs” your digestive tract. It speeds up the rate at which food moves through your intestinal tract, yet it may also increase insulin sensitivity and bind to potentially harmful chemicals, such as carcinogens, allowing them to be excreted.[22][23][24]

How fiber may benefit insulin sensitivity

Adapted from McNabney and Henagan. Nutrients. 2017.[25]

Soluble fibers with a higher viscosity have shown the greatest and most consistent results at improving blood sugar control, the most studied types being psyllium, guar gum, and beta-glucan.[26][27][28][29][30][31] Viscosity refers to the fiber’s ability to form a gel-like substance when mixed with fluids.[32]

A high-fiber diet has not only been shown to improve blood glucose control, especially in people with type 2 diabetes, but also been consistently associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.[34][35] Thus, fiber can help people with normal blood sugar maintain or modestly improve their blood glucose control while decreasing their type 2 diabetes risk.

It’s important to note that the vast majority of studies showing a reduction in type 2 diabetes risk from fiber intake were in people who consumed fiber primarily from food sources (i.e., people with lower diabetes risk tended to have a higher overall intake of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes, etc.).[34]

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FIBER

To date, no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been set for fiber.[33][36]

While not inherently low in fiber, very low calorie, low-carbohydrate, and ketogenic diets can sometimes be lower in fiber than other diets due to a reduction in plant matter intake.[37][38][39]

Supplemental fiber may interfere with the absorption of digoxin (Digox, Lanoxin Pediatric, Digitek), [40] carbamazepine (Tegretol XR, Equetro, Epitol),[41] levothyroxine (Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid),[40] and lithium.[40] Do not take fiber within at least 30 minutes of taking these medications. It's possible that supplemental fiber may interfere with other medications not listed above. Out of caution, it may be prudent to separate pharmaceutical intake from fiber by at least 30 minutes as well. (This can also apply to other supplements).

Fiber supplements are not known to cause low blood sugar (i.e., hypoglycemic events), but it is theoretically possible — though not probable — when taken with other supplements or pharmaceuticals that can lower blood sugar, such as most antidiabetic drugs.

RESULTS

In people with impaired blood glucose control, taking ≈10–15 g/day of a supplemental soluble viscous fiber over at least 8 weeks has been shown to provide the following benefits:

• HbA1c reduction of −88 to −0.28%
  • People with an HbA1c of ≥9.15% may see a −54 to −0.51% reduction.

• Fasting blood glucose reduction of −32 to −0.31 mmol/L (−23.78 to −5.59 mg/dL)
  • People with a fasting blood glucose of ≥75 mmol/L (≥175 mg/dL) may see a −2.05 to −0.43 mmol/L (−36.94 to −7.75 mg/dL) reduction.
• Fasting insulin reduction of −97 to +0.60 pmol/L (−2.73 to +0.09 mIU/L)
• HOMA-IR (a measure of insulin sensitivity) reduction of −45 to −0.33

Our supplement DiaClear gives 15 g/day of Fiber. It is preferred for its high viscosity, which can aid in blood sugar regulation, and low degree of fermentation, which makes it less likely to produce unwanted side effects. In studies of soluble viscous fibers, it has also produced greater favorable effects on blood glucose control.[28]

Berberine

Caution: An important disclaimerMuch of the research on berberine is available only in Chinese, so this section relies heavily on English-language review papers and meta-analyses covering these studies. While we are able to assess the methodology of the reviews and meta-analyses, we are unable to directly evaluate some of the individual papers included in them. Therefore, we have given extra caution to berberine’s classification and dosages in this guide.

What makes berberine a primary option

Berberine can improve blood sugar control, HbA1c, and insulin sensitivity, particularly in those with type 2 diabetes.

Berberine is an alkaloid compound extracted from various plants, such as Berberis aquifolium, Berberis aristata, and Argemone mexicana. It can lower blood sugar levels by activating enzymes that draw blood glucose into cells and signaling that glucose should be used for energy production.[42]

Most berberine trials looking at blood glucose control have lasted 3 months, with a few trials lasting longer (four RCTs were ≥6 months).

In six placebo-controlled trials conducted in China, berberine lead to a large reduction in blood sugar levels and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.[43] It may do the same and improve insulin sensitivity in people who are not type 2 diabetic but have impaired blood glucose control or insulin resistance.[44][45][46] Additionally, extracts and juices derived from the berberine-containing barberry fruit showed similar results (i.e., reduced blood sugar and HbA1c, improved insulin sensitivity) in people with type 2 diabetes. [47][48][49][50]

Further research has compared berberine to antidiabetic drugs and compared berberine + antidiabetic drugs to the drug alone. This research suggests that using berberine along with either of the diabetes drugs metformin or gliclazide is more effective than berberine or the drugs are separately. Some results indicated that berberine may be just as effective as some pharmaceuticals, such as metformin, gliclazide, and glyburide.[43]

While low blood sugar (i.e., hypoglycemic events) has not been readily observed in clinical trials, no long-term trials tracked this outcome. It is possible berberine may cause low blood sugar, so some caution is warranted, particularly when taken with supplements or pharmaceuticals that can lower blood sugar.[51]

People with type 2 diabetes who are not currently taking pharmaceuticals for their condition may see a reduction in fasting blood sugar between −1.37 and −0.67 mmol/L (−24.68 to −12.07 mg/dL) and a reduction in HbA1C of −0.90 to −0.44%.

People with type 2 diabetes who are currently taking pharmaceuticals for their condition may see a reduction in fasting blood sugar between −1.03 and −0.47 mmol/L (−18.56 to −8.47 mg/dL) and a reduction in HbA1C of −1.29 to −0.05%.

In people who have signs of prediabetes, berberine supplementation may lead to reductions in blood sugar, HbA1c, and insulin resistance.

In the case of those taking glipizide, adding berberine may only lead to a small improvement. With those taking metformin, the addition of berberine appears to lead to moderate improvement.[43]

Magnesium

WHAT MAKES MAGNESIUM A PRIMARY OPTION

Magnesium may help improve insulin sensitivity, especially in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who have low magnesium levels.

ROLE OF MAGNESIUM IN DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Adapted from Bo and Pisu. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2008.[52]

Magnesium is a factor in blood sugar metabolism[53] and may also assist in regulating inflammation, thus improving insulin sensitivity.[54]

It has been estimated that in developed countries, hypomagnesemia (subnormal magnesium levels in the blood) affects less than 15% of healthy people but up to 50% of people with type 2 diabetes.[55] Low magnesium intake is common in the US, as seen below. This is important because patients with low magnesium levels and type 2 diabetes can end up in a vicious cycle, with low magnesium increasing insulin resistance, which in turn decreases magnesium levels.[53]

The good news is, supplementing with magnesium can improve insulin sensitivity and modestly reduce fasting blood sugar levels in people with hypomagnesemia.[56][57][58]

Magnesium can lower blood sugar and may have additive effects when taken with other supplements or pharmaceuticals that can lower blood sugar, such as antidiabetic drugs.

People with elevated blood sugar taking magnesium may see a reduction in fasting blood sugar of −0.82 to −0.2 mmol/L (−14.77 to −3.60 mg/dL) after 3 months of supplementation, with greater reductions more likely in those with lower starting magnesium levels.

Zinc

WHAT MAKES ZINC A PRIMARY OPTION

Zinc can aid in improving insulin sensitivity, especially in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who have low zinc levels.

Zinc is an essential dietary mineral. Around one fifth of the world’s population is thought to be at risk for zinc deficiency, but low zinc intake is rarer in developed countries, in part due to higher meat consumption.[59][60]

Dietary zinc isn’t the only consideration when it comes to zinc status, however. People with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance may be more likely to have low levels of zinc in their blood. This doesn’t seem to be explained by differences in intake; it’s more likely that the disease itself may reduce zinc levels.[61] A reduction of zinc levels due to insulin resistance may create a vicious cycle: Insulin resistance lowers zinc levels, and lower zinc levels worsen insulin resistance, due to the role zinc plays in blood sugar metabolism and insulin secretion.[62][63][64]

POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Reference: Ranasinghe et al. Daru. 2015.[63]

For people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, a zinc supplement can improve insulin sensitivity and thus lower levels of fasting blood sugar and HbA1c (a measure of average glucose levels over _{the past ≈3 months).}[65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75] It’s not known if maintaining adequate zinc intake preserves insulin sensitivity or prevents type 2 diabetes in healthy, nonobese people. There are barely any trials that can assess prevention, and these trials aren’t nearly long enough to do so, though we can’t yet rule out the possibility.[76][77][78] However, in people who are overweight or obese and insulin resistant but not prediabetic or diabetic, zinc supplementation may reduce insulin resistance. The evidence for this isn’t as strong as for people with type 2 diabetes, though, and the effects are not nearly as pronounced.[79]

Zinc can lower blood sugar and may have additive effects when taken with other supplements or pharmaceuticals that can lower blood sugar, such as antidiabetic drugs

In people on the lower end of the normal range (12.9–16.7 µmoI/L, 84–109 mcg/dL) with:

• normal blood sugars and no insulin resistance: take 5–10 mg/day of elemental zinc for maintenance
• elevated blood sugars or insulin resistance: take 20 mg/day of elemental zinc

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc for adults ranges from 8–12 mg/day.[80] While the 20–40 mg/day doses discussed here exceed that, they do not exceed zinc’s Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 40 mg/day.[80]

Zinc sulfate and gluconate are the most researched forms of oral supplementation and are preferred. Zinc citrate seems to have comparable absorption to gluconate, whereas zinc oxide is less well absorbed.[81] Zinc picolinate and bis-glycinate may have greater absorption rates than gluconate, but more research is needed.[82][83]

Zinc absorption can be reduced if consumed with foods rich in phytates — namely, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts.[84][85] If you’re unable to take zinc on an empty stomach, the next best way is with some low phytate food.

People with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or insulin resistance taking zinc may see a reduction in fasting blood sugar of −1.27 to −0.16 mmol/L (−22.88 to −2.88 mg/dL) and in HbA1c of −1.56 to −0.06%. Greater effects are more likely when baseline zinc levels are lower.

EFFECT OF ZINC VS PLACEBO ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN PEOPLE WITH PREDIABETES