Similarly, a review of 14 studies found that berberine lowered blood sugar levels and seemed to be as effective as common blood sugar medications, including metformin (Glucophage), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and glipizide (Glucotrol) ( 3).įurthermore, research suggests berberine may help support the blood-sugar-lowering effects of other diabetes medications when taken alongside them ( 3, 9, 10). Several studies among people with type 2 diabetes have shown that taking 600–2,700 mg of berberine daily may lower fasting and long-term blood sugar levels by up to 20% and 12%, respectively, especially when taken alongside blood sugar medication ( 8, 9).
Elevated blood sugar levels characterize conditions like diabetes and prediabetes due to either decreased insulin production or decreased sensitivity to insulin.Īlthough it’s normal for your blood sugar levels to fluctuate throughout the day, prolonged high blood sugar levels can cause various health problems, including organ damage ( 5).Ī decent amount of animal research suggests berberine may help lower blood sugar levels via various pathways, including by the following ( 6, 7):
