Ginger and diabetes

October 13, 2013 by Robin Ellis

Meredith sat by the log fire last night, sipping a cup of ginger tea* wrapped in woolly jumpers and a blanket.

(*Peel and chop a small knob of ginger, put it in a cup or mug and fill the container with hot water. Let it infuse for a short time.)

She is developing a cold–no doubt about it!

Today’s she’s in bed.

I bought more ginger this morning and there’ll be chicken broth “on tap”.

Ginger infused in hot water–just that–is delicious and good for relieving the symptoms of colds.

It can also has beneficial effects for people with diabetes.

The British Diabetic Association (Diabetes UK) recently published a piece extolling the virtues of ginger and its uses in connection with the condition:

Ginger can help with glycemic control, insulin secretion and cataract protection

Glycemic control

A study published in the August 2012 edition of the natural product journal Planta Medica suggested that ginger may improve long-term blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, found that extracts from Buderim Ginger (Australian grown ginger) rich in gingerols – the major active component of ginger rhizome – can increase uptake of glucose into muscle cells without using insulin, and may therefore assist in the management of high blood sugar levels.

Insulin secretion

In the December 2009 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology, researchers reported that two different ginger extracts, spissum and an oily extract, interact with serotonin receptors to reveres their effect on insulin secretion.

Treatment with the extracts led to a 35 per cent drop in blood glucose levels and a 10 per cent increase in plasma insulin levels.

Cataract protection

A study published in the August 2010 edition of Molecular Vision revealed that a small daily dose of ginger helped delay the onset and progression of cataracts – one of the sight-related complications of long-term diabetes – in diabetic rats.

It’s also worth noting that ginger has a very low glycemic index (GI). Low GI foods break down slowly to form glucose and therefore do not trigger a spike in blood sugar levels as high GI foods do.

Other health benefits

Ginger has been used as an herbal therapy in Chinese, Indian, and Arabic medicine for centuries to aid digestion, combat the common cold and relieve pain.

Its powerful anti-inflammatory substances, gingerols, make it an effective pain reliever and it is commonly used to reduce pain and swelling in patients with arthritis and those suffering from other inflammation and muscle complaints.

In fact, ginger is said to be just as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without the gastro-intestinal side effects.

Other medical uses of ginger include treatment of:

Bronchitis
Heartburn
Menstrual pain
Nausea and vomiting
Upset stomach
Diarrhoea
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI)

Update a day later:

The patient announces she slept better and would like some chicken broth and two eggs scrambled on toast for lunch followed by another infusion of GINGER.

“With pleasure, Madam!”

Posted in Diabetes, Food, other sides to this life, Recipes | Tagged benefits of ginger for diabetics, ginger, ginger tea | 30 Comments

30 Responses

on October 13, 2013 at 10:17 am | Reply Maureen

nice! For refreshing cold beverage I have done lemon, cucumber and ginger in water and put in the fridge for an available refreshing drink.
- on October 13, 2013 at 10:18 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Delicious sounding.
on October 13, 2013 at 10:44 am | Reply NORA O'REILLY

Love ginger, so will definitely try this. Looking for something to help with blood sugar levels and reduce insulin dosage. How’s the patient?
- on October 13, 2013 at 11:10 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  In recovery–looking brighter–thanks!
on October 13, 2013 at 12:22 pm | Reply Barbara

Thank you Robin for sharing , I have always used it but had no idea it helped those with a diabetic condition.My friend a dentist has it so will introduce him to ginger ..x
on October 13, 2013 at 2:25 pm | Reply Dianne P.

Feel better, Meredith! Maybe this early cold will stave off the worse ones later this winter.
Cheers & hugs!
on October 13, 2013 at 3:11 pm | Reply adesara1

How long should the ginger be seeped to be a tea? half hour? I will give this a try. I have been taking Tumeric in pill form everyday since February. I have not had a cold since that time. An Indian nurse at the hospital where I work recommended Tumeric. In fact a pharmacist at the hospitaI says he takes tumeric when he feels he is developing a cold.
Thank you for the info on ginger.
- on October 13, 2013 at 3:38 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Any amount of time–two three minutes and your tea will be hot–as I like it. Thirty minutes and your tea will be cold–but if you don’t mind that it will be more informed. It’s a matter of taste. The tea should be pleasing to you to drink–it is not a medicine but, according to the article, its properties like those in turmeric can have therapeutic results. We drink it in the evening after eating–for pleasure.
on October 13, 2013 at 3:37 pm | Reply Ellen

Do yo think by drinking this on a regular basis this will keep diabetes away. I am so afraid of getting that. Plus trying to loose some weight, could this keep the cravings for sugar away?
- on October 13, 2013 at 5:46 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Losing some weight is important and keeping Sir Sugar under control; he’s a surly fellow who keeps on turning up and will not take no for an answer!
on October 13, 2013 at 5:14 pm | Reply Chantal

Dear Robin,Give Meredith my regards and a hugh, hope she gets better soon!
on October 13, 2013 at 5:32 pm | Reply Ten Great Healthy Foods That Fight Diabetes | Biblical Times News

[…] Ginger and diabetes (robin-ellis.net) […]
on October 13, 2013 at 6:49 pm | Reply Rachel Lucas- Mozart's Girl

I drink fresh ginger tea a lot, Robin…great if you’re feeling a bit unsettled stomach-wise as well. I felt airsick for the first time ever last year, & ginger tea saved me! My sister lives in the next town to Buderim, & works at a Buderim hospital….although I think it’s actually processed in nearby Yandina now, it’s the best ginger in the world in my opinion! Hope that Meredith is fully recovered very soon…she has a great nurse & no doubt warm cats to nestle her better too! X
- on October 13, 2013 at 8:10 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Thanks Rachel, Meredith is feeling better. The older cats–Pippa and Lucian posted themselves all day on the bed, willing her well! Pippa is a ginger too!
  Ginger seems to be a wonder.
on October 13, 2013 at 8:55 pm | Reply Linda Lowery

Hi Robin, you are so full of valuable wisdom which I shall follow! I’ve always used ginger a lot in cooking i.e to stop cabbage giving me tummy gripes etc.
On another subject entirely, if you have heard any whispers down the grape vine, do you have any inkling of who might be the next Poldark, although I don’t envy them having to walk in your footsteps, cos we all love you!
- on October 14, 2013 at 5:52 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  No whispers heard at present!
on October 13, 2013 at 9:14 pm | Reply elaineward

Robin I am a firm believer in ginger,it’s so good for you, and it’s pleasent to drink. please wish Meredith a speedy recovery,I know she has a very good nurse to take goos care of her.
on October 14, 2013 at 3:08 am | Reply Sallie Needham

You are so good to take care of her. Hope she is better soon. From Sallie in St.Louis
on October 14, 2013 at 6:44 pm | Reply Karin Tarte

What a loving and attentive husband you are, Robin. God Bless you and Merideth – hope she is feeling much better and you stay well. Thanks for the valuable info about ginger!
- on October 14, 2013 at 8:10 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Thanks Karin!
on October 15, 2013 at 11:13 pm | Reply Spice it Up With Ginger | Food Blooms

[…] Ginger and diabetes (robin-ellis.net) […]
on October 17, 2013 at 12:43 pm | Reply Sophie-Jane

If you have one of those 70’s gadgets, the garlic crusher, it is useful to gently crush the ginger and the flavour is released ‘tout suite’!
- on October 17, 2013 at 3:41 pm | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Good tip and you get the benefit of a whiff of garlic too!
on October 17, 2013 at 12:53 pm | Reply Sheila M. England

Lovely. What a good guy.
on February 12, 2014 at 2:18 am | Reply Andrea H. of USA

I was just scrolling through your blog here looking for more taste tantalizing delights to cook and came across your information on the ginger root plant infused tea. I had absolutely no knowledge about the anti-inflammatory effects from ginger root. Thank you for pointing this out!!!!! Ginger root is going on my shopping list immediately so that I can give it a try and see if it helps any.

I am one of the many people out there living and dealing with Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Osteoarthritis and presently waiting test results to find out if I have now developed an autoimmune deficiency. I resisted being medicated for these things since the first year of diagnosis which was June 2000, but recently had no choice but to surrender to prescriptions that I detest taking. I just keep thinking there has to be something more natural out there that could help ease down the constant forever pain. I know your not selling ginger root tea as the end all cure all miracle. I understand that. But if consuming it regularly proves to help even ever so slightly it will be worth the adventure of trying it. Thank you Mr. Ellis for posting about this.
- on February 12, 2014 at 6:49 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  Hope it helps–and anyway it tastes good!
on December 25, 2014 at 8:42 pm | Reply muhammad

I have type2 diabetic.uam drinking ginger with warm water.i think its v v good. is ginger with warm water good for me?
- on December 26, 2014 at 8:36 am | Reply Robin Ellis
  
  I drink ginger and hot water–call it ginger tea–every day. It’s delicious. It’s not bad for you!
  - on December 28, 2014 at 7:38 am muhammad
    
    Hello sir. i eat garlic paste with yogurt .is it good for type 2 diabetic ?
  - on December 28, 2014 at 1:45 pm Robin Ellis
    
    Good certainly if the garlic is fresh. Not sure you’ll keep all your friends though!!