Clove Extract Lowers Blood Sugar

When our ability to metabolize blood sugar breaks down, it sets off a cascade of harmful events that accelerates systemic aging. Even “high normal ” blood sugar raises heart disease and stroke risk. Roughly, 25% of Americans over 65 have type II diabetes, and about half of older Americans have prediabetes. Prediabetics may have “normal”fasting blood sugar levels, but often can not handle glucose after a meal. Unless they make substantial changes to their diet and lifestyle, up to 30 % of prediabetics will develop type II diabetes in three to five years. Even if progression to full blown diabetes does not occur, prediabetes increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. The loss of glucose control motivated scientists to evaluate whether an extract from cloves can lower elevated blood sugar. The study results found lower after-meal blood sugar in healthy adults and prediabetics supplemented with polyphenol-rich clove extract. In the prediabetic part of the study , fasting glucose levels were also lowered in the clove supplemented individuals. This is especially important for prediabetics, who often suffer high after-meal glucose for years before the onset of type II diabetes or diabetic complications.