An herbal extract used in traditional Indian medicine may treat diabetes as effectively as prescription medications, according to a new study.Researchers found that a large dose of the herb Salacia oblonga lowered blood sugar and insulin levels by 23% and 29%, respectively, in healthy normal-weight adults."These kinds of reductions are similar to what we might see with prescription oral medications for people with diabetesprescription oral medications for people with diabetes,” says researcher Steve Hertzler, assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio State University, in a news release.It remains to be seen whether the herb would have the same effect in people with diabetes, but researchers say the results merit further research to answer that question.
