Which supplements and foods can help lower or control my blood sugar?

I was borderline pre-diabetic with an average A1c of 5.7. I began taking metformin (850 mg. twice daily) and reduced my A1c to 5.6. Wanting to explore berberine, in part for some of its other properties, I switched to 800 mg. berberine twice daily about 90 days before my next blood test. My A1c dropped to 5.5 and stayed there or better switching.

eating 3 apples per day ? 1/2 of an apple raised my glucose by 30 pts and a banana forget it. i find this info bizarre.

I am on a quest to reverse prediabetes (morning readings in the low 100s) so looking for potential helps for impact. I recently purchased a juicer, focusing on consuming deep green beverages. Specifically I've read impressive info on spirulina and request any information regarding the benefit of greens.

Awesome update on the fruit studies. Much appreciated!

Have to spend a fortune to take all these !

What about red yeast rice? There have one red yeast rice called Ankascin 568-R, already had FDA NDI and also had a blood sugar clinical study.

What about Amla?

My Glucose was in the low 120"s and my A1c was 6+ After taking Berberine 3x a day for 4 months my Glucose is 89 and a1c is 5.4. It has stayed that way even though I was prediabetic for over 5 years.

My blood sugar is in the pre-diabetic range. D-ribose raises my blood sugar quite a bit. Test and see what it does for you before committing to taking it. Start testing your blood sugar 1/2 hour after taking the D-ribose and every 1/2 hour for about 2 hours to fully test the effects. If you take it in a liquid on an empty stomach, it can get into your bloodstream pretty fast.

I started taking Prickly Pear supplements and eating the chopped pear paddles from the mexican supermarket and my H1c dropped from 6.1 to 5.8 in 3 months. It seemed to be more effective than the Cinsulin that I had previously taken. I triy to do some exercise each day which I believe also helps.

For a good view how the body works with fat, insulin, cortisol,... etc. read the book of Mike Mutzel 'Belly Fat Effect'. You get very good understanding trough science how it al works together.

HI
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE FOR THAT SAME PURPOSE?
YUVAL

I am surprised you did not mention Fenugreek as lowering blood sugar in diabetics. My Doctor has me taking it and it has helped to keep my HbAic in a good control range.

I notice that white mulberry leaf extract is one of the principal ingredients in Dr. Joel Fuhrman's proprietary blend of his Glucose Biotect. Is there a report or studies on white mulberry? This product is quite effective.

I have used organic psyllium husk fiber (2 tbsp 30 minutes before meals) extensively with my family practice patients (and myself) with excellent results. I use Now brand because it does not have sugar or artificial sweeteners like Metamucil - and it is much cheaper. I have no financial ties to Now Foods - www.nowfoods.com/.

One of many research articles on Pubmed:

Nutr Rev. 2009 Apr;67(4):188-205. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00189.x.
Health benefits of dietary fiber.
Anderson JW1, Baird P, Davis RH Jr, Ferreri S, Knudtson M, Koraym A, Waters V, Williams CL.
Abstract
Dietary fiber intake provides many health benefits. However, average fiber intakes for US children and adults are less than half of the recommended levels. Individuals with high intakes of dietary fiber appear to be at significantly lower risk for developing coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases. Increasing fiber intake lowers blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. Increased intake of soluble fiber improves glycemia and insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic and diabetic individuals. Fiber supplementation in obese individuals significantly enhances weight loss. Increased fiber intake benefits a number of gastrointestinal disorders including the following: gastroesophageal reflux disease, duodenal ulcer, diverticulitis, constipation, and hemorrhoids. Prebiotic fibers appear to enhance immune function. Dietary fiber intake provides similar benefits for children as for adults. The recommended dietary fiber intakes for children and adults are 14 g/1000 kcal. More effective communication and consumer education is required to enhance fiber consumption from foods or supplements.