The effects of Gymmema in the hypoglycemicare a complex issue.
Gymmena works in more than one way. In addition to stimulating the pancreas to
elicit more insulin (probably by increasing membrane permeability) It is
therefore important to control the amounts taken so not to overdue this
production. Gymmena has been taken for over 2000 years by diabetics and it has
a remarkable track record of safety. The action of Gymmema also removes excess
of corticosteroid metabolites from the body reducing their deleterous
effects.Additionally, it may regenerate the islets of Langerhans and reduce the
amount of glucose absortion.
Modern formulas attenuate the effect of its ingredients by incorporating
"modulators" such as Chromium and Vanadium compounds.
It is also important to understand the physiology of diabetes II or non-insulin
dependent.
Insulin is pumped out into the blood stream in two separate burts. The first
burst is stored insulin previously produced by the pancreas. This burst occurs
within minutes of ingesting any meal (this includes proteins )
Hypoglycemics eat constantly and thus may deplete this storage. When a large
meal comes along there may not be sufficient insulin to take care of the
quickly burning carbohydrates.
This may produce a rise in glucose, after the meal (pospandrial), depending on
the size and composition of the meal and the remaining stored insulin.
The second burst is freshly produced during the ensuing 2-3 hours after the
meals. This process is easily traceable by a test knwon as GTT (glucos
tolerance test) which tracks the above dynamics typical of a tipe II. Thus, it
follows that is not necessarily clear whether the hypoglycemic is suffering
from an excess of insulin at all times during this process.
Alopathics, in their attempt to standardize and measure everything and
everybody do come up with simplistic definitions like hypoglycemics are sugar
deficient.In reality, hypoglycemics are unable to control glucose within a
narrow range.
I believe that the small amount of Gymmema being used to control sporadic
excesses as well as disposing of corticosteriodal material produced by the
adrenal glands in response to excessive glucose, is beneficial.
Excessive compsumption of Gymmema extracts should be avoided and monotherapy
carefully tracked.
Shimizu K, Ozeki M, Tanaka K, Itoh K, Nakajyo S, Urakawa N, Atsuchi M.
Suppression of glucose absorption by extracts from the leaves of Gymnema
inodorum. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. 1997;59(9):753-757.
Shanmugasundaram ER, Gopinath KL, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Rajendran VM.
Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin-diabetic
rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Nakamura Y, Tsumura Y, Tonogai Y, Shibata T. Fecal steroid excretion is
increased in rats by oral administration of gymnemic acids contained in Gymnema
sylvestre leaves. Journal of Nutrition. 1999;129(6):1214-1222.
