Fresh Spirulina for Diabetes Prevention & Treatment
Natural treatment for blood sugar control and the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes
SPIRULINA VS METFORMIN
Spirulina is ranked equal to Metformin for diabetes control in independent research studies - without Metformin's side effects - and when used together can improve Metformin performance.
According to the research below, daily spirulina treatment shows a beneficial impact on blood sugar, weight control, lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Fresh spirulina - never heated, never dried - provides up to 8 times more nutrients and 20 times more antioxidants and anti-inflammatories than found in spirulina powder or tablets.
High blood sugar and type 2 diabetes
High blood sugar is a scourge of modern life that sabotages our health and longevity.
- One in nine South Africans has diabetes and this rate is growing fast — many more are pre-diabetic.
- Diabetes is the second highest cause of death in South Africa.
- Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that can largely be prevented.
Diabetes is the second highest cause of death in South Africa.
Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that can largely be prevented.
We believe everyone - even those not disgnosed with diabetes - should monitor blood sugar levels for two days every month to lerarn how their lifestyle impacts blood sugar levels, and take active measures to prevent diabetes.
Get started now: Cut sugary drinks and foods with added sugars - and add a daily dose of fresh spirulina to your diet.
Click on any topic to learn more:
Should everyone monitor and control blood sugar levels?
High blood sugar levels can result in serious unhealth, a shorter life, and a host of diseases.
Eating highly processed foods with added sugars, lack of exercise and other modern life factors work together to raise blood sugar levels. The symptoms are not obvious — most people don't realise they have a problem until it is too late.
Even if you're not diabetic, investing in a blood sugar meter to monitor your blood sugar for a few days a month — and that of your family members — is the best way to learn how your body responds to food, rest, exercise and stress. That information makes is easier to build better health, avoid diseases, and live longer through lifestyle changes that are customised for your body.
A meter also helps you see in real time how spirulina helps control blood glucose levels to prevent diabetes.
Main causes of high blood sugar levels
Food is not the only trigger that can affect your blood sugar. Other factors include:
Stress: A rough day or an argument can increase blood sugar levels
Skipping breakfast: Skipping breakfast can increase your glucose levels after lunch or dinner
Exercise: Some forms of exercise can lower glucose levels, while others can raise it
Dehydration: Your body needs enough enough water to control glucose levels
Coffee: Some people are sensitive to caffeine
Lack of sleep: Your body needs good sleep to use insulin effectively
It's important to remember that every body responds differently. A glucose monitor or CGM can help you avoid the dangers of high blood sugar and killer diabetes.
Learn more: UCLA Health
Symptoms of high blood sugar levels
Symptoms of high blood sugar usually come on gradually and may only start when your blood sugar level becomes very high.
Common symptoms include:
- Feeling very thirsty
- Frequent Urination
- Feeling weak or tired
- Blurred vision
- Losing or gaining weight
Dangers of high blood sugar levels
High blood sugar levels can drive high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides, and problems with kidney function, eyes, feet, teeth and gums.
Continued high blood glucose levels may result in diabetes and all the serious associated health risks.
Who is is at risk?
It is best to assume that all South Africans — including children and seniors — are at risk.
You may be especially at risk if you:
- Are overweight
- Are 45 years or old
- Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
- Are physically active less than 3 times a week
- Have had diabetes during pregnancy or given birth to a large baby
Smoking is the greatest single lifestyle risk factor for developing diabetes complications. Learn more.
How to control and prevent high blood sugar?
Lifestyle changes that can help include:
- Avoid eating too much sugary or starchy food
- Try to find ways to reduce and manage stress
- Exercise regularly
- Lose weight if you're overweight
- Stop smoking
Can spirulina help control blood sugar and prevent diabetes?
According to many independent research studies (see below), daily spirulina treatment shows a beneficial impact on blood sugar, weight control, lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Spirulina has been conclusively shown to reduce blood sugar levels, prevent diabetes, and effectively treat type-2 diabetes.
Independent Research: Spirulina for Diabetes Prevention & Treatment
In this research, dried spirulina showed spectacular results in preventing and controlling blood glucose and diabetes.
Remember that fresh spirulina provides up to 20 times more bioactive compounds than the dried spirulina powder or tablets used in these research studies.
Click on any research heading to see a summary + a link to the original research.
Research: Spirulina is a Safer Natural Alternative to Metformin - 2022
The oral drug metformin (MH), widely used to reduce hyperglycemia, is associated with adverse effects.
In this study, the active substances from Spirulina and its therapeutic effects on glycolipid metabolism disorder (GLD) were investigated as a natural alternative to metformin.
Results showed that Spirulina not only improved glycolipid metabolism and reduced inflammation in GLD but also showed good regenerative effects on the liver, jejunum, and cecum tissues.
Moreover, Spirulina could inhibit the growth of harmful microbes in the intestine and promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, thereby promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids and further regulating GLD.
Additionally, Spirulina significantly increased the expression of INS, INSR, IRS-1, PI3K, AKT-1, and GLUT-4 genes and significantly decreased that of GSK-3β in the INS/PI3K/GLUT-4 signaling pathway.
Spirulina can be regarded as an effective therapeutic agent against GLD.
See the research: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2022 (PubMed)
Research: Spirulina Confirmed Equally Effective to Metformin for Diabetes - 2019
This recent study compared the beneficial effects of spirulina to Metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment over 30 days.
Spirulina ameliorated the HFD/STZ-induced elevation of fasting blood glucose, insulin, and hepatic enzymes. Moreover, Spirulina successfully rectified disrupted serum lipid profile and exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect via tumor necrosis factor-α and adiponectin modulation.
On the molecular level, Spirulina reduced the expression of hepatic sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), confirming its lipotropic effect.
Furthermore, Spirulina amended compromised hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis signaling by significantly increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number.
The present results clearly prove that Spirulina modulates glucose/lipid profile and exhibits prominent anti-inflammatory properties through SREBP-1c inhibition and hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis enhancement.
On almost all parameters, Spirulina effects were comparable to that of metformin.
See the research: Applied Physiology: Nutrition and Metabolism 2019 (PubMed)
Research: Spirulina Treatment helps control Glycemic and Lipid levels – 2021
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of spirulina on lipid profiles and glycemic related markers in type 2 diabetes patients.
Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis and research review.
We found a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, total-cholesterol, LDL-C, and VLDL, in addition to a significant increase in HDL-C after spirulina treatment.
Conclusion: The present study suggests that spirulina supplementation can elicit beneficial effects on fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profiles.
See the research: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders 2021 (PubMed)
Research: Spirulina Drink Reduces Diabetic Blood Sugar Readings by 95% after Two Hours - 2022
Combined results from two randomized clinical trials with healthy young adults that consumed spirulina diluted in glucose as beverage.
Blood
glucose samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min.
Spirulina
lowered postprandial glucose at 120 min by 95% (-1.64 to -16.12).
See the research: Metabolites Journal 2022 (PubMed)
Research: How Spirulina Acts as a Powerful Anti-diabetic Nutraceutical - 2023
Spirulina stands out as a nutraceutical providing exceptional nutritional properties and a wide range of pharmacological effects, mostly related to phycocyanin - a spirulina protein compound with antidiabetic properties.
This review delves into phycocyanin applications in diabetes and ascertains the mechanisms involved.
Phycocyanin in spirulina showed an increase in fasting insulin serum and a decrease in fasting blood glucose, glycosylated serum protein, and glycosylated hemoglobin.
In cellular studies it prevented methylglyoxal and human islet amyloid polypeptide-induced dysfunction in β-cells and induced apoptosis through different molecular pathways, including activation of Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, and suppression of JNK and p38.
It also exerted its antidiabetic effect by affecting the pathways regulating hepatic glucose metabolism.
Based on this 2023 review of available research, phycocyanin in spirulina shows powerful antidiabetic effects as a nutraceutical for the treatment of diabetes.
See the research: Phytomedicine Journal 2023 (PubMed)
Research: Spirulina Helps Control Blood Glucose Levels, Improves Lipid Profile of Diabetes Patients
This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic role of Spirulina in 25 subjects with type 2 diabetes.
The efficacy of Spirulina supplementation was determined using the pre-intervention and post-intervention blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels, and lipid profiles of the diabetic subjects.
After 2 months, Spirulina treatment lowered fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose levels.
A significant reduction in the HbA(1c) level was also observed, indicating improved long-term glucose regulation.
Triglyceride levels were significantly lowered.
Total cholesterol was reduced, with significant reductions in TC:HDL-C and LDL-C: HDL-C.
The level of apolipoprotein B registered a significant fall together with a significant increment in the level of apolipoprotein A1, with a significant and favorable increase in the ratio of A1:B.
This independent research confirms the beneficial effects of Spirulina in controlling blood glucose levels and in improving the lipid profile of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
See the research: Phytomedicine Journal 2023 (PubMed)
Research: Combined Spirulina + Metformin Treatment Better than Metformin for Diabetes Treatment – 2023
The efficacy of spirulina as an add-on therapy to metformin patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated in sixty patients over three months while continuing metformin as their usual treatment.
Spirulina supplementation significantly lowered HbA1c levels and mean TG levels.
Total cholesterol and LDL-C was reduced.
Combined spirulina + metformin treatment was superior to metformin regarding long-term glucose regulation and controlling blood glucose levels of subjects with T2DM.
As a functional supplement, spirulina also has a beneficial effect on the level of lipids that cause atherosclerosis (TG and HDL-C) with no adverse events.
See the research: Journal of Phytotherapy Research 2023 (PubMed)
Research: Spirulina Controls Blood Sugar, Body Weight & Blood Pressure in Diabetics - 2018
This research summarizes the effects of spirulina on serum lipid profile, glucose management, BP, and body weight by conducting a meta-analysis of 1,868 records in 12 trials.
This research confirms that spirulina treatment significantly lowers total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose.
Diastolic blood pressure which tends to be significantly higher in diabetic patients was also significantly reduced.
See the research: Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity 2018 (PubMed)
Research: Natural Gamma-linoleic Acid in Spirulina Helps Treat and Control Type 2 Diabetes - 2016
The human body needs essential nutrients in order to function, grow, and stay healthy.
Our bodies cannot make these nutrients, so we need to get them from our diet.
Gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid that plays a significant role in improving human body functions.
It has gained importance for having a positive effect on many chronic diseases of modern society, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.
Spirulina is one of the richest sources of GLA.
See the research: Journal of Applied Biotechnology Reports 2016
Research: Spirulina an Effective Functional Food Treatment for Diabetes Management
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of spirulina on Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.
Spirulina supplementation for 12 weeks lowered plasma triglyceride levels significantly and also significantly reduced plasma malondialdehyde level and increased plasma adiponectin levels.
Patients with higher initial triglyceride levels showed greater reduction in plasma triglyceride and blood pressure, and patients with higher initial total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level showed higher reduction in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, IL-6, and blood pressure.
This study provides evidence of the beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on blood lipid profiles, inflammatory variables, and antioxidant capacity in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.
The results suggest that spirulina is a promising agent as a functional food for diabetes management.
See the research: Journal of Nutrition Research and Practice (PubMed)
This is a small selection of hundreds of independent research studies confirming the benefits of spirulina in reducing blood sugar and preventing and treating diabetes.
Dosage: Fresh Spirulina for Blood Sugar Control, Diabetes Prevention & Treatment
Analysis of spirulina studies research confirms that larger daily spirulina doses over longer periods consistently provide the best results.
As spirulina is a naturally grown functional food, there is no known dosage limit - In the United States 30-day fresh spirulina fasting is popular for detox and health improvement.
Fresh Spirulina Dosage for Diabetes Treatment & Prevention
Most people taking SPRU find that one to two portions (SP-1 to SP-2) daily provide excellent results for adults and children.
People living active and/or stressed lives, or going through illness or especially active/stressful times, may wish to increase their daily intake to SP-3.
Every body is different, so carefully monitor your blood sugar levels and see what SPRU dosages and times are best for you.
Almost any dose of fresh spirulina will provide more benefits than shown in most of the above research studies that have been conducted with dried spirulina.
Comprehensive Fresh Spirulina Dosage Guide
Visit our fresh spirulina dosage guide page to discover:
- How we measure fresh spirulina dosage
- A table with recommended doses
- SPRU products and their portion sizes
- Why you should stop your supplements
- How to get started with fresh spirulina
- Getting started with a fresh spirulina fast
- Can you take too much SPRU?
- When to vary your dosage
- Dosage for illness and speicla cases
- What times to SPRU
- Comparing fresh spirulina to supplements
- Comparing fresh to dried spirulina
Fresh Spirulina for Diabetes Prevention & Treatment