The succulent aloe plant has been valued since prehistoric times as a topical treatment for burns, wound infections, and other skin problems. However, recent evidence suggests that oral aloe might be useful for type 2 diabetes. Evidence from two human trials suggests that aloe gel can improve blood sugar control.

Date:   6/24/2006 7:56:58 AM ( 18 y ago)

Aloe

A single-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the potential benefits of aloe in either 72 or 40 people with diabetes (the study report appears to contradict itself).21 The results showed significantly greater improvements in blood sugar levels among those given aloe over the 2-week treatment period.

Another single-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the benefits of aloe in people who had failed to respond to the oral diabetes drug glibenclamide.22 Of the 36 people who completed the study, those taking glibenclamide and aloe showed definite improvements in blood sugar levels over 42 days as compared to those taking glibenclamide and placebo.

While these are promising results, large studies that are double- rather than single-blind will be needed to establish aloe as an effective treatment for improving blood sugar control.

Note that in the above we are referring to the gel of the aloe vera plant, and not the leaf skin (the latter is drug aloe, not aloe gel). However, some confusion has been introduced by the fact that some leaf skin may find its way into gel products, and that could be the actual active ingredient in aloe gel regarding diabetes.23,24 It is possible, therefore, that completely pure aloe gel might not work!
http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-...

 

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