Can drinking guava leaves cure diabetes?

I have type 2 diabetes, control my blood sugar with medication, I heard many people say that drinking guava leaf tea helps cure this disease. Please advise me, doctor. (Hong Anh, Dong Nai)

Reply:

Plants are a natural source of raw materials that can be used in medicine. Since ancient times, a number of diseases have been cured by various preparations from plants, including the guava tree. The leaves of this tree contain many compounds with high biological activity.

Guava trees are commonly grown in tropical regions such as Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia and South America. Different parts of the guava tree such as roots, leaves, bark, and trunk have been used in many places to support the treatment of stomach pain, diabetes, diarrhea, obesity, etc.

Guava leaves are beneficial for health because they contain many compounds such as quercetin, avicularin, hyperin, acetic acid... which have the ability to prevent cancer, control blood sugar, act as antioxidants, anti-diarrhea, antibacterial, lower blood fat, and protect the liver.

There are many studies showing that guava leaves can improve blood sugar. Research published in the National Library of Medicine (USA) in 2018 showed that flavonoid compounds and polysaccharides in guava leaves were associated with improved pancreatic β-cell function in diabetic mice, increasing insulin production.

Guava leaves contain many compounds with high biological activity. Photo: Freepik

In this study, scientists found that guava leaf tea is also rich in α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitors, which help reduce glucose absorption after meals, reduce blood sugar levels and oxidative stress. They also inhibit inflammatory proteins, so diabetic mice have less inflammation.

However, this is a study on mice, not proven on humans. Therefore, it is not certain that diabetics can treat the disease with guava leaves, guava leaf tea. Whether long-term use of guava leaves has any dangerous side effects or not still needs to be clarified.

Patients should follow the treatment methods prescribed by their doctor. Do not self-treat with methods that have not been clearly proven to be effective and safe.

Doctor Tung examines a patient. Photo: Dinh Tien

Self-treating diabetes without a doctor's guidance can cause patients to face many dangerous complications due to poor blood sugar control, such as neurological complications, kidney function problems, heart disease, eye disease, lung disease, diabetic foot disease, and severe infections.

With diabetes medications that have been researched and tested, doctors provide clear treatment regimens. Thanks to that, patients can easily monitor their condition and have effective measures to prevent complications.

Dr. Tran Huu Thanh Tung
Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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