Ginger could help manage high levels of blood sugar in diabetic individuals, a new study has found.
Researchers discovered that ginger helped muscle cells absorb increasing amounts of glucose, independent of insulin. Gingerols, the major component in ginger roots, was mainly responsible for the increase in glucose uptake.
In healthy individuals, blood glucose is maintained in a narrow range, and skeletal muscles play a major role in the body’s glucose clearance.
However, for people with diabetes type 2, the skeletal muscle’s ability to absorb glucose is reduced because of impaired insulin signal transduction.
The researchers hope these initial results can be studied further in human clinical trials.
Read more at University of Sydney