Eating one vegetable can 'reduce blood sugar by 50%' for people with diabetes

Woman checking her blood sugar levels
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Type 2 diabetes, a condition marked by fluctuating blood sugar levels, can cause significant harm to the body. However, dietary choices can help manage the blood sugar levels.

In a remarkable study, it was found that a common vegetable could reduce high blood sugar levels by up to 50 percent. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels, or the insulin produced isn't effectively used by the body's cells.

Insulin is crucial for regulating blood sugar - the primary type of sugar in our blood. Without this regulation, blood sugar levels can skyrocket to dangerous heights.

Thankfully, an effective solution may be within reach. Research presented at The Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego revealed that extract from onion bulbs, Allium cepa, significantly reduced high blood glucose (sugar) in diabetic rats when administered alongside the anti-diabetic drug metformin.

"Onion is cheap and readily available and has been utilised as a nutritional supplement," stated lead investigator Anthony Ojieh, MBBS (MD), MSc, from Delta State University in Abraka, Nigeria. "It holds potential for use in treating patients with diabetes."

Onions
Onion has been linked to a reduction in blood sugar levels -Credit:Getty

Mr Ojieh and his team administered metformin and varying doses of onion extract - 200mg, 400mg and 600mg per kilograms of body weight daily - to three groups of rats with medically induced diabetes to observe if it would enhance the drug's effects.

The study involved administering metformin and onion extract to three groups of non-diabetic rats with normal blood sugar levels for comparison. Two control groups, one non-diabetic and one diabetic, were given neither metformin nor onion extract.

Another two groups, one with diabetes and one without, received only metformin and no onion extract. Each group consisted of five rats.

Unrecognisable Senior woman doing Diabetes blood test at home
Type 2 diabetes can be helped by eating a healthy diet -Credit:Getty

Onion extract, in doses of 400mg and 600mg, significantly reduced fasting blood sugar levels in diabetic rats by 50 percent and 35 percent respectively, compared to the baseline levels at the start of the study before the rodents received onion extract, Mr Ojieh reported.

However, onion extract led to an increase in average weight among non-diabetic rats but not diabetic rats. "Onion is not high in calories," Mr Ojieh said.

"However, it seems to increase the metabolic rate and, with that, to increase the appetite, leading to an increase in feeding."

Mr Ojieh added: "We need to investigate the mechanism by which onion brought about the blood glucose reduction. We do not yet have an explanation."

The onion extract used for the experiment was prepared from an onion bulb, which is available in the local supermarket.

If this were to be administered to humans, it would usually be purified so that only the active ingredients would be quantified for adequate dosing, Mr Ojieh added.

The NHS stated: "A healthy diet and keeping active will help you manage your blood sugar level. It'll also help you control your weight and generally feel better."

Healthy foods to include in your diet to help control blood sugar levels includes "a wide range of foods", including vegetables such as onions.

"Keep sugar, fat and salt to a minimum," the NHS advised. As with all medical issues, the best person to contact for any concerns is your local GP.