A compound, found exclusively in garlic, may control blood sugar levels just as well as insulin but without the need for daily injections according to a new study published in the January 2009 issue of Metallomics, a new journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

The compound, known as Bis(allixinato)oxidovanadium(IV), is a complex consisting of a central vanadium atom connected to two allixin molecules.

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According to a study published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003, cinnamon may be quite effective at reducing blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, reducing the need for diabetes medication.

The study, conducted by Pakistani researchers, involved 30 diabetic men and 30 diabetic women who were divided into six groups. The first three groups consumed 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon per day in the form of a cinnamon supplement while the final three groups received placebos.

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Salsalate, an NSAID closely related to Aspirin, has been found to reduce fasting glucose levels and improve glucose tolerance in obese individuals according to a small pilot study published in the journal Diabetes Care in February this year. The study raises the possibility of using salsalate as an alternative treatment for type-2 diabetes and for the prevention of diabetes in high risk individuals.

The study involved 20 individuals aged under 30 who were classified as obese (BMI greater than 30).

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An emerging trend in the past fifteen years has been the increasing use of gastric bypass surgery as a treatment for morbid obesity. Recent scientific studies have found that not only does gastric bypass surgery lead to a dramatic amount of weight loss, it also results in the remission of diabetes in as many as 90% of cases, often within just a few weeks of the surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery belongs to a class of operations known as bariatric surgeries which are designed to help morbidly obese individuals lose weight. The gastric bypass procedure is carried out by closing off a small stomach pouch from the rest of the stomach.

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Scientists at a biotechnology company called Novocell have reported a break through in the treatment of diabetes by using stem cell therapy to create insulin producing cells that were injected into mice.

The study, which were published online by the journal Nature Biotechnology, reported that researchers had  produced insulin secreting cells through a complicated process that involved first turning the stem cells into endoderm cells in the lab.

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There are numerous dietary supplements that can aid in the treatment and management of diabetes. It is recommended you consult a doctor before beginning a supplement regime that includes one or more of the supplements below.

#1 Magnesium

Diabetics tend to have much lower magnesium levels in the body. Magnesium deficiency is thought to be a potential risk factors for diabetes and supplementation of around 400mg a day has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity in people who have already developed diabetes. Magnesium may also help reduce cardiovascular risk factors and high blood pressure.

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