by Fazal ur Rehman
(Islamabad , Pakistan)
I am 35 years old and have had type 2 diabetes for four years. I have been trying aloe vera gel to control my blood sugar, but even a small amount makes me very sleepy during the day.
My fasting glucose is usually 100–115 mg/dL and my random glucose is below 140 mg/dL. Is aloe vera beneficial, and how much should I take?
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca Sejdini, MD, MMedSc, Family Physician, IDF Fellow
Hello Fazal,
Your current glucose readings do not mean that you now have prediabetes instead of type 2 diabetes. Since you have already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, numbers such as these may simply indicate that your glucose is reasonably controlled at the times you are checking it.
No. Aloe vera has not been shown to cure type 2 diabetes.
Some small clinical studies have suggested that oral aloe preparations may modestly reduce fasting glucose or HbA1c, but the evidence is limited and different studies have used different products and doses.
Because of this uncertainty, current diabetes guidelines do not recommend aloe vera supplements for glucose-lowering purposes.
I would not recommend a specific dose such as 200–300 mg or several teaspoons per day for treating diabetes. There is no standardized, evidence-based aloe vera dose for glucose control.
Aloe products also differ considerably. Some contain only inner-leaf gel, while others may contain whole-leaf extract or aloe latex, which have different safety profiles.
Sleepiness
However, because aloe may affect glucose in some people, check your blood sugar when the sleepiness occurs, especially if you also take insulin or medicines that can cause hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of low glucose can include sweating, shaking, hunger, weakness, dizziness, confusion or unusual tiredness. A glucose below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is considered hypoglycemia.
Our guide to low blood glucose explains common causes and warning signs.
A fasting glucose of 100–115 mg/dL may fall within the treatment target for many adults who already have diabetes. It should not be interpreted using the diagnostic ranges for someone who has never been diagnosed.
The meaning also depends on your HbA1c, medications, after-meal readings and individual treatment goals.
Our blood glucose target guide explains the difference between treatment targets and diagnostic ranges.
I would focus on treatments with much stronger evidence: an appropriate eating pattern, regular physical activity, weight management when needed, prescribed medication, and routine HbA1c and complication screening.
If your glucose is already controlled, adding an unproven herbal product may offer little benefit and may introduce unnecessary side effects or interactions.
Because you consistently feel sleepy after taking aloe vera, I would stop experimenting with it until you have discussed the symptom and product with your healthcare professional.
Your current readings sound much more useful for evaluating your diabetes than the aloe itself. I would review your HbA1c and overall glucose pattern before making any changes to treatment.
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