The Budwig mixture can cure diabetes
by Glenn Nutting
(Orlando Fl.)
Mandarin Oranges for Budwig mixture
QUESTION: Can the Budwig mixture of flaxseed oil, cottage cheese or yogurt, cinnamon, and mandarin oranges cure diabetes? Do bitter melon, fenugreek, chia seeds, apple cider vinegar, or a prolonged water fast provide a natural cure?
Quick Answer
No reliable evidence shows that the Budwig mixture cures type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Flaxseed, unsweetened yogurt or cottage cheese, and fruit can fit into some balanced meal plans, but mixing them does not restore insulin production or permanently reverse insulin resistance. Herbal supplements and prolonged water fasting should not replace diabetes medicines or professional care.
Answer by Dr. Albana Greca, MD, MMedSc
Hello Glenn and Denis,
The Budwig diet was originally promoted as an alternative cancer treatment, not as an evidence-based diabetes therapy. Its central mixture combines flaxseed oil with cottage cheese or another dairy product. No good clinical trials have shown that this combination cures diabetes or reliably normalizes HbA1c.
What Do the Ingredients Actually Provide?
Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid, a plant omega-3 fatty acid. Cottage cheese and plain yogurt provide protein, while mandarin oranges provide carbohydrate, fiber, and vitamins. These are ordinary foods, not a curative drug combination.
Flaxseed oil is also calorie-dense, and large daily amounts may make weight management harder for some people. Whole ground flaxseed provides fiber that the oil does not contain. Mandarin oranges and flavored yogurt still contribute carbohydrate, so portions should be included in the meal plan.
There is no established rule that a person with diabetes must consume more omega-3 than omega-6 fat. A healthier approach is to emphasize fish, nuts or seeds when tolerated, vegetable oils, vegetables, and minimally processed foods while limiting trans fat and excess saturated fat.
Can Cinnamon, Fenugreek, or Bitter Melon Cure Diabetes?
No. Research on cinnamon, fenugreek, bitter melon, gymnema, jamun, amla, chia, and similar products is limited or inconsistent. Supplement formulations and doses vary, and some products can interact with medicines or cause liver, kidney, digestive, or glucose problems.
A lower glucose reading after taking a supplement does not prove that diabetes has been cured. Do not reduce insulin, metformin, or another medicine without the prescriber. Read our diabetes supplement safety guide before using concentrated herbal products.
What About a 10-Day Water Fast?
A prolonged water-only fast can be dangerous for a person with diabetes. Risks include hypoglycemia, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, loss of muscle, medication complications, hyperglycemia, and ketoacidosis. The risk is especially important with insulin, sulfonylureas, SGLT2 inhibitors, kidney disease, pregnancy, frailty, or a history of an eating disorder.
A fall from 12.2 to 8.2 mmol/L does not show that a fast is safe or
Can Type 2 Diabetes Go Into Remission?
Some people with type 2 diabetes can achieve remission after substantial, sustained weight loss through an evidence-based nutrition program or metabolic surgery. Remission is generally defined as an HbA1c below 6.5% for at least three months without glucose-lowering medicine.
Remission is not the same as a permanent cure. Glucose can rise again, and ongoing HbA1c, kidney, eye, nerve, and cardiovascular follow-up remains necessary. Type 1 diabetes still requires insulin unless insulin production is restored through an approved transplant or investigational cell therapy.
Our guide to safe lifestyle management of type 2 diabetes explains how food, activity, weight, sleep, monitoring, and medicine work together.
A Safer Way to Use These Foods
Plain yogurt or cottage cheese with a modest portion of fruit and ground flaxseed may be used as a meal or snack when it fits your calorie, carbohydrate, kidney, and heart-health needs. Check the label for added sugar and sodium. You do not need to blend the ingredients in a precise ratio or eat the mixture several times daily.
Use a blood sugar log to compare consistently timed readings, and use HbA1c to evaluate the overall treatment plan rather than judging success from one day.
Important Safety Note
Stop fasting and seek medical advice for glucose below 70 mg/dL, persistent glucose above 250–300 mg/dL, moderate or high ketones, dizziness, confusion, severe weakness, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid breathing, fainting, or inability to drink. Never stop insulin in type 1 diabetes, even when eating little or fasting.
Doctor’s Note
The Budwig mixture is food, not a diabetes cure. Include nutritious ingredients if you enjoy them and they fit your meal plan, but reject claims that a precise mixture, herb, or water fast permanently reverses diabetes. Base treatment decisions on HbA1c, glucose patterns, health conditions, and a plan agreed with your diabetes clinician.
Educational safety note: This answer is for general diabetes education only. It does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not start a prolonged fast or start, stop, or change insulin, tablets, herbs, supplements, or a restrictive diet without speaking with your healthcare provider.
Related Questions
- Does apple cider vinegar lower blood sugar?
- Does stevia cure diabetes?
- Are natural remedies safe for diabetes?
Related Resources
- How foods affect blood sugar
- Carbohydrates and glycemic index
- Diabetes medicines, benefits, and side effects
Last reviewed: July 2026.
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