Cloves For Diabetes: What Happens When You Eat Cloves To Manage Blood Sugar Levels

How Cloves Help Maintain Blood Sugar Levels: Managing blood sugar levels is a constant concern for people living with diabetes. It often means paying close attention to everyday food choices, including spices that are commonly used in home cooking. Cloves, known for their strong aroma and warming taste, are often discussed for their potential role in supporting blood sugar control. To better understand what really happens when you eat cloves and how they may help in managing diabetes, we consulted Dr Kapil Sharma, Group Director - Gastroenterology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Sector 20, Faridabad, for expert insights. Here’s a look at how this simple spice may affect blood sugar levels and how it can be used safely as part of a balanced routine:

How Does Clove Help Manage Blood Sugar Levels

1. Cloves For Diabetes

Cloves, a spice commonly found in the kitchen, have recently been identified as having potential benefits to people with diabetes and may help them achieve better blood-glucose control. Dr Kapil Sharma highlights, “The chemical composition of cloves, which contains a considerable quantity of bioactive chemicals including eugenol, flavonoids, and polyphenols, gives them antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities; because diabetes is associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, the use of cloves to assist in the management of blood glucose and diabetes appears to be congruous with medical thought at this time.”

2. Improving Insulin Sensitivity

One of the key ways cloves may help is by improving how your body uses insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps move glucose which is the sugar from the blood into cells. Dr Sharma explains, “Studies conducted to date have demonstrated that the compounds found in cloves improve insulin sensitivity, thereby allowing glucose to enter cells more effectively and decreasing the amount of glucose circulating in the blood. Some studies have also shown that certain clove extracts may prevent the abrupt rise in blood glucose levels after meals due to an inhibitory effect on digestive enzyme activity, resulting in the gradual absorption of dietary carbohydrates.”

3. Reducing Post-Meal Sugar Spikes

Some studies have shown that clove extract might help slow down the release of glucose into the bloodstream after meals. This means your blood sugar may not spike as high or as quickly, which is a common concern for people with diabetes. Dr Sharma also advises, “In addition, it has been proposed that cloves may enhance the liver's ability to metabolise glucose. By decreasing the oxidative stress exerted on liver tissue, cloves help regulate how much glucose the liver makes and stores. When glucose is not metabolised properly by the liver, the chances of developing type-2 diabetes increase.”

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4. Promotes Cardiovascular Health

In addition to helping with blood glucose levels, clove consumption can also indirectly affect diabetes management by promoting cardiovascular health and creating better lipid profiles, since those who have this condition typically experience an increased risk for CVD (Cardiovascular Disease). When additionally incorporated as part of a healthy diet and with regular exercise and under physician care, clove powder as well as cloves teas provide additional benefits when used as part of an overall lifestyle approach towards managing diabetes.

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Easy Ways To Include Cloves In Your Diet

Here are a few ways to induce cloves to your diet, if you are a diabetic patient:

• Clove tea: Boil a few whole cloves in water to make a mild, warming tea. Sip it after meals or in the morning. 

• Add to cooking: Sprinkle a small pinch of clove powder into curries, stews or rice dishes for flavour and potential benefit. 

• Clove-infused water: Soak whole cloves in warm water and drink this infusion with meals or between meals.

Cloves are a fragrant and flavourful spice that might offer gentle support for blood sugar control when used thoughtfully. While they’re not a cure for diabetes, incorporating them as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Note: If you’re already taking medication for diabetes, always check with your doctor before adding anything to your diet.

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