If you have Diabetes Mellitus, I know how concerned you are about food, drink, and exercise. In the meantime, sometimes we hear stories like, 'That medicine is good, drinking the water from this tree is good.' Well, something we always hear, and even in our homes, that is used as a remedy for diabetes, is called 'Karawila'. Imagine your mother making a kaarawila sambol in the morning and telling you, "Eat this, son/daughter, it is good for sugar." Or a friend says, "I controlled my sugar by drinking kaarawila juice." So, what is the truth in this story? How good is kaarawila for diabetes? Let's talk about it today.
Let's first see, what is this gourd?
Bitter gourd is a very popular vegetable in Asia, South America, India, and some parts of Africa. In our country, bitter gourd is something that many people know and eat. Although it looks and tastes a bit like a cucumber, it has a strong bitter taste, as the name suggests. But there is a lot of goodness hidden behind this bitter taste. Bitter gourd is a vegetable rich in vitamin A,
vitamin C, and beta-carotene. It also contains minerals like iron and potassium. In our traditional medicine, bitter gourd fruits and seeds have been used as a treatment for many diseases such as diabetes, skin diseases, asthma, and stomach problems. Bitter gourd has many other names. Some people call it:
- Bitter gourd
- Balsam pear
- Karela - This name is very famous in India.
How does bitter gourd affect diabetes?
Here's the important thing. Some chemicals in bitter gourd have been found
to act like the hormone insulin in our body. This helps lower blood sugar levels. Simply put, this is what happens: 1.
Getting sugar into cells: The components in bitter gourd help take the sugar (glucose) in our blood and send it into the cells of the body. It's like opening the doors of the cells for sugar. 2.
Storing sugar: These also help store the sugar that has entered the cells in our liver, muscles, and fat. 3.
Stopping new sugar production: Some research suggests that bitter gourd can also prevent the nutrients stored in the body from being converted back into sugar and added to the blood.
Some studies have shown that bitter melon can reduce blood sugar levels and A1c test results, which measure average blood sugar levels over the past three months, in people with type 2 diabetes. However, other studies have not shown such good results. Therefore, research is still ongoing on this topic.
That said, bitter gourd is not a substitute for diabetes medication. However, it may be beneficial to use it as part of a balanced diet, after consulting your doctor.
How to use bitter gourd?
There are several ways to use bitter gourd.
- As a fresh vegetable : There are plenty of them in our shops and markets. After bringing them home, you can remove the seeds and soak them in salt water for a while to reduce the bitter taste. Then you can make sambols, cook them in oil, or add them to other vegetables to make a curry.
- As a Supplement: Bitter gourd is also available in capsule form. However, there is not enough research to say how much of these are safe to take. It depends on many factors, such as your age and health condition. Therefore, never use these supplements without consulting a doctor.
- As a tea: You can also drink dried bitter gourd fruits, flowers, or seeds as a tea. There are even bitter gourd tea bags available in the market.
Side effects and things to be aware of
Although bitter gourd is a natural product, it is not good for everyone, all the time. There are some side effects and risks. It is very important to be aware of this.
| Risk factor/side effect | Description and what you need to do |
|---|
| Common side effects | Stomach upset, diarrhea, and headache may occur. It is generally safe for most people to take as a food for a short period of time (less than 3 months). |
| Taking with diabetes medication | This is very important! If you are taking medication for diabetes, taking bitter melon (especially as a supplement) can cause your blood sugar levels to become too low (hypoglycemia) . This is a dangerous condition. Talk to your doctor and check your blood sugar levels regularly. |
| Pregnant and lactating mothers | It may not be safe to take bitter gourd as a supplement during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor about even small amounts of it as a food during this time. |
| Before surgery | Because bitter melon affects blood sugar levels, it can cause problems during and after surgery. Stop using bitter melon (especially supplements) at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery. |
| People with G6PD deficiency | If you have a genetic condition called G6PD deficiency, avoid eating bitter gourd. Eating bitter gourd seeds in particular can cause a condition called "favism." This can cause severe symptoms such as headache, fever, stomach cramps, and coma. |
Warning: If someone becomes seriously ill after eating bitter gourd or anything else, immediately take them to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU). If poisoning is suspected, call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
Take-Home Message
- There is some evidence that bitter melon contains compounds that can lower blood sugar levels , but this is still in the research stage.
- Bitter gourd is not a substitute for your doctor's prescribed diabetes medication. Never stop your medication and use bitter gourd alone.
- It's a good idea to add bitter gourd to your balanced diet , but be sure to talk to your doctor before taking bitter gourd as a supplement .
- If you are taking medication for diabetes, are pregnant, or are preparing for surgery, be very careful when consuming bitter gourd.
- Ultimately, it is wise to always seek advice from your own doctor, who is familiar with your health condition, rather than relying on hearsay to make your own treatment decisions.
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