Printed in the November 2004 issue of Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, the open, controlled, dose-finding study demonstrated that patients with mild type II diabetes, subscribing to a regular diet and exercise program, were able to significantly lower their glucose levels when they supplemented with Pycnogenol®. A dosage as low as 50 mg significantly lowered blood glucose and a dose of 100 mg further lowered blood sugar levels.
Chronic over-eating contrasted with lack of physical activity makes cells resistant to insulin and refuse uptake of glucose from the blood stream. The disease develops from early stages of impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes) and typically coincides with increasing body weight and obesity. The Diabetes Prevention Program has demonstrated that individuals with pre-diabetes can largely be saved from developing type II diabetes by lifestyle changes including diet modification, weight loss and exercise.
.Favorable research results on the glucose-lowering effect of this natural extract encourages further mechanistic and clinical studies with Pycnogenol® to explore its potential in obtaining metabolic control in patients with mild type II diabetes,. said Dr. Schönlau. .Patients with diabetes are also at risk for other serious health issues including cardiovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy. Pycnogenol® has been shown in clinical studies to provide substantial health benefits in helping to prevent both of these serious health problems..
High blood sugar damages blood cells and blood vessels. Diagnostic blood chemistry in this study suggests that entailing problems arising from elevated blood sugar are significantly reduced. Pycnogenol® did not affect insulin levels in diabetic patients.
