Garlic: an alternative in reducing blood glucose on diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic disorder characterized by an increasing of blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Medication is one of the seven pillars of diabetes managementt. Garlic (Allium sativum), an alternative herb, also has an antidiabetic effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of garlic on the blood sugar level in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental design with two group post-test design. The participants were DM patients who only take medication without any supplemental herbs. The respondents were divided into two group; intervention group, given antidiabetic drugs and consume garlic 3 pieces of garlic/day for 2 weeks and control group only got antidiabetic drugs. Data were collected by performing blood sugar measurement using glucose-check on all respondents using capillary blood in the fingertips. Second measurement were taken after monitoring the consumption of garlic together with drugs for two weeks. Hypothesis testing used independent T-Test test.Results: The study result found that the average of blood sugar level after administering the treatment is 240 mg/dl in the intervention group, and 284 mg/dl in control group. It can be concluded that the administration of 3 pieces of garlic combining with antidiabetic drugs for 2 weeks has not been able to reduce blood sugar levels into normal limits.Conclusions: This combination found to lowering the blood sugar levels in a significant amount compare to only drugs. The length of the therapy could consider as a significant predictor.