In the traditional system of healing in India, Ayurveda, they believe several spices and herbs can heal illnesses. For instance, the roots spice turmeric (Curcuma longa. Linn.) is used to flavor and color foods in Indian everyday. These scientists studied both tumeric and its principal chemical, curcumin, in diabetes mellitus. They gave rats the chemical alloxan to make them have diabetes. Giving them turmeric or curcumin significantly lowered blood sugar, hemoglobin and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Glycosylated hemoglobin reflects the average level of glucose. It is used to monitor glucose control in diabetes. Turmeric and curcumin in the diet also decreased the oxidative stress of these rats. This was shown the lower levels of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). Also, treatment with turmeric or curcumin the significantly lowered the activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase. This enzyme effects the change of the sugar sorbitol into fructose. Finally they observed that curcumin may be more effective in controlling diabetes mellitus than turmeric.
Efficacy of turmeric on blood sugar and polyol pat…[Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2002]