Royal Jelly: The Queen of Diabetes Treatment

by Angela Van Alten, Nutritionist and Beekeeper's Daughter

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic and often progressive illness that affects how your body metabolizes sugars. While it used to be called "adult onset diabetes" it has shown up more and more in children, as well. Experts estimate that 100 million people in the US either have type 2 diabetes or are in the process of developing it.

No one knows exactly how people develop type 2 diabetes. Over time, the body becomes resistant to insulin, so it is harder to properly digest sugar. The typical American diet could be, in part, to blame. There is also a lot of evidence that obesity and sedentary lifestyles play a part.

The good news is that, if you are aware of your risk, you can reverse type 2 diabetes. An improved diet full of whole foods can help. You can also help cut down on the symptoms and complications of diabetes with the right nutrition. A growing body of evidence says that bee products and royal jelly in particular are queens in the management of type 2 diabetes and its symptoms.

How Type 2 Diabetes Affects the Body

In a normal metabolism, our bodies take in sugars and then, with insulin created in the pancreas, breaks those sugars down into usable energy. When someone has type 2 diabetes, their body either fails to make enough insulin or fails to use insulin effectively. 

Many people have type 2 diabetes without knowing it. The mos common symptoms of type 2 diabetes include fatigue, excessive thirst, excessive hunger and wounds that are slow to heal. 

Diabetes can have a severe effect on the body over time. Left unchecked, it can lead to heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Blood vessels can become more narrow, which increases your chance of a heart attack or stroke.

People with diabetes are prone to painful damage to their nerves, which is known as diabetic neuropathy. This pain often begins as numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes, and moves gradually upward. Over time, it is also possible to suffer nerve damage associated with digestion and sexual function.

Diabetes can make it more likely that you will develop Alzheimer's disease. The less control someone with diabetes has over the blood sugar levels, the greater the risk will be.

The good news is that, if you are aware of your health condition and your blood sugar levels, you can often minimize the damage that diabetes can do. Over time, you can even experience full remission. A healthy diet that includes bee products can help.

Better Blood Sugar Control

Controlling your blood sugar levels is essential for health if you have or may develop type 2 diabetes. Researchers have found that royal jelly has powerful blood sugar controlling effects.

In a study of 50 women who had type 2 diabetes, researchers gave half of study participants royal jelly and the other half a placebo. Throughout the study, the royal jelly test group took 1000 mg of royal jelly per day in capsule form. The study lasted for eight weeks.

The results were dramatic. When the participants took royal jelly, their fasting blood glucose levels decreased by 20 mg as compared to the placebo group (163.05±42.51 mg/dL vs. 149.68±42.7 mg/dL). Additionally, their blood levels of insulin and their antioxidant capacity increased.

Less Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is responsible for many of the side effects that are present with type 2 diabetes. It is thought to be involved in the development of a number of maladies that include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer and hardening of the arteries.

In general, if you do not have enough antioxidants in your body, your body will show high levels of oxidative stress. Making sure that you keep your antioxidant levels high is a must.

The same study that found that blood glucose levels were better managed with royal jelly also found that oxidative stress levels were improved, as well. In the study, two powerful antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase and superoxidase dismutase were at higher levels in people who were taking royal jelly.

Additionally, oxidant levels in the blood were reduced. This means that there was less oxidative stress on the body. Over time, this means less damage from diabetes and better general health.

How to Take Royal Jelly for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Royal jelly is available in a few different forms to fit your lifestyle and your preferred supplement method.

The first thing to look for when you are looking for a royal jelly supplement is the amount of 10-HDA (10-Hydroxy-2 Decenoic Acid), the substance that gives royal jelly its power, it contains. A minimum 5% 10-HDA means you are getting enough to do you good.

From there, it is up to you to decide what sort of royal jelly supplement is best for you. Many people like to go as minimally processed as possible and opt for fresh raw royal jelly. Royal jelly in this form has been minimally handled and has not been processed or dried in any way. While this is a good option for preserving the benefits of royal jelly, this is a product that must be kept cool at all times. Raw royal jelly that is shipped must be frozen and shipped with ice packs to keep it at good temperatures.

Powdered royal jelly supplement is another option that many people opt for instead. Because it's shelf stable, it doesn't have the storage concerns you'll run into with fresh royal jelly. However, some people feel that the amount of heat that must be applied to royal jelly to make a royal jelly powder may reduce its effectiveness. However, many people get good results from royal jelly in this form.

Royal jelly in capsule form is highly convenient and highly economical. With a capsule, you can get more consistent doses of royal jelly. It is also convenient to take while traveling or on the go. Capsules can also help you avoid the strong taste that is present in both powdered and fresh royal jelly.

Whatever form you pick, go for the one that you are most likely to take on a regular basis to enjoy royal jelly's benefits. By eating a healthy and varied diet and capturing the power of bee products like royal jelly, you can cut your risk of type 2 diabetes symptoms and complications, leading to a more vital, healthier life.

References:

http://apitherapy.blogspot.com/2019/04/royal-jelly-may-help-treat-diabetes.html

https://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/benefits-of-royal-jelly.html#royaljellydiabetes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24610413

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p0718-diabetes-report.html