Warning

• Herbal dietary remedies are not a substitute for medical attention and a doctor's treatment. Proper management of diabetes includes a careful diet, exercise, taking medications as prescribed and precise blood sugar monitoring and management techniques. You should never attempt to use herbal remedies to treat your diabetic symptoms without close medical supervision. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your prescribed dietary plan.
  
  

Blueberries

• Some herbal treatments are also a great excuse to add a tasty treat to your diet. One such enjoyable medicinal herb is the blueberry. Blueberries, closely related to bilberries and huckleberries, contain powerful antioxidant compounds that heal and protect the eyes from damage from diabetes. Holistic Online cites a study in which blueberries were given to diabetic patients and effectively "normalized capillary collagen thickness and blood sugar levels in humans and animals."
  
  There are no known side effects to regularly consuming blueberry fruit, but the leaves are poisonous if consumed on a long-term basis. If fresh blueberries are out of season, find them in the frozen fruit section of your grocery store. Buy the herbal extract of blueberry at your local herbalist, a preparation that can be taken as a pill or tincture.
  
  

Stevia

• According to Holistic Online, stevia is widely used as an artificial sweetener for diabetics. A safer alternative to chemical sweeteners, stevia does not raise your blood sugar level. Though findings are inconclusive, as reported by Holistic Online, some studies have shown stevia to have promising effects in blood sugar management.
  
  

Turmeric Root

• Turmeric root is a common spice used in Indian dishes. According to "One Earth," turmeric helps regulate blood sugar levels. Add turmeric to spicy stews or sugar-free bakery treats. According to Holistic Online, turmeric promotes digestion and heals wounds associated with diabetes.
  
  

Green Tea

• "One Earth" cites green tea as a healing herb for diabetes. According to Holistic Online's green tea fact sheet, green tea contains antioxidant polyphenols that help fight oxidation and repair tissue damage. Green tea's health effects are different from black and oolong tea's because green tea is not fermented when it is prepared, preserving the healthy compounds in the tea. For best effects, Holistic Online recommends that you consume three cups of green tea per day.
  
  

Evening Primrose Oil

• Nutrients in evening primrose oil can help alleviate deficiencies that commonly occur in diabetic patients. According to Holistic Online, evening primrose oil contains fatty acid compounds that replace necessary nutrients diabetics may not be able to produce. Black currant seed oil and borage oil are also similarly used as fatty acid supplements.
  
  

Cinnamon

• Cinnamon lowers blood glucose when taken daily. Multiple small studies have shown an effect in lowering blood glucose, but a conclusive large-scale study has yet to be conducted. Ask your doctor whether she thinks you would benefit from a cinnamon supplementation regimen. Diabetes Self Management recommends starting with a dose of 1 gram of cinnamon per day.