Gymnema sylvestre, commonly known as gymnema, has long been recognized as a valuable herb in supporting the treatment of diabetes. This plant is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly prevalent in India where it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. In Vietnam, Gymnema sylvestre was first discovered in 2006 by Associate Professor Dr. Tran Van On and his colleagues from Hanoi University of Pharmacy while researching herbal remedies to support diabetes treatment.

1. How does Gymnema sylvestre affect people with diabetes?

Gymnema sylvestre contains many valuable active compounds, especially Gymnemic Acid and Gumarin peptide. Gymnemic Acid has the following effects:

Stimulates the production of beta cells in the pancreas, thereby increasing the production of insulin – the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
Inhibits the absorption of sugar in the intestines by competing with glucose, preventing the absorption of sugar from the intestines into the bloodstream.
Inhibits the liver from regenerating glucose into the bloodstream, and at the same time stimulates the enzymes that use sugar in the tissues.

In addition, Gymnema sylvestre also contains gumarin peptide, which has the effect of:

Creating a sensation in the tongue that does not absorb glucose, thereby reducing the sensation of sweetness.

2. Scientific Evidence

Numerous scientific studies have supported the efficacy of gymnema sylvestre in managing diabetes:

Indian study: A study conducted in India showed that patients with type 2 diabetes who took 400mg of gymnemic acid daily, in combination with sulfonylurea drugs, experienced a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar levels. Additionally, the study found that beta cells were regenerated, and 100% of patients were able to reduce their oral hypoglycemic medication.
Vietnamese study: A Vietnamese study demonstrated that aqueous extracts of gymnema leaves, at a dose of 20 mg/day for 20-60 days, helped balance blood sugar levels in diabetic patients by restoring pancreatic islet cells and doubling the number of beta-Langerhans cells.
A Novel Gymnema sylvestre Extract Stimulates Insulin Secretion from Human Islets In Vivo and In Vitro: This study showed that oral administration of gymnema extract for 60 days significantly increased circulating insulin and C-peptide levels, which was associated with a significant reduction in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels.

Gymnema Latifolium: A Potent Variant

In 2009, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Van On discovered that Gymnema latifolium, a larger-leaved variety of gymnema, had twice the hypoglycemic effect compared to the common gymnema. This groundbreaking discovery opened up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes, especially for patients with underlying conditions or those who do not respond well to other treatments.

DK Betics: A Comprehensive Solution for Diabetes

To bring this effective solution to diabetes patients, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Van On exclusively transferred the research results on Gymnema latifolium to DK Pharma. DK Pharma has successfully developed the DK Betics product line, which is made from gymnema and gymnema latifolium, cultivated under GACP-WHO standards to ensure safety and high quality.

The DK Betics product line includes:

DK Betics: Suitable for people with prediabetes or mild type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
DK Betics GOLD: Contains 100% Gymnema latifolium, effectively stabilizing blood sugar levels and preventing complications.
DK Betics Platinum: Similar to DK Betics Gold, this product contains 100% Gymnema latifolium and is supplemented with lutein to help reduce the risk of eye complications in diabetes.
DK Betics tea: Convenient and suitable for many people.