Mulberry Leaf Extract and Blood Glucose Control in Diabetics

• change in 2 hour post prandial blood glucose [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Success would be a change in pc glucose of -1.5 units (SI) greater than 70% of the time or in more than 70% of subject, and no increased incidence of hypoglycemia with the intervention
  
  

• number of subjects with adverse changes in creatinine, AST, ALT, and blood pressure due to intervention [ Time Frame: 6 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Because mulberry leaf tea has been shown to contain cadmium which can have renal or hepatotoxic effects, renal function, liver function, and blood pressure will be monitored.
  
  

Dietary Supplement: Mulberry leaf extract effect on post prandial blood glucose

Mulberry leaf extract (400 mg, Mulberry Zuccarin, New Nordic) or placebo will be administered with meals to type 2 diabetics. Half the patients will receive mulberry leaf extract for the first two weeks and half will receive placebo. Following a one week wash out period, the interventions will be reversed for another 2 weeks, followed by a final wash out period. Subjects will keep diaries of food, exercise, daily fasting glucose, and at least one 2 hour pc glucose per day for the 6 weeks of the trial.

Baseline renal function blood work and urine, liver function blood work, hemoglobin A1C, weight, and blood pressure will be done. These will be repeated at the end of each subject's 6 weeks in the trial. In addition, blood pressure will be checked with the distribution of the each 2 week batch of medications.

Other Name: Mulberry Zuccarin, 400 mg tablets. New Nordic (Sweden)

Patients will participate in a double blind randomized cross over trial for 6 weeks. Four 2 weeks, half of the type 2 diabetic patients will receive mulberry leaf capsules three times per day with meals (made from Mulberry Zuccarin tablets - New Nordic, 400 mg of mulberry leaf extract per tablet) and half will receive placebo capsules. Following a one week wash out period, the treatments administered to each group will be reversed for the next 2 weeks, and data will continue to be gathered for a final wash out week. Patients will keep a diary of food, exercise, and fasting glucose each morning as well as at least one 2 hour pc glucose each day. Weight, hemoglobin A1C, liver function tests, and renal function tests will be done at baseline and at the end of the 6 weeks. As well, blood pressure will be monitored when the 2 weekly batches of medication are distributed, and at the end of the 6 weeks.