Fact Check: Does Okra and Garlic Clove Cure Diabetes?

Claim: A video circulating on the social media site YouTube claims about home remedy to lower high blood pressure and cure diabetes. The video instructs placing two medium-sized okras (cut up) and 2-3 garlic cloves (cut up) into a mug/cup.Then, One cup of hot water is poured on top. The mixture is mixed, covered, and allowed to sit for 30 minutes to one hour (it may be soaked overnight). It is mixed well and then strained, or the okra and garlic pieces are removed. Drinking 30 minutes before breakfast for at least 5 days, then 2-3 times a week is recommended to cure diabetes. The link to the claim is here.

Fact Check:

The claim is False.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin, or the body cannot effectively use insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.”(1)

Diabetes is primarily classified into various types, including Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes.

In most people with type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system normally fights infection, attacks, and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. As a result, your pancreas stops making insulin. Without insulin, glucose can’t enter your cells, and your blood glucose rises above normal. (2)Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main energy source and comes mainly from your food. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well. (3)

Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that affect the body's ability to produce or use insulin effectively.

How prevalent is Diabetes?

About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. (4) In India, an estimated 77 million people above the age of 18 years are suffering from diabetes (type 2), and nearly 25 million are prediabetics (at a higher risk of developing diabetes in the near future). (5)

Nutritional components of Garlic and Okra:

Vitamins (e.g., vitamin C, B vitamins) and minerals (e.g., selenium) contribute to garlic’s overall nutritional value and health benefits.  Garlic is abundant in phenolic compounds such as caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and their respective derivatives. (6)

Okra pods are mucilaginous and low in calories but nutritionally rich and a good source of edible dietary fibre. Studies have shown that they contain important bioactive compounds such as vitamin C, carotene, thiamine, folic acid, riboflavin, oxalic acid, niacin, and amino acids. (7)

Does Okra and Garlic clove cure diabetes?

No, Diabetes can't be cured. Garlic and okra may have some properties that help in the control of diabetes, but they can't cure it, as there is no scientific evidence of a cure for diabetes.

There is indeed evidence of garlic and okra having a positive impact on controlling sugar.

In a systematic review and analysis conducted by Mokgalaboni et al., researchers analyzed eight clinical trials examining the effects of okra on individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The review revealed that okra consumption led to a reduction in fasting blood sugar levels. However, there was no significant impact on HbA1c levels, which is a measure of long-term blood sugar management. (8)

Similarly A study by Eidi et al. reported lower serum glucose was obtained by oral administration of the garlic extract. He described a persistent increase in blood glucose levels in untreated control rats, while glucose level was significantly reduced in diabetic rats (9)

However, there is no scientific evidence that okra and garlic can cure diabetes 

Explaining this to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Anantha Krishnan, Internal Medicine specialist and Diabetologist at Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai, explained, “I just want to clarify that as of now, there is no cure for diabetes. Diabetes is a long-term metabolic dysfunction of glucose in the body, which can only be controlled. So, there is clear clarity that there is no cure for diabetes as such. Concerning these 2 agents, there are a few studies here and there, and there is some meta-analysis, which is a study of all the studies done together. There is no conclusive data, but because of the properties of these 2 individual food products, they are good adjuvants for patients with diabetes. Okra has a very low-calorie content, is a very low GI food, and is rich in antioxidants, minerals, vitamin C, and zinc, giving you very few calories. The glucose absorption from the intestine can be delayed if okra is consumed, causing an adjuvant effect in which the sugars may come down. However, there is no study concluding that there is a long-term effect of okra on HBA 1C or type 2 diabetes-related complications. Likewise, consuming garlic cloves may act as an adjuvant as it helps reduce the impact of food items concerning hyperglycemia. But there is no clear cut evidence or there is no clear cut studies that tells us that there can be a cure.. So, the take-home message here is that okra and garlic are good food adjuvants for patients with diabetes. There is no cure for diabetes as of now.”

Is Diabetes Curable?

When asked whether diabetes has a cure,, Dr Anisha Shah, a consultant diabetologist, said, “The answer is no. There is no cure for type 2 diabetes yet, but scientists are definitely working on groundbreaking weight management that helps to put their type 2 diabetes into dimension. Remission is when the blood glucose levels are under normal range again. But that doesn't mean that diabetes is gone in remission. You need to get a regular health check done follow the regular diabetic diet, and go for regular exercise.”

Medical Dialogues Final intake:

No Diabetes can’t be cured. Okra and garlic cloves may have some anti-diabetic properties in terms of better control of blood sugar, but the claim of these being a home remedy to cure diabetes is False.

References:

1. American Diabetes Association. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2009 Jan;32 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S62-7. doi: 10.2337/dc09-S062. PMID: 19118289; PMCID: PMC2613584.

2. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes#:~:text=or%20heart%20trouble.-,What%20causes%20type%201%20diabetes%3F,that%20might%20trigger%20the%20disease.

3. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes#:~:text=Type%202%20diabetes%2C%20the%20most,to%20be%20used%20for%20energy.

4.https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1

5.https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/mobile-technology-for-preventing-ncds

6.Sunanta P, Kontogiorgos V, Pankasemsuk T, Jantanasakulwong K, Rachtanapun P, Seesuriyachan P, Sommano SR. The nutritional value, bioactive availability and functional properties of garlic and its related products during processing. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 25;10:1142784. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1142784. PMID: 37560057; PMCID: PMC10409574.

7.Romdhane MH, Chahdoura H, Barros L, Dias MI, Carvalho Gomes Corrêa R, Morales P, Ciudad-Mulero MFH, Flamini GCFR, Majdoub H, Ferreira ICFR. Chemical Composition, Nutritional Value, and Biological Evaluation of Tunisian Okra Pods (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench). Molecules. 2020 Oct 15;25(20):4739. doi: 10.3390/molecules25204739. PMID: 33076530; PMCID: PMC7587556.

8. Mokgalaboni K, Lebelo SL, Modjadji P, Ghaffary S. Okra ameliorates hyperglycaemia in pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical evidence. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Apr 3;14:1132650. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1132650. PMID: 37077817; PMCID: PMC10107009.

9. Eidi A, Eidi M, Esmaeili E. Antidiabetic effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Phytomedicine. 2006;13(9–10):624–9. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2005.09.010.