Jiaogulan and Diabetes: The Evidence
- , by SANUSq Research team
- 9 min reading time
Imagine a herb that helps steady blood sugar only when it's running high — easing back when it's not. That's the adaptogenic promise of jiaogulan.
Important: If you have diabetes, do not stop or change any prescribed medication, and speak to your doctor before adding jiaogulan or any supplement. Because jiaogulan can lower blood sugar, combining it with diabetes medication could increase the risk of hypoglycaemia and may need medical monitoring. The information below is educational and not a substitute for your diabetes care.
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a lesser-known herb with an outsized reputation. It contains more than 170 types of saponins — far more than ginseng's 28 — and these compounds underpin many of the gynostemma pentaphyllum benefits studied to date. One area of genuine research interest is blood sugar.
Jiaogulan and blood sugar
Blood sugar problems arise when the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, and/or when cells stop responding to insulin properly (insulin resistance). Insulin is what lets muscle, liver and fat cells take glucose out of the blood. Among herbs for blood sugar, jiaogulan is notable because it has been tested in people, not just the lab.
In a controlled crossover trial in drug-naive type 2 diabetic patients, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea improved insulin sensitivity and lowered fasting and steady-state plasma glucose compared with placebo (Huyen et al., 2013).
Related research has looked at jiaogulan alongside conventional medication. As an add-on it may support blood-sugar control — but this is precisely the scenario where medical supervision matters, because combining glucose-lowering approaches raises the risk of blood sugar dropping too low.
What the jiaogulan diabetes research does and doesn't cover
It is worth being precise about the shape of this evidence, because "tested in people" can mean very different things. The jiaogulan diabetes research that exists consists of small, short trials, in specific groups of people, using specific preparations — a tea or a standardised extract, not whatever happens to be in any given product. The crossover trial above, for instance, was carried out in people with type 2 diabetes who were not yet taking glucose-lowering medication, which is a particular starting point rather than a general one.
What has not been shown matters just as much. No trial has tested jiaogulan as a substitute for diabetes medication, and there is no evidence that it can take the place of one. There is no long-term data on the outcomes that actually count in diabetes — the eye, kidney, nerve and cardiovascular complications that develop over years. And a change in a laboratory measure over a few weeks is not the same thing as better health over a decade. That is the honest ceiling on what can be said, and it is why every mention of jiaogulan here is framed as support alongside medical care.
Why insulin sensitivity is the interesting part
Most type 2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance rather than a shortage of insulin. Insulin is the signal that tells muscle, liver and fat cells to take glucose out of the bloodstream. When those cells respond poorly to the signal, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin, and blood glucose stays acceptable for a while at the cost of steadily rising insulin levels. Diabetes appears when that compensation can no longer keep pace.
This is why research interest has centred on insulin sensitivity rather than on simply pushing glucose downwards. Anything that helps cells respond to insulin more readily is working nearer the root of the problem than something that forces a number down. The same logic explains why the weight findings above are relevant: abdominal fat is closely tied to insulin resistance, and AMPK, the pathway named in that trial, is one of the cell's main energy-sensing switches — the same one that muscle activity turns on during exercise. None of this establishes a clinical benefit in diabetes. It explains why the question is being asked at all.
The adaptogen advantage
Jiaogulan's most distinctive quality is that it's a true adaptogen — one of the very few plants that meet the strict criteria (non-toxic, helps the body resist stress, and normalises rather than forces bodily functions). In practical terms, jiaogulan is described as helping to lower blood glucose mainly when it's elevated, bringing balance rather than pushing in one direction. It can lift energy when you're tired and calm the nervous system when you're stressed — the hallmark two-way action of an adaptogen.
Weight, and the bigger picture for diabetes
Excess weight raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, and jiaogulan has separately been studied for weight management.
In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract significantly reduced abdominal fat and body weight via AMPK activation (Park et al., 2014).
Beyond blood sugar and weight, jiaogulan is a potent antioxidant and is described as supporting heart, liver and kidney health — areas that matter for people managing diabetes, since high blood sugar drives oxidative stress and vascular complications over time. None of this makes jiaogulan a treatment for diabetes; think of it as a supportive herb that works alongside — never instead of — proper medical care, diet and activity.
The foundations a supportive herb sits on top of
Whatever a herb may or may not add, it adds it to something. In type 2 diabetes the measures with the strongest evidence behind them are the unglamorous ones: taking prescribed medication exactly as directed, a diet built on vegetables, pulses, whole grains and protein with little added sugar or refined carbohydrate, regular movement including some resistance work, losing weight where there is weight to lose, decent sleep, and turning up for the checks that catch complications early — HbA1c, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function, feet and eyes. Managing stress belongs on that list too, since stress hormones raise blood glucose directly.
A supplement placed on top of that foundation is a small addition to something substantial. A supplement placed instead of it is a substitution that no evidence supports, and one that can do real harm over time.
Safety, interactions and who should be careful
The main safety issue is the one this article opens with. Jiaogulan can lower blood glucose, so alongside medication that does the same thing it can push levels lower than anyone intended. That risk is greatest with insulin and with the sulfonylurea class of tablets, which can cause hypoglycaemia in their own right. It is worth being able to recognise a low: shakiness, sweating, hunger, irritability and difficulty concentrating, and, if it goes further, confusion. If you and your doctor decide to try jiaogulan, agree beforehand how your levels will be monitored.
A few other cautions apply. Tell any surgeon, dentist or pharmacist about every supplement you take, not just your prescriptions. Jiaogulan is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, simply because it has not been studied there. If you take medicines that affect clotting, or you have liver or kidney problems, raise it with your doctor rather than assuming a plant is automatically neutral. And whatever a supplement appears to be doing to your readings, never change a prescribed dose on your own — that decision belongs to the person who prescribed it.
The adaptogen herb
Jiaogulan is valued as an antioxidant adaptogen for metabolic and overall wellness. If you're managing diabetes, talk to your doctor before adding it.
Frequently asked questions
Does jiaogulan help with diabetes?
Human trials suggest gynostemma pentaphyllum can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood glucose in type 2 diabetes. It's best seen as supportive, not a treatment or a replacement for medication — and it should only be used alongside diabetes care with your doctor's knowledge.
Is jiaogulan safe for people on diabetes medication?
Possibly, but only with medical supervision. Because jiaogulan can lower blood sugar, combining it with glucose-lowering medication may cause hypoglycaemia. Never stop or adjust prescribed medication on your own — discuss any supplement with your doctor first.
What are the main gynostemma pentaphyllum benefits?
Studied benefits include support for healthy blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, weight management, antioxidant activity, and cardiovascular and metabolic health. As an adaptogen it's also valued for balancing energy and stress responses.
How does jiaogulan compare to other herbs for blood sugar?
Jiaogulan stands out among herbs for blood sugar because it has been tested in human diabetes trials, not only in the lab, and because its adaptogenic nature means it tends to lower glucose mainly when it's high. Even so, it complements rather than replaces standard care.
References
- Huyen VT, Phan DV, Thang P, Hoa NK, Ostenson CG. Gynostemma pentaphyllum Tea Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. J Nutr Metab. 2013;2013:765383. PMID 23431428
- Park SH, Huh TL, Kim SY, et al. Antiobesity effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract (actiponin): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2014;22(1):63-71. PMID 23804546
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The health information in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare professional before making any medical decisions.
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