Skeletal muscle is the body's largest site of glucose disposal and plays a central role in maintaining insulin sensitivity.¹ Loss of muscle mass can impair insulin sensitivity and reduce the body's capacity to clear glucose from the bloodstream. As insulin resistance develops, pancreatic beta cells are forced to compensate by increasing insulin secretion, a demand that may eventually contribute to beta cell exhaustion and dysfunction. Preserving muscle is therefore an important consideration in the long-term management of diabetes and metabolic health.

Initial Presentation

A male patient aged 56 years presented with boils that did not resolve fully after Echinacea angustifolia and E. purpurea (Echinacea) root extract treatment. Examination showed some muscle wasting in the legs and buttocks. He was sent for a blood sugar test. His fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was around 16 mmol/L and HbA1c around 12%. His doctor diagnosed type 2 diabetes and recommended insulin therapy.

Prescription

A low-carbohydrate diet was recommended, and regular exercise was strongly emphasised, with his treatment options framed as “exercise or insulin.”

The patient was prescribed the following herbal treatments:

Glucose Blocker Tablets, containing Gymnema sylvestre (Gymnema) leaf extract: 1 tablet before each meal

DNA Protection Support Tablets, containing Reynoutria japonica (Giant Knotweed) root extract standardised to contain resveratrol 36 mg, Vitis vinifera (Grape Seed) seed extract standardised to contain procyanidins 38 mg, Silybum marianum (St Mary’s Thistle) seed extract, Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) leaf extract, standardised to contain ginkgo flavonglycosides 7.35 mg and ginkgolides and bilobalide 1.8 mg, and Panax ginseng (Korean Ginseng) root extract, standardised to contain ginsenosides calculated as Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rb2, and Rd 4.2 mg: 1 tablet before each meal. Notably, Ginkgo extract appears to help restore pancreatic beta cell responsiveness to a glucose load in non-insulin-dependent diabetics with pancreatic exhaustion who are taking oral hypoglycaemic agents.²

Herbal Antioxidant Tablets, containing Grape Seed extract, standardised to contain procyanidins 42.5 mg, Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) leaf extract, standardised to contain catechins 83.35 mg, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) rhizome extract, standardised to contain curcuminoids 76 mg, and Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf extract: 1 before two main meals

Follow Up

With this treatment, FPG decreased to 6.7 mmol/L and HbA1c to 7.5%.

The following was added to his prescription:

Coleus Tablets, containing Plectranthus barbatus (Coleus forskohlii) [Coleus] root extract, standardised to contain forskolin 18.7 mg: 1 to 2 tablets daily

With exercise, his HbA1c improved further to 6.5%.

Clinical Thoughts

Regular exercise is vital for effectively maintaining muscle mass and improving insulin sensitivity. Antioxidant-rich herbal medicines can provide complementary support by helping to modulate oxidative stress, and some may also offer additional antidiabetic benefits. Combined with appropriate nutrition, these approaches help support glycaemic control while promoting long-term metabolic health.

References

1. Freeman AM, Acevedo LA, Pennings N. Insulin resistance [Internet]. Treasure Island: StatPearls; 2023 [cited 2026 Jun 11]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507839/

2. Kudolo GB. The effect of 3-month ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on pancreatic beta-cell function in response to glucose loading in individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Pharmacol. 2001 Jun;41(6):600-611. DOI: 10.1177/00912700122010483