Therapeutic Effects on Gestational Diabetes

There is very little research on the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the treatment of gestational diabetes. However, at least one small clinical trial suggests astragalus may help treat the condition.^(43, 208)

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It can make pregnancy more dangerous, and it also increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life for those who develop the condition. Moreover, data suggests gestational diabetes also raises the long-term risk of having diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity for the children.⁽²⁰⁸⁾

Clinical Evidence of Benefit

In a controlled clinical study involving 84 women with gestational diabetes, astragalus was combined with insulin and diet. Results suggest that astragalus could significantly help with this type of diabetes by:⁽⁴³⁾

• Boosting antioxidant activity.
• Regulating blood lipid levels.
• Improving kidney function.