Remedies in Diabetes Management: Balancing Efficacy and Toxicological Risks

Mugisha Emmanuel K.

 

Faculty of Science and Technology Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Herbal remedies remain widely used worldwide as adjuncts or alternatives for diabetes management. Many botanicals show promising glucose-lowering, insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in vitro, in animals and in small human trials. However, enthusiasm for phytomedicines is tempered by variable product quality, inconsistent clinical evidence, and growing reports of organ toxicity-particularly herb-induced liver injury (HILI), nephrotoxicity, and, less commonly, neurotoxic or hematologic adverse events. This review synthesizes current evidence on the efficacy of common antidiabetic herbs, highlights mechanisms by which herbs may both help and harm (glycemic modulation, antioxidant action, mitochondrial effects, xenobiotic metabolism), and surveys reported toxicities and their mechanistic bases. We emphasize three practical priorities for clinicians, researchers and policymakers: (1) rigorous clinical evaluation (well-designed RCTs with adequate duration and safety endpoints), (2) pharmacovigilance and pre-market quality controls to detect contaminants/adulterants and ensure dose consistency, and (3) patient-centered risk–benefit communication, particularly for people with hepatic or renal impairment. Finally, we outline research gaps-standardized extracts, herb–drug interaction studies, and shared registries for herbal adverse events-that are essential to safely integrate plant medicines into diabetes care.

Keywords: diabetes, herbal remedies, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, oxidative stress

 

CITE AS: Mugisha Emmanuel K. (2026). Remedies in Diabetes Management: Balancing Efficacy and Toxicological Risks.

IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 12(1):21-26. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSR/JST/26/113.2126