Diabetes: Anyone have experience using licorice to lower sugar?

@mironch Welcome to the Mayo clinic connect .We try to help with our experience that we have . We aren't Dr,s but we have a lot of tools in our wellness box that helps us. Im not sure about licorice and blood sugar but I do know that cinnamon helps to regulate blood sugar . Im not a diabetic but put it in my coffee every morning as well as toast . Are you a diabetic or pre diabetic ? Others maybe joining with there knowledge about licorice . Please join our group here we are a caring group where you can vent , ask questions and give what helps you with your problem we share this information in hope it may help someone else . Take care be safe

Hi @mironch, a quick search on the internet reveals conflicting reports about the effects of licorice root on blood sugar and its use for people with diabetes. When looking for information online, be sure to note the date of the publication. It appears that articles published around 2012 touted the benefits of licorice. More recent studies are now disputing those claims. See this article for more information

- EndoBreak: Diabetes & Hypertension; Licorice Root Warning https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/generalendocrinology/67501

It would be best to discuss this with your endocrinologist. What form of licorice were you considering?

Thank you for the information I will read it. I would like to emphasize that searching the internet I have herd about a conversation with professor Rafi Carasso which is a well known doctor in Israel and to my surprise this conversation is about natural solution to diseases such as Cholesterol, Diabetes, Atherosclerosis and Heart disease. The revolutionary natural solution - Licorice plant. Unfortunately the conversation is in Hebrew. Never the less here is the link: https://youtu.be/cwzNLC-SgLo
Hope someone in your vicinity can translate it.

Yes!
When my blood sugar runs high (generally because I cheated on my diet) a cup of herb tea that includes licorice seems to help correct things. Not on the spot, but over the next twelve hours.

Just recently I happened to try different timing and seem to have a repeatable benefit even more quickly. I used to drink a cup of green tea in the morning, but recently realized that was giving me higher morning blood *pressure* readings, so discontinued it. Instead I decided to try one of my herb/licorice teas. And, wow! My pre-lunch blood glucose reading is 10-20 points lower than expected - even if I cheated a little at breakfast! So then what about pre-dinner? Yes, still!

I have some concern about side-effects of licorice so have always limited this to no more than one cup every other day.

These teas are available under various brands at Trader Joe's and most supermarkets.

Worth a try!

One more thing, this is the order: first the cup of tea, then my morning reading, which is normal. Then breakfast. Before lunch I take a good walk, a mile or two - about the best thing there is for blood sugar control! Then my pre-lunch reading which comes in really great! This makes me wonder if the mechanism is limiting the release of glycogen, so that exercise lowers blood glucose and it doesn't get flooded back in.

@carbcounter welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! This discussion and everyone else that commented came from 5 years ago! I wonder how you came upon it? I am interested in your blood sugar results related to licorice tea. (I am a carb counter too.) I agree, the tea is worth a try. It is not like we’re talking about licorice candy! That could be bad. I encourage you to also check out the link posted by @colleenyoung (the Mayo Clinic Connect Director) in the thread above. She is a trustworthy and helpful person.

I was Googling for anything related to licorice and diabetes, and the old message popped up.

It's very curious, it seems to be far more effective when taken first thing in the morning. Just had some a couple of hours ago, see later today if it still fits the pattern.

Would welcome anyone else's trials and anecdotes.