A peer-reviewed scientific study titled ‘Study on Glucose Transport in Muscle Cells by Extracts From Mitragyna Speciosa (Korth) and Mitragynine‘ published in 2008 by a team of scientists at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand has confirmed that Kratom has anti-diabetic effects.
First off, Kratom has apparently been used since ancient times in Thailand as a diabetes treatment, but up until this study there was no scientific confirmation that Kratom really is effective against diabetes. Essentially, this is the first study which has empirically proven the anti-diabetic effects of Kratom, and this study also determined how this effect works on a cellular level.
It was found that both natural Kratom leaves and Kratom extracts increased the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in cells by well over 100%.
This is critical, since diabetes is caused by the cells in the body not producing enough insulin, which is required for cells to break down glucose, leading to a surge of glucose in the body, as well as malnourished cells since no matter how much glucose there is in the body the cells cannot properly use it without the body’s natural insulin. Therefore, the way to defeat diabetes is by increasing the uptake of glucose in cells, and this is what artificial insulin does.
In-fact this experiment found that Kratom increased the level of glucose uptake in cells by far more than insulin.
Further, when Kratom and insulin is taken together, the experiment found that it leads to far more glucose uptake than either substance alone. In other words, taking Kratom and insulin together has an additive effect for increasing glucose uptake and combatting diabetes.
The science behind why Kratom increases glucose uptake is quite complex, but to put it simply, Kratom increased the amount of cell surface glucose transporter via an interaction with the genes that control cell surface glucose transporters. Additionally, Kratom activates the redistribution of a protein which is critical for glucose uptake.
Ultimately, the scientists conclude that Kratom has insulin-like activity, and this is caused by Mitragynine as well as several other alkaloids. Therefore, it is clear that Kratom has anti-diabetic potential according to this scientific study, and more research needs to be done so that Kratom can one day be used as an official diabetes treatment, which could save lives.
On a final note, I used to have Type 2 diabetes, I was taking insulin and Metformin until I lost my health insurance. However, I no longer have diabetes, my sugar levels went from 500-1,000 to always less than 100 even if I just ate ice cream and take a glucose test. Also, I am a daily Kratom user now, but was off of Kratom when I had the diabetes. I am not saying Kratom cured my diabetes, but I can’t think of any other explanation.