Egyptian researchers recently compared the supplement CoQ10 to diabetes drug glimepiride in treating rats that had been artificially given type 2 diabetes. CoQ10 had marked positive effects on 15 different factors that either cause or prevent/reverse diabetes, surpassing glimepiride in all but 5.

Most importantly, CoQ10 has no negative side effects, while there are many problems with glimepiride.

Glimepiride belongs to a class of diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas that force the pancreas to produce more insulin. Insulin is a hormone that ushers sugar from the blood into body cells, so it can be stored or burned as energy. Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells become resistant to insulin and sugar accumulates in the blood.

While increasing insulin will get sugar into the cells, it creates new problems. High insulin levels are inflammatory, causing aging and all manner of disease including heart disease and obesity. (Sulfonylurea side effects include weight gain and increased risk of death from heart disease.) Meanwhile, pumping more and more insulin into the bloodstream to force cells to accept more sugar does nothing to correct the real problem, insulin resistance, and even makes it worse. And long-term stress on the pancreas damages insulin-producing cells, which can even lead to developing type 1 diabetes, a worse disease.

What to do instead of taking drugs? A holistic approach is described in Raymond Francis’ article “Conquering Diabetes.”

One supplement Raymond recommends in this article is CoQ10.In the above study, CoQ10 normalized blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol and triglycerides, the insulin-signaling biochemical pathway, glycation, and liver enzymes in the diabetic rats. It also increased adiponectin (a hormone that improves insulin sensitivity and burns fat) and decreased visfatin (an inflammatory chemical produced by fat cells). A potent antioxidant, CoQ10 reduced various markers of oxidative stress that contribute to diabetes.

Aren’t you glad your body naturally makes CoQ10? Well, not so fast. As we age, we make less and less. By 80, we’re making about half what we made at age 20. Also extreme physical exertion, stress, disease, toxicity, hormone imbalances, certain drugs (including glimepiride and the other sulfonylureas!) and nutrient deficiency can deplete it further.

Because CoQ10 is critical in creating energy and supporting heart health as well as blood sugar regulation..