Gestational diabetes often occurs when there is excess weight.
A woman suffering from this diabetes can prepare a mixture of cooked onions and garlic, to which she has added olive oil as well as a small teaspoon of black seed, and consume it once a day to help lower her blood sugar level.
In addition, she will need to follow a low-glycemic diet, eating whole grain breads, sweet potato, apple, fiber, or flax seeds. Fenugreek, on the other hand, is not recommended for pregnant women; however, she can take olive leaf as an herbal tea or in capsules.
And of course, she should be careful to avoid sugar, and engage in gentle physical activity such as walking.
What the science says: diabetes and blood sugar, pregnancy
What published research says about the remedies mentioned above, for context only — these studies look at material causes, while healing belongs to Allah.
Diabetes and blood sugar
Diet (low glycemic index, fiber, fewer fast-acting sugars) is the foundation of type 2 diabetes treatment (BMJ, 2021); several plants from tradition — cinnamon, fenugreek, black seed, turmeric, olive leaf — have a blood-sugar-lowering effect confirmed by meta-analyses (Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2023) (Nutrients, 2024), and camel milk is being studied in this context. Precaution: these remedies are added on top of treatment and may cause hypoglycemia if combined with it — monitor blood sugar and never change an insulin dose without the doctor's guidance.
Pregnancy
Ginger is the go-to natural remedy for pregnancy nausea (J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 2022) (J Am Board Fam Med, 2014); dates in late pregnancy facilitate labor (Explore, 2021); iron and folic acid are monitored (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 2023). Precaution: many plants are not recommended during pregnancy (essential oils, hormonal plants, laxative plants, fenugreek) — do not take any supplement without the advice of the midwife or doctor.
