May help manage diabetes

Barberries, namely their berberine concentration, may aid in the management of diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. Berberine, in particular, has been found to improve how your cells respond to the hormone insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in your blood. As a result, your blood sugar levels may be reduced. In a three-month study of 36 persons with type 2 diabetes, consuming 1.5 grams of berberine per day resulted in a substantial 2% reduction in hemoglobin A1c — a measure of your average blood sugar control over the previous three months — when compared to baseline values.

Berberine's positive effects on blood sugar and hemoglobin-A1c were found to be comparable to those of the standard diabetic medication metformin. Another 8-week research of 30 persons with type 2 diabetes found that taking 2 mg of dried barberry fruit extract daily resulted in lower hemoglobin A1c levels and considerably lower blood sugar levels when compared to a placebo group. These investigations, however, concentrated on additional berberine and barberry extract. It's uncertain whether eating fresh or dried barberries has the same effect on blood sugar control.