Many people think of high blood sugar only in the context of diabetes, but the truth is that millions of adults live with elevated blood sugar and don’t know it. That’s because blood sugar problems often develop slowly and silently. You may feel completely fine, or you may only notice subtle signs like:
- Afternoon fatigue or energy crashes
- Frequent cravings for sweets or refined carbs
- Trouble losing weight around the belly
- Feeling hungry shortly after eating
- Mood swings or “brain fog”
These are easy to brush off, but they can signal that your body is having trouble managing glucose efficiently. Left unchecked, this can progress toward insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
The good news? There are natural strategies that can help smooth out blood sugar spikes before they become a bigger problem.
Small changes, like following the carb ranges, can go a long way in keeping your blood sugar in check.
The Role of Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
One proven way to blunt these spikes is by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates. This is where alpha-glucosidase inhibitors come in.
- Alpha-glucosidase is an enzyme in the small intestine that breaks down complex carbs into glucose for absorption.
- If this enzyme is partially inhibited, glucose enters the bloodstream more slowly, resulting in a gentler rise in blood sugar and insulin.
Prescription medications like acarbose use this mechanism, but nature offers some effective alternatives, most notably chromium and salacia.
Chromium: The Insulin Helper
Chromium is a trace mineral your body needs in tiny amounts, but its impact on blood sugar can be surprisingly powerful. Think of it as insulin’s trusted sidekick. Insulin is the hormone that helps move sugar out of your blood and into your cells, where it can be used for energy. When chromium is present, insulin works more efficiently, and your cells become more responsive to its signal.
This means your body can handle sugar more smoothly, without the big swings that lead to crashes, cravings, and fatigue. While chromium doesn’t directly block carbs from breaking down, it makes your metabolism better at putting glucose to good use once it’s in your bloodstream.
In fact, research shows that chromium supplements can help lower fasting blood sugar, improve long-term blood sugar markers (like HbA1c), and even reduce those stubborn carb cravings. This makes it especially helpful for people who struggle with insulin resistance or are at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Salacia: A Natural Blocker of Carb Absorption
Salacia is a woody plant that grows in India and Sri Lanka, where it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to help manage blood sugar. Modern science is now showing why it’s so effective.
Inside Salacia are unique compounds like salacinol and kotalanol that act as natural “carb blockers.” They work in your gut to slow down the breakdown of starches and sugars, so glucose enters your bloodstream more gradually. The result? Smaller blood sugar and insulin spikes after meals, which is key to avoiding energy crashes, cravings, and long-term metabolic strain.
Clinical studies back this up: Salacia extracts have been shown to significantly reduce post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels. There’s also evidence that it can support healthier cholesterol and triglyceride levels and may even help with weight management by improving how your body handles carbs and fats.
The Synergy of Chromium + Salacia
Chromium and Salacia work in harmony to keep blood sugar balanced, but they do so in very different ways. Salacia acts in the gut, slowing down how quickly carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed. This helps prevent big sugar surges right after a meal. Chromium, on the other hand, works once that sugar is already in the bloodstream. It makes insulin more effective, helping your cells pull in glucose and use it for energy.
Together, they form a powerful, complementary strategy: one slows the flood of sugar coming in, while the other improves the body’s ability to handle it once it’s there. This dual action targets both sides of the blood sugar equation, entry and utilization, for steadier energy, fewer spikes and crashes, and better overall metabolic health.
Take control of your blood sugar with Control by Mend, expertly formulated with Chromium and Salacia to support balanced energy and long-term metabolic health. →
Lifestyle Still Comes First
It’s important to note that no supplement replaces the foundations of healthy blood sugar control:
- Eating balanced meals rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats
- Exercising regularly
- Managing stress and sleep
Chromium and salacia can be valuable tools to layer on top of these habits, particularly for people struggling with post-meal spikes or early signs of insulin resistance.
Beat Hidden Sugar the Natural Way
You may not realize it, but hidden blood sugar spikes can silently drain your energy, fuel cravings, and increase long-term health risks. By combining chromium’s insulin-sensitizing effects with salacia’s ability to slow carbohydrate breakdown, you can support healthier glucose patterns naturally. Both have demonstrated promising results in human studies, making them powerful allies in maintaining balanced energy and metabolic health.
This article was written by Eziah Syed, Co-Founder, Chief of Growth & Innovation at Mend.
