Camel's milk to treat diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 23 Dec 2004 - 13:00 PST

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The milk of the camel has traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Surprisingly, camel milk does seem to contain high levels of insulin or an insulin-like protein which appears to be able to pass through the stomach without being destroyed.

The stomach's acidity would normally destroy insulin - this is why developing 'oral insulin' is such a challenge.

A small month-long study in people with Type 1 diabetes (which does not appear to have been formally published) suggested that drinking almost a pint of camel milk daily improved blood glucose levels, reducing the need for insulin.

As there have not been enough studies in humans yet, Diabetes UK does not recommend camel milk as a treatment for diabetes - an animal's milk contains nutrients that are tailored for its young

We don't know what the longer-term effects of drinking camel's milk are for humans - like any sensible wise man we'll be keeping a close watch on future developments.

"So, don't get the hump this Christmas if your local supermarket doesn't stock camel's milk," jokes Diabetes UK Care Adviser Phil Casey.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/news/dec04/camel.htm