Chaga Mushroom: 4 Ways It May Help People with Diabetes

Looking for a natural remedy to help manage diabetes? There has been much research focused on Chaga which shows much early potential. While most of the research so far comes from animal and laboratory studies, early results suggest this natural remedy may one day support blood sugar management alongside conventional treatments.

1. Natural Blood Sugar Support

Studies on diabetic mice show that Chaga extracts, particularly their polysaccharides (naturally occurring sugar compounds), can greatly lower blood sugar levels—by up to 50% in some cases. Researchers also discovered that Chaga might help restore insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which are often weakened in diabetes (Wang et al., 2017).

2. A Heart-Healthy Bonus

Diabetes often increases the risk of heart issues, but Chaga may offer some protective benefits. Studies suggest that it can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides while boosting HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which may help prevent cardiovascular complications (Song et al., 2013).

3. Slowing Sugar Absorption from Food

Chaga may support stable blood sugar levels by limiting the activity of digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates, such as alpha-glucosidase. This helps delay sugar absorption and prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar after meals (Zhao et al., 2014).

4. Packed with Antioxidants

Rich in antioxidants, Chaga helps fight oxidative stress—a contributor to cellular damage in people with diabetes. These antioxidant properties may help protect the pancreas and slow down diabetes progression (Mocan et al., 2018).

Important Caution: Human Research Still Needed

Despite these promising findings, most of the research on Chaga and diabetes has been carried out in animals and lab settings. We still don’t know exactly how it works in humans, what the optimal dosage is, or how safe it is when taken over time.

Talk to Your Doctor First

If you have diabetes and are interested in trying Chaga, consult your healthcare provider first. Since Chaga may lower blood sugar, combining it with diabetes medications could cause blood sugar to drop too low (hypoglycemia).

The Bottom Line

Chaga mushroom shows promise as a potential natural supplement to help manage diabetes-related issues like high blood sugar, cholesterol imbalance, and oxidative stress. But until more human studies are available, it should be treated as a complementary option—not a replacement for medical treatment.

References

• Mocan, A., Zengin, G., Simirgiotis, M., Schafberg, M., Mollica, A., Vodnar, D. C., … & Crişan, G. (2018). Functional constituents of wild and cultivated Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) mushroom: A review on chemistry, bioactivity, and health impact. Phytotherapy Research, 32(3), 389–409. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5973
• Song, F. Q., Liu, Y., Kong, X. S., Chang, W., & Song, G. (2013). Progress on understanding the anticancer mechanisms of medicinal mushroom: Inonotus obliquus. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 14(3), 1571–1578. https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2013.14.3.1571
• Wang, Y., Zhang, J., Zhao, B., Zhou, Y., Yang, Z., & Gao, H. (2017). Anti-diabetic activity of Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and the underlying mechanism. Food & Function, 8(6), 2538–2546. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7FO00533E
• Zhao, L., Dong, Y., Chen, G., Hu, Q., & Zhou, Y. (2014). Chaga mushroom polysaccharides as a natural glucosidase inhibitor for managing diabetes. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 10(37), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1296.126679