What risk is associated with combining alfalfa with antidiabetes medications like insulin or glipizide?
Causing blood sugar to drop too low (hypoglycemia).
Alfalfa possesses properties that can lead to a reduction in circulating blood sugar levels. When an individual who is already managing diabetes with prescription medications, such as insulin or glipizide, introduces alfalfa into their regimen, this combined effect creates a moderate risk of dangerously lowering blood glucose too far. This state is clinically defined as hypoglycemia. To prevent this serious adverse event, which results from an excessive drop in blood sugar, careful and meticulous monitoring of glucose levels is mandatory. If alfalfa is used concurrently, medication dosages, often guided by a healthcare provider, will likely need modification to compensate for the blood sugar-lowering contribution of the herb.
