"Have you prepared a gift for Parents' Day?"
A friend known for being thoughtful toward those around her posted this question in a group chat on KakaoTalk. In May, when there are many people to give gifts to, she said she often settled on health functional foods. But after coming across a YouTube video saying "diabetic patients should be cautious about consuming red ginseng," she began to have doubts. Both her parents and her in-laws have been taking diabetes medication for several years, and she seemed confused, wondering whether the red ginseng gifts she had been giving for their health might actually have caused harm. To put the conclusion first, her concerns may be justified—or they may not be.
Red ginseng is known to help boost immunity by increasing immune cells or enhancing the secretion of proteins that regulate their function. Beyond that, it has been recognized for a variety of health benefits, including reducing physical fatigue by lowering blood lactate and creatine acid levels, improving blood circulation and memory, providing antioxidant effects, regulating blood sugar, and supporting the health of menopausal women. This is thanks to saponin (ginsenoside), the key active ingredient in red ginseng.
Some people mistakenly think red ginseng raises blood sugar, but in fact, the opposite is true. Multiple studies have shown that ginsenosides not only lower blood sugar by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin secretion capacity, but also help improve A1c levels, which reflect average blood sugar over about three months. There are also research findings showing that ginsenosides increase glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, a hormone involved in appetite suppression and blood sugar regulation. That is the very component found in "Wegovy" and "Mounjaro," which have recently gained attention as obesity treatments. Hearing all this, it's hard to imagine a better gift for a diabetic patient.
So what's the problem? For health functional foods made with highly concentrated red ginseng, clear guidelines for diabetic patients have not been established. In addition to ginsenosides, various components can interact and enhance insulin action. For patients whose blood sugar is already well controlled with diabetes medication, long-term consumption of red ginseng health functional foods cannot rule out the risk of hypoglycemia. The blood sugar-lowering effect of red ginseng creates a synergy with diabetes medications. In fact, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety warns that taking diabetes medication together with red ginseng can induce hypoglycemia, so patients should consult a specialist.
Hypoglycemia can be fatal for diabetic patients. Because brain cells use glucose as a nutrient, if hypoglycemia persists for more than 15 to 20 minutes, the reduced nutrient supply can damage brain cells. This is especially concerning for elderly people who spend much of their time alone. Most diabetic patients whose blood sugar is well controlled and who have no complications can consume red ginseng according to the recommended dosage without major concerns. However, for those whose blood sugar is poorly controlled or fluctuates widely, it is better to consult a specialist before taking health functional foods. Consuming red ginseng products on an empty stomach should also be avoided.
Of course, processed products such as red ginseng candies or red ginseng beverages are exceptions. Many contain additives such as sugars to provide sweetness, which can instead raise blood sugar. The same applies to patients with hypertension, which is nearly as common as diabetes. Taking hypertension medication together with red ginseng can cause side effects such as elevated blood pressure, so consultation with an expert is essential. Red ginseng itself has an effect of inhibiting platelet aggregation, so those taking anticoagulants that thin the blood, such as warfarin, are also advised to avoid it.
For those without underlying conditions or medications they are currently taking, red ginseng can be a perfectly good gift. If you are looking for a functional product, first check the front of the package for the health functional food label and the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification mark. Products that may look similar but are classified as "other processed foods" or "liquid tea" are ordinary processed foods that have not received separate functional recognition. Darker color and higher viscosity do not mean greater levels of active ingredients. The ginsenoside content and the viscosity of the product have no relation to each other. It is wise to directly check the ginsenoside content indicated on the package when choosing a product.
