Our odiferous little friend has been touted for many health benefits. Diabetics should pay close attention because, although it has the dubious distinction of causing dragon breath, let us not allow the immediate social expense to outweigh the long-term health payoff.

Medical research has been underway to assess whether these traditional uses of garlic have scientific validity. Much of the research is showing real promise. Knowing that heart disease is twice as likely to strike diabetics, it would behoove many of us to take a chance with a few cloves of garlic every day. What have you got to lose? Studies suggest that fresh garlic may prevent blood clots and destroy plaque. A little garlic breath never killed anyone. Can't say the same for plaque in your blood now, can we?

In addition, garlic may be beneficial for risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Preliminary studies in rabbits, rats, and limited numbers of people have demonstrated that garlic has some ability to lower blood sugars. A few cloves of garlic can substantially affect some medications. For example, if you are on a sulfonylurea drug, you will want to be extra cautious of the effects garlic will have on your blood sugars. A few popular examples of these drugs are: Dymelor, Diabinese, Tolinase, Orinase, Amaryl, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, DiaBeta, Micronase, and Glynase. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I would choose Mother Nature over scientific intervention. This is one of those little dietary adjustments that might be worth a try.