FRIDAY, Sept. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Daily drinks of chamomile tea with meals may help prevent the complications of diabetes, report researchers in Japan and the United Kingdom.

The findings, published in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, are based on feeding chamomile extract to a group of diabetic rats for 21 days. Those on the chamomile supplement experience a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. The extract also appears to inhibit ALR2 enzymes and sorbitol, whose elevated levels are associated with increased diabetic complications.

Complications for diabetes include loss of vision, nerve damage and kidney damage.

The researchers said they hoped their work leads to the development of a new chamomile-based drug for type 2 diabetes.

More information

The American Diabetes Association has more about diabetes.