The short answer
Not known in people. We found no study of shatavari taken with metformin. In lab work from Northern Ireland, shatavari root extracts made rat pancreas tissue and insulin-making cells release more insulin. The effect grew stronger with glucose, and with tolbutamide, a sulfonylurea diabetes drug.
If the same happens in the body, shatavari could add to the sugar-lowering effect of diabetes medicines. The metformin label warns that low sugar is more likely when metformin is combined with insulin or with drugs that make the pancreas release insulin, such as glimepiride. If you take diabetes medicine, tell your prescribing doctor before you start shatavari, and ask whether to check your sugar more often.
Metformin is sold in India as Glycomet. Glycomet-GP also contains glimepiride, a second diabetes medicine.
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| More insulin released from rat pancreas tissue and insulin-making cells[1] | Calcium-dependent insulin release, strengthened by tolbutamide | Could add to sugar-lowering medicines, most of all those that also release insulin | In vitro |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Lab study, Northern Ireland, 2007 In vitro
At the University of Ulster, an ethanol extract of shatavari root, and several fractions of it, increased insulin release from perfused rat pancreas, isolated rat islets and a line of insulin-making cells. The more extract used, the more insulin came out, and glucose and tolbutamide strengthened the effect. Metformin was not tested, and no animal or person was given the extract to swallow. Insulin release in a dish does not tell us how much shatavari would lower sugar in someone on treatment.[1]
What your doctor may watch for
- Blood sugar, especially if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea such as glimepiride or gliclazide. The metformin label warns of a higher risk of low sugar with these.[2]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I am taking, or planning to take, shatavari (name of product, dose) along with my diabetes medicine. Lab studies show shatavari extracts can increase insulin release. Should I check my sugar more often?”
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Does shatavari lower blood sugar in people?
The studies we reviewed for this page include no human trial. The 2007 lab paper notes earlier reports of lower blood sugar in rats and rabbits.[1]
Does it matter which diabetes medicine I take?
Yes. The metformin label warns that low sugar is more likely when metformin is combined with insulin or a drug that makes the pancreas release insulin. Shatavari boosted insulin release in the lab, and a drug of that kind, tolbutamide, made the boost stronger, so that is where the concern is greatest.[2][1]
Related
Shatavari, the pill and hormone therapy
Not studied in people. Lab work suggests shatavari acts on the oestrogen receptor, but whether it changes how the pill or HRT works is unknown.
InteractionPunarnava and metformin
Not studied in people. A punarnava extract lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats, so it could add to metformin. No study tested the two together.
ConditionType 2 diabetes (sugar): what Ayurveda offers
Some herbs, such as methi and karela, lowered HbA1c a little in trials. Taken with diabetes medicines, they can add to the risk of low sugar.
Sources
- Hannan JM, Marenah L, Ali L, Rokeya B, Flatt PR, Abdel-Wahab YH. Insulin secretory actions of extracts of Asparagus racemosus root in perfused pancreas, isolated islets and clonal pancreatic beta-cells. J Endocrinol. 2007;192:159-168. PMID 17210753.
- Metformin hydrochloride tablets, US prescribing information, Warnings and Precautions (DailyMed).
Updated 4 November 2026
Taking shatavari with other medicines? A vaidya can check your full list.
Medicine Check · ₹299