SA schoolgirl’s rooibos test helps diabetic dogs

When Zaria Rule, a grade 7 learner from Cornwall Hill College in Centurion, tested green rooibos tea on several diabetic dogs, including her own, as part of a school science project, no-one could have guessed the results her test would produce.

When Zaria’s dog, Jesse, was diagnosed with diabetes in 2015, Zaria noticed that her pet’s energy levels had hit an all-time low. When she heard a radio interview about the benefits that rooibos could offer diabetics, she knew she had to try it on her dog. It also happened to be the perfect topic for her school science project.

When starting her tests, Zaria gave Jesse and three other diabetic dogs one cup (250ml) of green rooibos a day, diluted with another three cups of tap water, over a four-week period. None of the dogs was forced to drink the preparation, but they all seemed to enjoy the taste and often their drinking bowls had to be filled up twice a day. Zaria specifically used green rooibos, since previous studies found it was the most effective extract in lowering raised blood-glucose levels in diabetic rats.

‘During the [four-week] research period, Jesse and the other dogs continued with their diabetic medication as prescribed by the vet in order to assess the impact that the one variable factor – rooibos – would have on the dogs,’ says Zaria. ‘After about four weeks of rooibos supplementation, Jesse responded so well that we were able to reduce her dose of insulin treatment down to 10 units twice a day.’

Before the rooibos tea was added to Jesse’s diet, her blood-sugar levels were all over the place. Surprisingly, by the end of the four weeks Jesse’s blood-sugar levels were more stable than ever. She was back to her old self again, with an abundance of energy. The other three dogs responded in a similar way.

Zaria’s mom, Caroline, says some dog-owners might think adding rooibos to their dog’s diet is a crazy idea and they might not want to give it a try, but they could be missing out on some great results.

Several studies by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC, Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch) and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have all confirmed rooibos’s potential to delay and possibly prevent the onset and progression of type-2 diabetes in diabetic rodents, so it’s no surprise that Jesse responded so well to the treatment.

Zaria’s project also helped to create awareness among the community that diabetes also affects dogs and that the early detection of the condition can save and significantly improve the quality of their lives. All you need to do is brew the rooibos tea for three to five minutes, let it cool and then either put it next to your pet’s water bowl or stir it into your pet’s food.

PHOTO: iStock/K_Thalhofer