Managing blood sugar levels might be simple as visiting the local health food store, according a new study that suggests a common plant hormone found in natural remedies may ease symptoms of diabetes.

Italian researchers reported in the FASEB Journal -- published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology -- that rats and people given low doses of the plant and mammal hormone, abscisic acid, had lowered blood sugar.

"These results warrant further studies, aimed at developing new pharmacologic approaches to diabetes prevention and/or treatment," said Mirko Magnone, a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Experimental Medicine at the University of Genova School of Medicine in Genova, Italy.

Abscisic acid is found in fruits and vegetables and is a component in some natural-health remedies.

"Mom always said, 'eat your veggies,' and now science backs up this advice," said Dr. Gerald Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal.

"High blood sugar levels predict the later consequences of diabetes, and while this hormone may not be a cure for diabetes, it should prove very useful in helping to control progression of the disease."