Diabetes mellitus is a disease of endocrine and metabolism disorders, characterized by hyperglycemia, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease complications. Although oral hypoglycemic drugs have the effect of maintaining blood sugar control in diabetic patients, these drugs still have serious side effects for many patients, such as gastrointestinal diseases related to acarbose. Recently, certain food supplements and their bioactive ingredients have been shown to improve diabetes mellitus and can be readily found in the marketplace. This literature review focuses on food supplements with a hypoglycemic function, with an emphasis on their biologically active ingredients and pharmacological effects. The biologically active ingredients can be divided into 6 categories: polyphenols, polysaccharides, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, and others. The sources, models used for their study, effi cacy, and mechanisms of action of food supplements are described. The sources, models used for their study, effi cacy, and mechanisms of action of food supplements are described, including regulation of microflora, modulation of glucose metabolism, and improvement in insulin function. By classifying medicinal plants that can be used as food supplements and their activities, we have provided useful information to support further investigation and application of food supplements to prevent or improve diabetes mellitus.