here are some of the know side effects of Bitter Melon according to WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingre...

I would just like to add that the research on Bitter Melon is far from conclusiv

BITTER MELON INTERACTIONS

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with BITTER MELON
Bitter melon can decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking bitter melon along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to be too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Be cautious with this combination!

Bitter melon fruit is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in the short-term. The safety of long-term use (beyond 3 months) is not known. There also is not enough information about the safety of consuming other parts of the bitter melon or applying bitter melon to the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Bitter melon is LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth during pregnancy. Certain chemicals in bitter melon fruit, juice, and seeds can start menstrual bleeding and have caused abortion in animals. Not enough is known about the safety of using bitter melon during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Bitter melon can lower blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and take medications to lower your blood sugar, adding bitter melon might make your blood sugar drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar carefully.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: People with G6PD deficiency might develop “favism” after eating bitter melon seeds. Favism is a condition named after the fava bean, which is thought to cause “tired blood” (anemia), headache, fever, stomach pain, and coma in certain people. A chemical found in bitter melon seeds is related to chemicals in fava beans. If you have G6PD deficiency, avoid bitter melon.

Surgery: There is a concern that bitter melon might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using bitter melon at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Check you tube for the recipe for bitter melon or how to make shakes
It works for me and I'm on insulin treatment. My wife cooks Bittter melon once a week.

I have read a lot about herbal / alternative treatment .... being of an old school asian origions, i have started with this .... yes my sugars are like a yo yo but i think it will level off bearing in mind two weeks ago i am put on very high dose of steroids bring with it some side kicks ..... will post how i get on & with what i used.

Lot's of recipe can be found on google, it works for me lower my sugar level, It's mainly Asian cuisine. I have a neighbor who steam cook it and put on a blender and drink it, he lost a ton of weight. I tried it and could not stand the bitter taste. My wife cooks it with either beef or shrimp stir fry taste better.