Vitamins & Supplements For Diabetes

Coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol are two of the many additional supplements that help counter the changes that are occurring in the body from diabetes.

See: Herbs That Lower Blood Sugar

Julie’s Case History – From Frustrated to Hopeful

Julie was frustrated with her blood sugar levels and her Type 2 diabetes. They were stuck at 179 mg to 200 mg/dl for fasting and wouldn’t budge. In fact, they hadn’t budged for over six months. She knew there must be something she could do to help the situation because whatever she was eating or not eating had to be making an impact. She changed her diet to lower the carbohydrates, increased her protein a little, and changed the type of fat she ate to good fats, eliminating hydrogenated fats. Luckily, her friend recommended she see a nutritionist who could determine exactly what supplements she needed by lab tests, diet history and 3-day diet recall. The nutritionist discovered Julie was deficient in calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, strontium and vitamin D. All these nutrients except for strontium have a direct impact on blood sugar regulation in the body, yet standard medical protocols won’t investigate them to see if they are impacting one’s diabetes and chances for reversal of this degenerative disease. Once Julie was on a protocol of nutrients her body needed to balance the imbalances, she started seeing results within 10 days. Her fasting blood sugar levels were consistently in the 150-157 mg/dl range and over the next month, fell to the 130s. This is something that can be predicted to happen, once an individual has all the vitamins and minerals he or she needs. She can expect continual progress.

See: Ginseng Extract For Diabetes & Cancer

The Real Problem is Nutritional

What this case teaches us is that medications can only do so much for diabetes – and the medications don’t do anything to restore low levels of nutrients the body needs to prevent erratic blood sugar levels. Specifically, low levels of magnesium and vitamin D are clearly tied to a higher incidence of diabetes. Low levels of zinc and chromium are important for the Glucose Tolerance Factor – a cluster of protein and vitamins and minerals the body creates to keep blood sugar levels where they are supposed to be. Calcium is essential for cellular signaling in the pancreas.

The Simple Solution

What would a daily intake of nutrients look like? Well, the truth is that everyone’s protocol is different – and has to be different because your needs are vastly different than Sally or Bob’s nutritional status. It’s not smart thinking to believe that taking a multivitamin/mineral is going to be the solution because all multivitamins don’t supply the RDA for all nutrients. Even if they did, the RDA would never reverse a deficiency. Extra supplements are needed for 6 months to a year of all the nutrients the person is deficient in.

See: Herbs For Diabetes That Lower Blood Sugar

A sample plan for Diabetes vitamins and supplements might look like this:

Breakfast

At the end of the meal, take these supplements for diabetes at the end of the meal:

Calcium/Magnesium liquid, 1 tablespoon

1 B Complex, preferably 1 tablespoon liquid

50 mg zinc

5000 IU vitamin D

500 mcg chromium

1000 mg vitamin C

400 IU vitamin E

Lunch

At the end of the meal, take the following diabetes supplements:

1 tablespoon liquid Calcium/Magnesium

500 mcg chromium

50 mg zinc

2000 mg omega 3 fats

100 mg Coenzyme Q10

Dinner

At the end of the meal, take the following vitamins for diabetes:

1 tablespoon liquid Calcium/Magnesium

1000 mg vitamin C

100 mg resveratrol

See: Insulin Plant Benefits & Precautions For Diabetes

Starting the Progress May Mean Changing Old Beliefs

Sometimes diabetics have the idea that supplements are the same thing as medications and ideally, they shouldn’t be on ANYTHING – medications or supplements. This is the most damaging ideology to have because both are necessary to restore health. Our medical system is full of patients that take medications but neglect the nutritional aspect of their health. These patients won’t get better and can expect a slippery slope downward of degenerating health and diabetic complications. Likewise, there are millions of undiagnosed diabetics that refuse to even get to the doctor to get the diagnosis and start the treatment. Many simply don’t know they have diabetes, and are doing nothing by default to address medical and nutritional needs. And then there are those that know the importance of nutrition plus taking their medications as a crutch until their body can regain its function. These people choose supplements that would most likely help them restore their health. However, nutrition is a precise science and unless guidance is specific for YOUR needs, the self-medicating philosophy will get only limited results, and then stop.

Do yourself a great favor and find out exactly what your body needs to heal itself. The time and funds you invest into this are well worth the journey to health.

See: Gestational Diabetes and Capsaicin Benefits

Based on the type of treatment regimen you use to control your diabetes, there are a few vitamins and minerals that could help your condition. Before incorporating any vitamins or adding dietary supplements to your everyday diet, discuss these changes with your health care team and physician to be sure they are safe alongside any prescribed drugs.

– ALA AND GLA

ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) is a flexible and powerful antioxidant and might function to assist diabetic neuropathy and decrease pain from long-term damage. Additionally, some research links ALA to diminished insulin resistance and so the control of blood glucose.

GLA (gamma-lipoic acid) is a naturally occurring antioxidant present in evening primrose oil, borage oil, and blackcurrant seed oil. GLA may enhance the function of nerves damaged by diabetic neuropathy.

– BIOTIN: Biotin works in conjunction with insulin in the body, and independently increases the action of this enzyme glucokinase. Glucokinase is in charge of the initial step of sugar utilization and is a vital part of normal bodily functioning. Glucokinase happens only in the liver, and in sufferers from diabetes, its concentration might be extremely low. Supplements of biotin could substantially impact glucose levels for type 1 and type 2 diabetics.

– CARNITINE (L-CARNITINE, ACETYL L-CARNITINE): Carnitine is needed by the body so as to correctly utilize body fat in the production of energy. It’s naturally occurring and derives from hydrophilic amino acids. Diabetics who attempt carnitine respond well generally, and high levels of fat in the blood (triglycerides and cholesterol ) may fall quickly. Carnitine can help to break down fatty acids in the human body and binds acyl residues. For all these reasons, it could be useful to stop diabetic ketoacidosis.

– CHROMIUM: Chromium is an essential nutrient in the body’s fight against diabetes. By using either brewer’s yeast transport with chromium or chromium chloride, diabetic patients may have the ability to improve glucose tolerance, while raising HDL-cholesterol levels. Several double-blind studies have demonstrated that supplemental chromium can raise glucose tolerance in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Exercise also increases the concentration of nitric oxide. Chromium might have a part to play in pre-diabetics and girls suffering from gestational diabetes.

– COENZYME Q10: Coenzyme Q10 is a chemical that occurs naturally in the body and might have the ability to assist with carbohydrate metabolism. It is has been demonstrated that animals suffering from diabetes are coenzyme Q10 deficient. Clinical trials with coenzyme Q10 suggest that supplementation may significantly lower glucose levels. Coenzyme Q10 also oxygenates the bloodstream, and for that reason, may have the ability to help in some diabetic retinopathy cases.

– INOSITOL: Inositol is an essential component of several critical bodily processes, including the health of cell membranes and blood cholesterol levels. Furthermore, inositol can play a part in reversing the effects of diabetic neuropathy (nervous damage) due to diabetes.

– MANGANESE: A deficiency of manganese is not uncommon amongst diabetics, and in some circles, it is believed to be part of the reason behind diabetes. Manganese could be an integral co-factor in how enzymes in the body manage glucose metabolism.

– MAGNESIUM: Magnesium tends to decline in diabetics and might fall to dangerously low levels amongst those experiencing severe diabetic retinopathy. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to influence the blood glucose control of type 2 diabetics. Magnesium deficiency may disrupt the insulin secretion process, and also increase insulin resistance. When using supplemental magnesium, diabetics may have the ability to reduce their insulin dosage.

– NIACIN: Niacin can be for individuals with high cholesterol and could be utilized together with circulation treatments. High levels of niacin might impair glucose tolerance, and therefore some people with diabetes might be advised not to take it. Speak to your doctor if you are in doubt.

– POTASSIUM: Administering insulin into the body, the treatment regime used by many diabetics may make a potassium deficiency. By supplementing a nutritious diet with potassium, sufferers from diabetes can enhance their insulin sensitivity and the efficacy of the hormone.

– TAURINE: Taurine isn’t utilized in protein synthesis but is normally found in protein-rich foods. Type 1 diabetics often suffer from low taurine levels, which can affect the depth of the blood and increase the chance of cardiovascular disease. Supplementary taurine for diabetic patients may be able to adjust levels of blood viscosity.

– VANADIUM: Vanadium supplements may result in a small increase in sensitivity to insulin, and might, therefore, enable diabetic patients to reduce the amount of insulin they must keep their glucose levels in check. Studies on both animals and people have proved connections between vanadium levels and healthy blood sugar.

– ZINC: The existence of a zinc deficiency can contribute to the development of diabetes in some people. Zinc itself may be an essential part of insulin metabolism. Zinc is well known as a strong guardian against viral diseases, and might also act to protect beta cells from destruction. Type 1 diabetics can be zinc deficient, and supplements have been proven to lower blood glucose levels in some type 1 cases.

– VITAMIN B6: Neuropathy, the severe damage caused by the nervous system by high glucose levels, may be related to a lack of vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine. Pyridoxine supplements may have the ability to improve glucose tolerance, especially for victims from gestational diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance due to the birth control pill. Vitamin B6 also has a dominant role to play in preventing diabetes-related complications.

– VITAMIN B12: Vitamin B12 can have a strong part to play when treating diabetic neuropathy. The presence of vitamin b 12 is crucial for the proper functioning of nerve cells, and for that reason taking it as a nutritional supplement may help to decrease nerve damage. In extreme situations, the excess impact of intramuscular B12 may be necessary.

– VITAMIN C: Type 1 diabetics typically have low vitamin C levels. By increasing the Vitamin C in the blood, the quantity of sorbitol could be lowered. Sorbitol is a damaging sugar when it accumulates. Its existence may result in a higher risk of complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, and kidney impairment. In the case of type 2 diabetics, vitamin c may play a role in improving glucose tolerance.

– VITAMIN D: Vitamin D has a range of benefits for your wellbeing. Produced by the body in response to sunlight exposure, it’s considered to help boost insulin sensitivity, which is very important for blood sugar regulation.

– VITAMIN E: Vitamin E may oxygenate the blood, fight toxins, and enhance insulin activity in the body. After the body has an inadequate quantity of vitamin E, inner structures can be ruined by enhanced free-radical harm. Increasing vitamin E in the blood may reduce the odds of developing type 2 diabetes, and in type 2 diabetics can improve glucose tolerance. Moreover, the antioxidant nature of vitamin E can lower the risk of diabetic complications.