What are the Best Supplements to Lower Blood Sugar?

As diabetes continues to be a health concern, many are turning to complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) to help with the prevention and management of this condition.

Along with the use of CAM, there is growing interest by the scientific community, which has translated into more research focusing on plant remedies and nutrient supplements. There are several critically important side issues that can be managed with nutrients, apart from the direct management of glucose control.

Excess inflammation and oxidation are major issues and contribute to both the pathogenesis of diabetes and to more life threatening symptoms such as cardiovascular disease and neuropathies.

There is increasing evidence that the most important focus for the management of diabetes is to obtain good glycemic control and reduce the damage caused by excessive oxidation and inflammation.

There is a strong relationship between glycemic control, oxidative stress and vascular complications that has long been recognised in type 2 diabetes. Oxidative stress is also a critical step in the development of complications in diabetes, mainly the cardiovascular complications and the inflammatory processes which occur causing so much damage.

Supplementing with anti-oxidative nutrients could potentially improve outcomes overall, but it’s very important to choose your antioxidants carefully.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is the primary water soluble antioxidant found in human plasma. It reacts with oxygen before the oxidative process even begins. It is also able to restore oxidised vitamin E.  Vitamin C has shown to reduce oxidation, inflammation and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Co-enzyme Q10

Research shows that 200 mg of co-enzyme Q10 per day in patients with type 2 diabetes, showed marked improvements in both blood glucose level and blood pressure. There has been much research on the effect of statin drugs given to lower cholesterol that also significantly impact on the levels of co-enzyme Q10.

While these drugs do lower cholesterol successfully, they also strip the body of other fats indiscriminately. Co-enzyme Q10 and vitamin D are included here.

Alpha Lipoic acid.

• This is a supplement that is showing great promise is regulating type 2 diabetes.
• It enhances glucose uptake in muscle and has positive effects on insulin sensitivity.  Alpha lipoic acid is also a major antioxidant for the liver.
• It may also help to reduce fatty liver caused by high-fructose corn syrup.

Minerals for Diabetes.

Chromium is an essential mineral that has a beneficial role in the regulation of insulin action and its effects on carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism.

Chromium supplements enhance the metabolic action of insulin, reduce insulin resistance and lower the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, particularly in those who are overweight. Supplements containing 200-1000mcg chromium as chromium picolinate, taken daily have been found to improve blood glucose control.

Vanadium

Vanadium (taken as vanadyl sulphate) has insulin-like effects and has shown marked and sustained decreases in plasma glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. It also improves glucose transportation, reduces glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis.

Long term supplementation reduces the symptoms of the secondary complications of diabetes like cardiomyopathy, vascular hyperactivity and the formation of cataracts. 50 mg per day is recommended if taking vanadium for long periods of time.

(It is important to seek advice from your diabetes management professional prior to taking any supplements)

Magnesium

High fructose consumption, combined with low magnesium, has been shown to be a significant dietary risk factor for metabolic dysfunction. Regulating fruit intake (and avoiding any foods with high fructose corn syrup added) along with high consumption of green leafy vegetables and / or magnesium supplements, may be beneficial.

With the excessive urination associated with diabetes, a deficiency of magnesium is a common problem, and low magnesium itself increases the risk of insulin resistance.  Common symptoms of low magnesium are cramps, spasms and twitches, as well as anxiety. Magnesium calms the nervous system (along with calcium).

Low magnesium has also been shown to have a role in the development of diabetic complications such as high blood pressure, neuropathy and kidney failure.

Zinc.

There are multiple interactions between zinc and insulin metabolism. Zinc promotes the formation of insulin, as well as promoting correct lipid metabolism in the liver. People with insulin resistance, often have depressed zinc levels, and zinc deficiency may play a role in the development of insulin resistance.

The rate of insulin secretion is reduced in a zinc deficiency, as zinc plays a major role in the health of beta cells in the pancreas. Zinc participates in the synthesis and storage of insulin in the beta cells of the pancreas.

Common deficiency symptoms are :

• Lowered sense of taste and smell
• Poor wound healing
• Excess inflammation
• White spots on the nails and
• Geographic tongue.

Different people will manifest different symptoms and vegetarians are more likely to have a zinc deficiency as this nutrient is really only bio available from animal products – meat and seafood.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Along with increased weight (increased fat stores), low grade chronic inflammation in the fat tissue is causally linked with insulin resistance and the development of diabetes.

While the exact trigger for inflammation is unknown, hypoxia (low oxygen) in the adipose tissue, cellular stress and immune dysregulation are all implicated.

Fish oil supplementation has been shown to reverse high saturated fat- induced insulin resistance and liver disorders.  Growing evidence suggests a strong link between systemic inflammation and type 2 diabetes.

Omega-3 fatty acids   have been shown to both prevent and reverse high-fat-diet-induced adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance.

A dose or 2 of two to four grams per day of omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to reduce fasting and postprandial serum triglycerides by 20-40 per cent.

Vitamin D

The more research that is done on Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, the more we are realising its importance and that many of us are not getting enough of it. Diabetes is yet another chronic degenerative condition that is being shown to be partially due to a deficiency of this crucial nutrient.

Obese people are at a higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because the excess body fat sequesters the vitamin D. Deficiency of this vitamin in adults increases the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 50%, colorectal cancer by as much as 50% and increases the risk of heart attack by as much as 50%.

Probiotics

High fat diets and high sugar diets change the balance of the gut microflora, increasing intestinal wall permeability and resulting in increased inflammation and increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Increased gut permeability (leaky gut) may also increase the absorption of antigens, toxins or chemicals that can potentially damage pancreatic cells.

Supplementing with a live probiotic formula is important. Yogurts and kefir can help with this, but if you have had antibiotics, a supplement may be necessary. Adding in slippery elm and plenty of leafy green vegetables will provide a good food source of these beneficial bacteria.

Diabetes has been recognized for millennia, but is an increasing problem in todays world. However, there are many positive things you can do to either prevent or treat the disease. Dietary, herbal or nutritional supplements can play an effective positive role, particularly in the early stages of the condition. Remember, prevention is always better than cure, so start early, especially if you have a family history of these conditions.

These remedies are based on improving the health of the system, not just on treating the disease, so they are slower to work and take a little more effort and time. The improvement in overall health and sense of well being will be worth it using these supplements for diabetes.