Eight Nutritional Supplements That May Help Diabetics

More and more diabetics are taking diabetes nutritional supplements in an effort to control their diabetes and prevent progression of the disease. While not all diabetes nutritional supplements live up to their claims, there are some supplements that seem to have benefit in diabetics. Do you need to take diabetes supplements if you have the disease? That would all depend upon your particular medical history. Before taking any nutritional supplements, it's best to check with your doctor. Here are some nutritional supplements shown to have a positive impact on diabetes control in some studies:

1. Multivitamin

Studies have shown that diabetics who take a multivitamin supplement on a consistent basis have a significantly lower risk of developing infection compared to those who don't.

2. Chromium

Chromium is a mineral that plays a critical role in keeping your blood sugars normal. Supplementation with at least 200 mcg of chromium per day in diabetics has been shown to help lower blood glucose levels as well as improve their lipid profiles by lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. (the good cholesterol). Chromium supplements even improve the ability to process glucose in patients who are prediabetic.Some diabetics may need higher doses of chromium than the recommended 200 mcg, but it would be best to check with your doctor before exceeding this amount.

3. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

ALA supplementation in diabetics has shown it may have the ability to make the muscle tissue more sensitive to glucose so it can better utilize it. It's also a potent antioxidant which may help to prevent some of the free radical damage that occurs in diabetics. Free radical damage is thought to lead to some of the complications seen in diabetes such as diabetic nerve, eye, and kidney disease..

4. Magnesium

This particular mineral shows mixed results in trials. Diabetics have been shown to be deficient in magnesium when blood levels are measured. In support of supplementation, are studiesthat show insulin requirements are reduced in diabetics who supplement with 500
mg. of Magnesium per day. On the negative side, one trial showed no effect of magnesium supplementation on a group of patients with type 2 diabetes. There is some evidence that magnesium supplemented patients develop fewer diabetic eye related complications than those who don't take supplements. Does it make sense to supplement with this mineral? It probably wouldn't hurt to do so as the predominance of evidence supports its role in helping to normalize blood sugars. Plus, it's a relatively inexpensive and harmless diabetes nutritional supplement .

5. Cinnamon

This one is a real bonus! Most of us have cinnamon hiding somewhere in our cabinets and it can now be put to good use. Studies have shown that adding as little as 1/4 teaspoon to your diet two to three times a day can lower blood glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity . Cinnamon supplementation has also been shown to cause positive changes in the lipid profiles of diabetics. Be aware that cinnamon supplementation may take up to 30 days to produce results. Be sure to let your doctor know you're supplementing with cinnamon as this may alter your insulin requirements.

6. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is an important component needed for normal carbohydrate metabolism. It's also a powerful antioxidant that may help to prevent some of the complications of diabetes. Both people and animals with diabetes have been show to have lower levels of Coenzyme Q10. Some studies have also shown that supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 at between 100-200 mcg per day lowers blood glucose levels, while others have shown no improvement in glucose levels or insulin sensitivity. The verdict is still out on whether this supplement is a truly beneficial diabetes nutritional supplement. Hopefully, future research will clarify this.

7. Zinc

Diabetics tend to have lower zinc levels than the average population. Combine this with the fact that zinc deficiency appears to play some role in the development of diabetes and you can see why this supplement might be recommended. Zinc has been shown to decrease glucose levels in those with Type I diabetes, but has shown rather disappointing results in improving blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetics should still consider taking this diabetes supplement since they tend to be zinc deficient which can cause impaired immune function. The standard dose is between 15 and 35 mg per day.

8. Garlic

Garlic has been shown to help normalize blood sugars by stimulating the release of insulin. It also appears to have positive benefits on the lipid profile of diabetics. If you don't want to take a supplement, consider adding more garlic to your diet.

It's encouraging to know there's growing evidence that simple and inexpensive diabetes nutritional supplements may play a role in controlling blood sugars. It will be interesting to see what additional research will show in this area. As always, consult with your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements.