What Supplements Should A Person With Diabetes Take
It’s ideal that we get our vitamins and minerals from the foods that we consume. On the other hand, alternative medicines and supplements are becoming increasingly popular. Supplements, however, should not be used as a substitute for ordinary diabetes care. This can jeopardize your health.
Taking a supplement with your diabetic medication may allow your doctor to reduce your prescription dose over time, while supplements are unlikely to replace medication completely. Other treatments and drugs may be affected by some of these products. The fact that a natural product does not guarantee that it is safe to use.
Diet and exercise can help many people control their blood glucose levels. If not, a doctor can give blood sugar-controlling drugs. Some of these medications are:
- Cinnamon – Cinnamon has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years for therapeutic purposes. Numerous research has been conducted to investigate its influence on blood glucose levels.
- Chromium – is a necessary trace element. It plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism. However, the evidence regarding chromium’s utility in diabetic management is inconsistent. For the most part, modest dosages of chromium are safe, although there is a danger that it will cause blood sugar to drop too low. High doses have the potential to harm the kidneys.
- Vitamin B-1 – thiamine is another name for it. Thiamine deficiency is common in people with diabetes. Some diabetic issues may be exacerbated as a result of this. Heart disease and blood vessel damage have been linked to low thiamine levels.
- Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) – is an antioxidant that has a lot of power. According to some research, it may help to minimize oxidative stress, lower fasting blood sugar levels, and reduce insulin resistance.
- Resveratrol – is a substance that can be found in wine and grapes. It prevents elevated blood sugar in animal models.
- Magnesium – is a nutrient that is required for life. It aids in the control of blood pressure. Insulin sensitivity is also controlled by it. Magnesium supplementation may help diabetics increase their insulin sensitivity.
- Chromium – it may enhance the effects of insulin or support the activity of pancreatic cells that produce insulin
- Vitamin D – it may improve the function of pancreatic cells that make insulin and increase your body’s responsiveness to insulin.
- Gymnema – may help cells absorb sugar from the blood and limit sugar absorption in the stomach. Gymnema sylvestre is thought to help insulin-producing cells in the pancreas because of its effect on type 1 diabetes.
- Probiotics – Probiotics have been shown in animal experiments to lower blood sugar levels by lowering inflammation and avoiding the loss of insulin-producing pancreatic cells. Several other systems could also be involved.
Keep in mind that your findings may differ from what studies have shown, depending on factors like time, supplement quality, and your diabetes condition.
Consult your doctor about supplements, especially if you’re on diabetic medication or insulin, as some of the following supplements may interfere with drugs and increase the risk of blood sugar dropping too low.
