A Comprehensive Guide To Dietary Supplementation For Diabetes

Understanding Diabetes and Dietary Supplements

When blood glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, is too high, diabetes develops. A high blood glucose level over time is associated with several health conditions, such as kidney disease retinopathy, heart disease, peripheral nerve disease, and many others.

When you have diabetes, a constant effort in terms of lifestyle changes and food choices is a prerequisite to improve your quality of life. Taking insulin or other diabetes medications, along with making appropriate dietary choices, supplementation, and engaging in regular physical activity, are frequently a part of controlling diabetes.

A dietary supplement is a dietary element meant to complement the diet and is taken orally. It may include vitamins, herbs, minerals, amino acids, and other ingredients like enzymes and metabolites. Dietary supplements are usually available as soft gels, tablets, capsules, bars, liquids, or powders.

If you feel you do not obtain enough vitamins and minerals from your meal, you could use supplements. However, before using any nutritional supplements, you must always consult your doctor as some supplements might have a negative effect on or influence how well your diabetes medication functions.

Dietary Supplements That May Aid in Diabetes

Numerous studies have examined the use of dietary supplements in individuals with diabetes and their consequences.

1. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)

• According to a 2016 evaluation of therapies, ALA supplementation was found be beneficial for diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage brought on by diabetes) symptoms based on two studies.
• However, more research is being conducted on the effects of ALA on diabetes-related complications such as diabetic macular oedema (an eye condition that can result in vision loss) and diabetic neuropathy.
• ALA is a compound obtained either from diet or synthetic supplementations. Numerous vegetables, including spinach, broccoli, tomato, brussels sprouts, rice bran, and meats, contain ALA.

2. Chromium

• A 2014 study found that using chromium supplements along with standard treatment marginally improved blood sugar control in persons with diabetes (mainly type 2) who had poor blood sugar control.
• Chromium is an important trace mineral that is present in several foods essential for proper metabolism.

3. Magnesium

• Diabetes risk may be increased by magnesium shortage. Several studies have examined the possibility that consuming magnesium supplements might benefit those having or at risk of diabetes.
• Magnesium is a mineral that may be found in a wide variety of foods, although it is particularly abundant in spinach, certain seeds, and bran cereal.

4. Vitamins

• Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, especially those who are on metformin, frequently have vitamin B12 deficiencies. To assist in management of certain diabetes complications such as diabetic neuropathy, vitamin B12 supplementation is necessary.
• According to studies, taking vitamin C supplements may lower blood sugar, boost insulin production and secretion, reduce insulin resistance, as well as delay the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes problems.
• Higher concentrations of vitamin D in children is seen to be associated with reduced risk of type 1 diabetes. Also, studies have shown that insulin secretion and insulin resistance may both be improved by vitamin D.
• Supplementing with vitamin E is believed to be crucial for both preventing the development of diabetes problems and slowing their progression. Vitamin E has antioxidant potential which is believed to reduce the oxidative stress in the people with diabetes.
• Niacin (vitamin B3) is sometimes taken to increase HDL (good) cholesterol; however, it can negatively impact your diabetes control. People with diabetes who take niacin have shown to have higher fasting glucose levels (blood sugar levels on an empty stomach), therefore, the hazards may outweigh the advantages.

5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Metformin and essential fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids can be used together to lower triglyceride levels in individuals with high triglyceride levels associated with diabetes, without causing any side effects.

With respect to the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on diabetes, conflicting results have been found, as some studies showed decreased whereas others showed an increase in blood sugar levels after supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids.

Conclusion

People with diabetes frequently use dietary supplements to stabilise their condition. Although research is still ongoing to justify their usage in diabetes, the overall safety concerns are negligible. Some vitamins and minerals may be helpful for your condition, depending on the sort of treatment plan you employ to manage your diabetes.  

To be sure they are safe when taken with any prescription medications, talk to your healthcare team and doctor before including any vitamins or dietary supplements in your regular diet. You should also remember that dietary supplements should only be used as an adjuvant to prescription medication for the control of diabetes and never as a replacement.