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As a person with diabetes, do you wonder if your vitamin and
supplement needs are different from people without diabetes?
The best source of vitamins and minerals is a well balanced
healthy eating plan. However, a recently published nutrition
manual states that "there is probably no harm in taking
a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement with doses no higher
than 100% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA)."
If you choose to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement,
don't consider it a replacement for healthy eating, rather
think of it as part of your "health insurance."
Purchase a supplement that provides 100% of the Daily Value
(DV) of vitamins and minerals.
Be sure to inform your health care team if you choose to take
vitamins. All supplements can cause interactions with medication.
Some of these interactions can be quite dangerous.
Vitamin E
People with diabetes have a higher than usual need for vitamin
E, which improves insulin activity and acts as an antioxidant
and a blood oxygenator. Research has shown that people with
low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop Type
2 diabetes. Double-blind studies show that vitamin E improves
glucose tolerance in people with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM).
Vitamin E was found to improve glucose tolerance in elderly
non-diabetics.
A vitamin E deficiency results in increased free-radical-induced
damage, particularly of the lining of the vascular system.
Supplemental vitamin E may help prevent diabetic complications
through its antioxidant activity, the inhibition of the platelet-releasing
reaction and platelet aggregation, increasing HDL-cholesterol
levels and its role in fatty acid metabolism. Vitamin E protects
animals from diabetic cataracts.
It may require three months or more of supplementation for
benefits to become apparent. The trace mineral selenium functions
synergistically with vitamin E.
Note: If you have high blood pressure, limit your intake of
supplemental vitamin E to a total of 400 international units
daily. If you are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinner),
consult your physician before taking supplemental vitamin
E.
Vitamin C
People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) have low vitamin C levels.
Vitamin C lowers sorbitol in diabetics. Sorbitol is a sugar
that can accumulate and damage the eyes, nerves, and kidneys
of diabetics. Vitamin C may improve glucose tolerance in Type
2 diabetes (NIDDM).
The transport of vitamin C into cells is facilitated by insulin.
It has been postulated that, due to impaired transport or
dietary insufficiency, a relative vitamin C deficiency exists
in the diabetic and that this may be responsible for the increased
capillary permeability and other vascular disturbances seen
in diabetics.
If you are diabetic, supplement your diet with 1-3 grams per
day of vitamin C.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 supplementation has been used with some success
in treating diabetic neuropathy. It is not clear if this is
due to the correcting of a deficiency state or normalizing
vitamin B12 metabolism.
Vitamin B12 is needed for normal functioning of nerve cells.
Vitamin B12 taken orally, intravenously, or by injection reduces
nerve damage caused by diabetes in most people.
Oral supplementation may be sufficient, but intramuscular
vitamin B12 may be necessary in many cases. Take up to 500
mcg of Vitamin B12 three times per day.
Vitamin B6
Diabetics with neuropathy have been shown to be deficient
in vitamin B6 and benefit from supplementation. Peripheral
neuropathy is a known result of pyridoxine deficiency and
is indistinguishable from diabetic neuropathy. Vitamin B6
supplements improve glucose tolerance in women with diabetes
caused by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 is also effective for glucose
intolerance induced by the birth control pill. 1,800 mg per
day of a special form of vitamin B6-pyridoxine alpha-ketoglutarate-improves
glucose tolerance dramatically.
Pyridoxine is also important in preventing other diabetic
complications because it is an important coenzyme in the cross-linking
of collagen and inhibits platelet aggregation.
Biotin
Biotin is a B vitamin needed to process glucose. It has been
shown to work synergistically with insulin and independently
in increasing the activity of glucokinase. This enzyme is
responsible for the first step in glucose utilization. Glucokinase
is present only in the liver, where, in diabetics, its concentration
is very low.
Supplementation with large quantities of biotin may significantly
enhance glucokinase activity, thereby improving glucose metabolism
in diabetics. When people with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) were
given 16 mg of biotin per day for just one week, their fasting
glucose levels dropped by 50%. Similar results have been reported
using 9 mg per day for two months in people with Type 2 diabetes
(NIDDM). Biotin may also reduce pain from diabetic nerve damage.
Take 16 mg of biotin for a few weeks to see if blood sugar
levels will fall.
Chromium
As a key constituent of the 'glucose tolerance factor,' chromium
is a critical nutrient in diabetes. Supplementation in the
form of chromium chloride (200 micro g daily) or high-chromium-containing
brewer's yeast (9 g a day) has been demonstrated to decrease
fasting glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin
levels and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels,
while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
Double-blind research shows that chromium supplements improve
glucose tolerance in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes,
apparently by increasing sensitivity to insulin. Chromium
improves the processing of glucose in people with pre-diabetic
glucose intolerance and in women with diabetes associated
with pregnancy.
The typical amount of chromium used in research trials is
200 mcg per day. Some doctors recommend up to 1,000 mcg per
day of Chromium for diabetics. Niacin administered at relatively
low levels (100 mg) along with 200 mcg of chromium has been
shown to be more effective than chromium alone. Exercise increases
tissue chromium concentrations.
Manganese
Manganese is an important cofactor in the key enzymes of glucose
metabolism. A deficiency of manganese was found to result
in diabetes in guinea pigs. It also resulted in the frequent
birth of offspring who develop pancreatic abnormalities or
no pancreas at all. Diabetics have been shown to have only
one-half the manganese of normal individuals.
Magnesium
Magnesium levels are significantly lowered in diabetics, and
lowest in those with severe retinopathy. Studies suggest that
a deficiency in magnesium may worsen the blood sugar control
in Type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a deficiency of
magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and
increases insulin resistance in the body's tissues. Studies
suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen the blood
sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that
a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in
the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body's
tissues.
Supplementation with magnesium leads to improved insulin production
in elderly people with Type 2 diabetes. Elders without diabetes
may also produce more insulin as a result of magnesium supplements.
Insulin requirements are lower in people with Type 1 diabetes
who supplement with magnesium.
Diabetes-induced damage to the eyes is more likely to occur
to magnesium-deficient people with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM).
In pregnant women with IDDM who are magnesium deficient, the
lack of magnesium may even account for the high rate of spontaneous
abortion and birth defects associated with IDDM. Low magnesium
levels appears to be a significant risk factor in the development
of cardiovascular disease, particularly coronary artery spasm.
Many doctors of natural medicine recommend that diabetics
with normal kidney function supplement with 300-400 mg of
magnesium per day.
Zinc
Zinc deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the development
of diabetes in humans. Zinc is involved in virtually all aspects
of insulin metabolism -synthesis, secretion and utilization.
Zinc also has a protective effect against beta cell destruction,
and has well-known anti-viral effects.
People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) tend to be zinc deficient,
which may impair immune function. Zinc supplements have lowered
blood sugar levels in people with IDDM. People with Type 2
diabetes (NIDDM) also have low zinc levels, caused by excess
loss of zinc in their urine.
People with NIDDM are recommended to supplement their diet
with moderate amounts of zinc (15-50 mg per day) as a way
to correct for the deficit.
Note: Take zinc with food to prevent stomach upset. If you
take over 30 milligrams of zinc on a daily basis for more
than one or two months, you should also take 1 to 2 milligrams
of copper each day to maintain a proper mineral balance.
Coenzyme Q10
People with diabetes cannot adequately process carbohydrates.
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is needed for normal carbohydrate
metabolism. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that fights free-radical
damage and is a blood oxygenator.
Animals with diabetes are CoQ10 deficient. In one trial, blood
sugar levels fell substantially in 31% of people with diabetes
after they supplemented with 120 mg of CoQ10 per day.
Because the eye is so richly supplied with tiny blood vessels,
this is another nutrient that can help in cases of retinopathy.
Take 50 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 twice daily for up to three
months, then reduce the dosage to 30 milligrams daily.
Carnitine
Carnitine is a substance needed for the body to properly use
fat for energy. When diabetics are given carnitine (1 mg per
2.2 pounds of body weight), high blood levels of fats-both
cholesterol and triglycerides-dropped 25-39% in just ten days.
In addition, carnitine improves the breakdown of fatty acids,
possibly playing a role in preventing diabetic ketoacidosis.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich food. People
with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) have low taurine levels, that
leads to "thickened" blood-a condition which increases
the risk of heart disease. Supplementing taurine (1.5 grams
per day) restores taurine levels to normal and corrects the
problem of blood viscosity within three months.
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Articles > Diabetes and Vitamins
