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Are There Supplements that can be Taken With Diabetic Medication and are they Beneficial?

Supplements do not control both forms of diabetes

Supplements can be helpful to control type 2 diabetes but not necessarily type 1 diabetes or Juvenile diabetes. However, the keyword is supplement, diet and exercise is the best control for Type 2 diabetes patients and of course prescriptions drugs for diabetes are necessary as well.

Supplements alone cannot control diabetes

Never try any supplement alone without a doctor’s approval. Diabetes is a serious illness, which needs to be monitored by your family doctor or a diabetes specialist. There aren’t enough studies to show if type 1 diabetes patients can lower their insulin levels by taken any supplements at this time.

Exercise and a good diet is the best supplement to compliment prescribed diabetes medication.

There are some vitamin supplements that are better than others

GTF (glucose tolerance factor) chromium will help blood sugar regulation by aiding the insulin to carry glucose into the cells. A daily dosage of 1,000 mg daily should help. Chromium is a trace mineral, which only needs to be taken in small amounts. It can be found in small amounts in several kinds of foods, such as meat, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and spices. This product must be careful monitored because two much chromium may cause low levels of blood sugar. Too much chromium can also cause kidney problems, which is already an issue for people with diabetes.

Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that will aid in glucose uptake and prevent the sugar from attaching to proteins and causing cell damage. This supplement will also help with eye and nerve health. Alpha-lipoic acid will help prevent or treat diabetic neuropathy due to poor circulation. Apha-lipoic can also be found in foods such as liver, broccoli, potatoes and spinach. However, Apha-lipoic may result in the blood sugar being lowered too much, and therefore blood sugar levels must be constantly monitored.

Magnesium is often taken to regulate insulin production. There are different kinds of magnesium and some of them have the side affect of acting as a laxative. Magnesium glycinate is a good source of magnesium with less of a laxative affect.

Coenzyme Q10 is a very powerful antioxidant to promote a healthy heart. You can take 60-100 mgs in the soft gel form with your biggest meal of the day.

• Botanicals.
• Bitter melon (momordica Charantia).
• Gumar (Gynnema sylvestre).
• Prickly-pear cactus (opuntia spp).
• There have been only a few studies on the effects of botanicals in controlling blood sugar.
• Omega fatty acids.

(Omega fatty acids are available in both pill and capsule form. They can also be found in such foods, as fish, fish oil, canola and soybean oil, wheat germ and walnuts. There are conflicting findings for the use of omega fatty acids in diabetes control, some studies point to the lowering of triglycerides, however it does not lower cholesterol levels or control blood glucose. Again high levels of fish can interact with certain blood pressure medications and blood thinners).

• Polyphenols

(Polyphenols are found in dark chocolate, green tea and other food sources and may have an effect on insulin and blood glucose control, though some studies have found that green tea does not have much of an effect on diabetics).

Some facts to consider before taking supplements for type 2 diabetes

First of all sufficient data is lacking on whether or not supplements aid in the fight to manage diabetes symptoms. Do not replace supplements for prescribed diabetes medication. Make sure that your diabetes doctor has a list of all supplements that you are taking so that he or she can evaluate their usefulness. Some supplements may interfere with regular medication and therefore have an adverse affect. Too much of a supplement can be toxic or end up in and overdose if the properties of the supplement are the same as the prescribed medication you are taking.

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