Food Supplements and Diabetics: A Guide to Healthier Living
When managing diabetes, lifestyle plays an important role in blood sugar control and overall health. What you eat, how you exercise. your sleep habits and your stress level are all factors that can affect your blood sugar levels. One should use a high dietary plan and engage in physical activity. A Dietitian tells the story about diabetics and food supplements.
What About The Dietary Supplements for Diabetics?
Are they safe and effective? Dietary supplements are designed to fill nutritional gaps. When diet alone cannot meet or fall short of needs. It’s important to consume with caution. Always look for third-party certifications to make sure what they say. Start supplementing with the supervision of a registered dietitian or doctor. Dietary supplements can be costly and can be harmful if not taken carefully. Especially if you take certain medications or have other health conditions.
Supplements, Diabetes Patients Should not Take
Because there are many types of diabetes and different treatments for each type. It is difficult to generalize about supplements that all diabetics should not take. That’s one reason why it’s so important to see your doctor. Here are 5 supplements you should reconsider if you have diabetes. Because they can interfere with certain medications, mess with your blood sugar levels, or cause unwanted side effects.
Chromium
Chromium is a mineral in many foods such as meats, vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts. Its deficiency can lead to high blood sugar levels. However, deficiency is extremely rare. If you have diabetes take insulin or other oral medications to lower blood sugar levels. Taking chromium may increase your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Chromium can worsen kidney disease in people with the condition, so they should avoid taking it.
Bitter Melon
It is an herbal supplement that has been studied to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Its components – charantin, vicine, and polypeptide-p. This structure is thought to be similar to that of insulin, a hormone involved in blood sugar control. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Nature. The researchers found that data on bitter melon supplementation remains conflicting and dosages vary. To determine long-term efficacy and safety, more research is needed. Additionally, if you are prone to hypoglycemia, it may increase your risk of hypoglycemia and may not be for you.
Green tea extract
Drinking green tea is beneficial for diabetics. For example, in a meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers found that drinking green tea has positive effects. Few researchers have conducted extensive studies on the effectiveness of green tea supplements outside of animal research, and most of these studies have been short.
St. John’s Wort
Further research is needed on the use of St. John’s Wort with diabetes. It may affect diabetes medications, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion. A small study examining the use of St. John’s Wort and metformin in male volunteers found. When taking metformin along with it, the insulin increases secretion and decreases blood glucose levels after a glucose tolerance test. However, another very small study of 10 healthy male subjects found no change in insulin sensitivity.
When St. John’s Wort was taken alone, less insulin secretion was found, which could raise blood sugar levels. However, the study wasn’t long enough to examine long-term effects. Therefore, further studies are needed to examine drug-herb interactions and the insulinotropic effects of St. John’s Wort. Additionally, if you have diabetes or heart disease and are taking blood thinners, the ADA recommends avoiding St. John’s Wort as it can increase bleeding.
The microscopic studies yielded conflicting results and did not include different population groups and diabetics. Studies do not provide sufficient information to examine long-term effects. We need studies to investigate drug-herb interactions and the insulinotropic effects of these.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and may help combat oxidative stress. Which is a precursor to and contributes to type 2 diabetes. However, vitamin E may interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding by blocking the clotting effects of vitamin K. If you have diabetes and are taking blood thinners, unsupervised supplements are not advised for you.
Healthy Diet Tips for Diabetics
Focus on simple, sustainable dietary changes before spending big bucks on supplements that are ineffective or potentially harmful. Whole foods contain a wide variety of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Try to eat more plants that are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Fiber, the indigestible portion of carbohydrates, is metabolized slowly. It helps keep blood sugar levels from spiking. Eating fruits or vegetables at every meal is an easy way to get more fiber. Make half your grains whole grains, and add one serving of unsalted nuts each day.
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend taking 25-38 grams of fiber daily. To gradually accustom yourself to consuming high-fiber foods, slowly increase your intake and drink ample fluids. It will reduce the risk of stomach upsets such as bloating. If you eat carbohydrate cereals, potatoes, beans, and corn, combine them with non-starchy vegetables. The lean protein and healthy fats can also help increase your protein intake. A simple but effective strategy is the plate method. Fill half your plate with non-starchy veggies, one-quarter with lean protein, and one quarter with complex carbs. For example, roast fried chicken with broccoli and baked potato is a well-balanced and filling meal.
FAQ
Are there over-the-counter medicines for diabetics?
It is very important not to replace treatment with over-the-counter medicines that claim to treat diabetes. Diabetes treatment is ongoing and requires daily diabetes self-management. Making lifestyle changes such as adopting a nutritious diet, losing weight (if necessary), engaging in regular physical activity, ensuring adequate sleep, and managing stress can help you effectively manage diabetes. Unfortunately, no supplement can cure you.
What dietary supplements are helpful for diabetics?
If you are lacking vitamins, supplements can help. Also, if you have diabetes-related complications, taking supplements such as vitamin D, vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of diabetes-related complications. People with low levels of Vitamin D are at risk of developing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance.
Vitamin D: People with low Vitamin D levels are at risk of developing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. Individuals with low vitamin D levels are at an increased risk of developing foot ulcers and other infections, experiencing depression, and having poor bone health. Some studies suggest that supplementing with vitamin D and calcium may improve glycemic control in those who are deficient. You should evaluate your condition with your doctor to determine if supplementation is necessary.
B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids: People with diabetes, especially those taking metformin, are at increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. There is a possibility that Metformin may decrease B12 absorption and blood levels. Neurological disorders are associated with B12 deficiency, so assessing an individual’s B12 status is important. If levels are low, replenishment may be recommended, and if there are complications with diabetes, this should be considered.
In case of neuropathy (nerve damage), you should discuss the use of B vitamins or fish oil with your doctor to treat pain and prevent the progression of the disease. Animal studies have shown that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids is beneficial, but more research is needed.
Probiotics: Increasing evidence supports using probiotics for gut health, diabetes, and blood sugar control. It shows a positive effect on glycemic control. Note that different types of probiotics have other functions, and dietary habits and the number of colony units consumed may also have an impact… Always consult a professional if you are considering taking dietary supplements. Adding fermented foods to your diet is a good way to increase your probiotic intake – try yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut and miso.
Conclusion
Supplements can help if you need to fill a nutrient gap or are deficient, but they are not always safe and the long-term effects are often unknown. Therefore spend money on supplements. Before you do, take a look at your lifestyle. A food-first approach is a safer, more affordable, and viable way to prevent and treat diabetes. Dietary supplements can also aid in a healthy liver.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
