Top 5 Vitamin Supplements for Diabetes that Work!

 After the cholesterol myth was busted, top medical professionals have discovered insulin resistance aka diabetes or blood sugar fluctuations is the master of all diseases. If you are already suffering from Diabetes, the proper management is important. I cant promise if it will take off your diabetes meds, which is even possible, but exercising proper management is important.

That's why it is important to use supplements that will help your body with keeping your blood sugar levels stable and increase insulin sensitivity. Good quality supplements can be expensive so you want to make sure that your hard earned money is spent on the supplements that will truly benefit your health. In combination with a healthy diet and exercise, there are supplements that can help you slowly reverse this insulin resistance.

It's no longer thought of as a disease with no cure. Medical studies have shown amazing results. So, what supplements are good for diabetes? After this article, you will know the five best diabetes supplements that work.   

The Importance Of A Healthy Diet For Diabetes

Supplements cannot replace a healthy diet. They work in conjunction with a healthy diet to prevent and treat any deficiencies that you may have. A good diet is the number one tool that you have to reverse and manage your diabetes. Healthy and balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats are important to keep your blood sugar levels stable and give you energy.

All the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in your food not only help your body to function properly, but they facilitate healing and help to fight off diseases. A diet including high-quality protein (grass-fed meat, chicken, and fish), healthy starches (like sweet potatoes), healthy fats and vegetables provide you with most of the nutrients you need. 

Supplements For Diabetes

The nutritional content of our food is not what it once was. There are many environmental issues and farming practices that have contributed to this. Long transit times between farms and stores and improper storage also add to the problem. Supplements have become necessary to optimise our health. As a diabetic, you may also be excreting more nutrients than those who are not diabetic.

Magnesium and vitamin B5 are two of the nutrients that are excreted more easily. Supplementing with these nutrients as well as the others I am going to mention is another powerful tool to reverse diabetes.    

1. ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) For Diabetes

ALA is an antioxidant which improves insulin sensitivity and fights Diabetes. ALA helps relieve complications and symptoms of diabetes such as:

• Nerve damage
• Numbness in the legs and arms
• Eye-related disorders
• Cardiovascular problems

ALA also boosts Glutathione production, the most powerful antioxidant in our body. The supplemental form of glutathione is very expensive and sometimes ineffective. So consuming ALA is a safer bet to enhance Glutathione production.

  Time Taken: Empty Stomach

   Dose:

• 800 mg for diabetic patients (divided into two doses)
• 600–1800 mg for patients with  diabetic neuropathy

   Natural Sources:  Grass-fed Red Meat, Organ Meat, Broccoli, Spinach, Beets, and Carrots         

Talk to your doctor first especially if you have a thyroid disorder.  

2. Vitamin B Complex

One of the major functions of the B vitamins is to make sure your nervous system is functioning well. They also help your body to use the energy from the food that you digest which helps with fatigue. Neuropathy (nerve damage) is often caused by diabetes. B-vitamins will help to keep your nerves healthy and helps to make sure any existing damage doesn't progress any further.  

Supplement form: It should contain thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin or niacinamide (B3), pantothenic acid (B5) vitamin B6 and biotin. Folate/folic acid (B9) should only be in the form of folinic acid or MTHF as the synthetic form folic acid has been shown to be harmful. B12 should be in the form of methylcobalamin or hydroxocobalamin to ensure adequate absorption.  

3. Magnesium 

Magnesium is a mineral that many are deficient in, and diabetics can excrete more of it than those who don't suffer from diabetes. Magnesium helps to increase insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar which is helpful in reversing diabetes. Another thing magnesium does is to improve your quality of sleep and increase your energy levels.  

Supplement form: Any form ending in "ate" except magnesium stearate and magnesium aspirate

Dose: 500-800 mg

Natural Sources: Spinach, Chard, Pumpkin Seeds  

4. Chromium  

Chromium helps to control the amount of sugar our bodies take in and use by making insulin work correctly. It also makes sure that all the energy we consume is directed to our cells where it's needed. So you will get stable blood sugar levels and feel more energetic. It also helps your metabolism to run more efficiently which can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Chromium is also needed for good eye health. If diabetes progresses it can lead to problems with the eyes, so chromium is definitely an important nutrient to make sure you get enough of.  

Supplement form:

Chromium picolinate

Dose: 200-600 mcg

Natural Sources: Broccoli and rest foods have in very low amount.  

5. Omega 3 For The Inflammations 

Omega 3 fights inflammation in the body. Inflammation is often the cause of diseases including diabetes. It's also important for good eye health, healthy brain function and the balancing of hormones. In addition to these things, omega 3 also helps to increase insulin sensitivity. A medical study also found that omega 3 supplementation can improve kidney function in type 2 diabetics where kidneys have been affected by the progression of diabetes. High triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood) levels are also often found in diabetics. Omega 3 helps to lower high triglyceride levels.  

Supplement form: Krill oil (A good quality omega 3 supplement will have dark capsules to protect the oil)

Dose: 1000-2000 mg

Natural Sources: Vegetable-based omega-3 is also found in flaxseed oil and walnut oil, and it's good to include these in your diet as well, but do not cook with them. Read more here about reversing diabetes.

  There are other spices that can really make a profound difference whenever you have those cravings. This is the reason why Diabetes and Obesity are interlinked. As the blood sugar levels are not regulated, whenever there is a drop in blood sugar level you will crave. Diabetic patients eat 6- 7 times a day and this adds up to calories and hence obesity. In your meal add the following spices and see if you can go longer between the meals.

• Cinnamon
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Bitte Leamons
• Ginger
• Sunlight or safe tanning beds for vitamin D3.

You must have heard about high glycemic foods, but do you know there is also something called insulin index foods and I took a screenshot from Dr. Eric Berg while he was explaining this.  

Conclusion

• We cannot get all the nutrients we need from our diet alone
• Supplements cannot replace a healthy diet but they are necessary
• Diabetics sometimes excrete more vital nutrients than those without diabetes making supplementation necessary
• The best dietary supplements for diabetes are a good quality vitamin B complex, vitamin C, magnesium, chromium and omega 3

 You Can Buy My Recommended Supplements Here

Sources

 Diabetes, Type 2

How Much Vitamin B Complex Is Safe to Take in a Day?

What Is Chromium Beneficial For? Blood Sugar, High Cholesterol & More

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Diabetic Nephropathy Progression in Patients with Diabetes and Hypertriglyceridemia