Do you know approximately 34.2 million Americans have diabetes? That makes it around 1 victim out of every 10 people. When glucose accumulates in the blood, sugar level increases. High blood sugar levels cause a range of complicated situations from lethargy to heart disease. Diabetes is a chronic disease that if poorly controlled can lead to complications like heart disease and nerve damage. Hence, you should always keep in check your heart rate for better health management.
To control high blood sugar levels, people use different treatments including medications and insulin injections. While some are interested in food that can help lower blood sugar levels. But, that’s just not it! There is so much more you can do to lower your blood sugar levels. Another good option as a natural remedy is to use supplements along with medications to lower blood sugar.
Impact of Supplements for Diabetes Treatment
Diabetes is a lifelong disease. But incorporating a healthy choice of suitable supplements intake can make a positive impact. However, the important thing to know is that no single supplement alone can treat your diabetes. Lowering blood sugar levels means combining a healthy diet, regular workout, and diabetes medications or insulin therapy.
All in all, one needs to adapt to a completely healthy lifestyle. It includes the usage of foods that lower blood sugar instantly in daily meals and regular exercise alongside. Check out the ultimate diabetes meal plan here. Combining all these healthy choices helps in improving the health of diabetic patients – supplements alongside these lifestyle changes work wonders.
Besides these healthy lifestyle changes, genetics also play a major role in managing your blood sugar level. Even if you don’t have a high blood sugar level, getting your genetic testing done might help grasp the situation beforehand. 9 best Supplements For Diabetic Patients
Supplements For Diabetic Patients
The best-known and experimented supplements to lower your blood sugar are mostly natural herbs and minerals with little to no side effects. Below are the 9 best supplements to lower your blood sugar. But we do recommend consulting with your doctor before taking any of these.
1- Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for diabetic, which helps improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Vitamin D can be found in small amounts from food, supplements, and sunlight too. Some researchers also believe that vitamins enable diabetic people to produce insulin in the pancreas. Studies also show Vitamin D supplements correlated with IR. Vitamin D might benefit to control the glycemic indicators. Not to mention, the glycemic index in food plays a key role to control sugar levels.
How To Take It?
Vitamin levels are different from person to person. The best way to ensure that your vitamin levels are right is by requesting a blood test from your general practitioner. Generally, Vitamin D levels need to be between 20-56 ng/ml (50-140 nmol/l). Anything below 20 ml is considered insufficient.
Precautions:
For people taking other medications, vitamins can react and indicate a mild effect. It’s better to ask your doctor before taking Vitamin D.
2- Omega-3s
Omega 3-s is a fatty acid which is a type of polyunsaturated fat. This fat can be found in chia seeds, walnuts, fish, and flaxseeds. Some studies have found omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in curing inflammation in the body and damage to the blood cells. Due to this aid, omega 3-s can significantly manage the complications of unbalanced blood sugar. Another health research says that this diabetes supplement can help prevent diabetes as well as heart diseases.
How To Take It?
Omega-3s supplements are available in the form of pills. They can be taken with meals to boost food absorption.
Precautions:
Take extra precautions if you are taking other medications with omega-3s. Individuals with an allergy to shellfish or any type of fish should be careful with specific omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Avoid taking fish oil that can cause allergies or rashes.
3- Ginseng
American ginseng, a variety found primarily in North America, attenuates hyperglycemia and is presented as a supplement to diabetes therapy. It works as a supplement to decrease about 20% after-meal blood sugar levels in healthy individuals as well as type 2 diabetic patients.
Studies have shown how single components of ginseng boost positive results. It also indicates that ginseng affects the pancreas to produce an increased amount of insulin but directly pertains to other tissues to use insulin and reduce insulin resistance through its components.
How To Take It?
Before every meal, 1 gram for up to two hours helps lower the sugar level. Daily doses of more than 3 grams have no proven additional benefits.
Precautions:
If a person takes warfarin, a blood thinner, then he should be careful while taking ginseng. Ginseng can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin and it can also stimulate the immune system that can affect the immunosuppressant drugs.
4- Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a popular herb that lowers blood sugar fast and offers numerous health benefits. Cinnamon does not incorporate lots of minerals and vitamins, but it contains loaded antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress. This helps potentially save against high blood sugar levels.
Cinnamon fights diabetes by imitating insulin and increases insulin sensitivity that transports glucose into cells. It also helps lower fasting blood sugar and may reduce hemoglobin A1c. In a study, 8 men exemplified an increase in insulin sensitivity following 2 weeks of cinnamon supplements.
How To Take It?
250 mg cinnamon extract twice a day before meals are recommended. The ideal dose of a regular non-extract cinnamon supplement is 500mg twice a day.
Precautions:
If you have liver damage then you should be careful because excessive intake of cinnamon worsens liver damage. Also, use caution, if you are using other supplements with cinnamon, it may end up reacting badly.
5- Magnesium
People with type 2 diabetes or those who have high blood sugar levels have shown a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is directly involved with the insulin action to body tissues. Magnesium can be consumed through bran cereals, seeds, spinach, and nuts. Adequate intake of magnesium minimizes the risk of developing diabetes and helps control blood sugar levels.
A review of studies involving people with type 2 diabetes as well as healthy participants taking magnesium supplements for 6-24 weeks showed results of lowering sugar levels different from placebo. Moreover, increased intake of 50-mg magnesium developed 3% decreased fasting blood sugar in those with low magnesium levels.
How To Take It?
Magnesium dosage may vary depending on a major factor “age”. However, for adults, it needs to be taken with meals, typically 259-359 mg daily.
Precautions:
Avoid magnesium oxide as it can increase the risk of diarrhea and can also interact with several supplements.
6- Gymnema
Gymnema is a famous herb used as a supplement for diabetes and has numerous benefits for your health. Also known as Gymnema Sylvestre, this herb is used in the Ayurveda tradition of India. The interesting fact is the Hindu name for this herb is gurmar which means “sugar destroyer.”
Due to its impact on type 1 diabetes, Gymnema does reduce sugar absorption and facilitates the cells update from blood. However, it is unsure if Gymnema Sylvestre aids insulin to generate cells in the pancreas.
In a study, 400 mg of Gymnema leaf extract is taken by type 2 diabetes patients daily. Following an 18-20 months study, results showed a 29 % decrease in fasting blood sugar level and A1c reduced from 8.48% to 11.9%.
How To Take It?
The recommended dose is Gymnema Sylvestre leaf extract is 200mg of, twice a day. One can either consume it in the form of a pill, drink, or power.
Precautions:
Use it after consulting your doctor because Gymnema boosts blood sugar impact on insulin and it can also cause liver damage.
7- Aloe Vera
A popular household plant, aloe vera supplements or juices, could wield promise to effectively manage diabetes. This cactus-like plant can help lower your fasting blood glucose (FBG). Aloe vera is a proven effective supplement for people with type 2 diabetes.
This wonderfully beneficial plant contains a variety of components including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. Studies also show that aloe vera helps in reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).
How To Take It?
The best dose is unspecified. However, commonly tested doses in studies include a capsule of 1,000 mg daily or juice of aloe vera 30 ml daily.
Precautions:
People already taking other medications should be careful. Excessive amounts of aloe vera juice intake can crash your blood sugar level. In the worst case, you could develop hyperglycemia. Moreover, oral use of aloe latex may end up with fatal side effects.
8- Berberine
Berberine is a bitter compound taken from the roots and stems of specific plants, which include Phellodendron and goldenseal. It helps boost sugar from the blood into your body muscles. Berberine also works as a great supplement to lower blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity in the body.
Different studies have shown the effect of type 2 diabetic people taking berberine with lifestyle changes and healthy diets. The results showed their fasting blood sugar level reduced by 15.5mg/dl and A1C by 0.71% compared to people who didn’t take berberine with lifestyle changes and diet. Studies also indicate that when berberine supplements are taken along with diabetes medications, it helps lower blood sugar significantly than taking only medications.
How To Take It?
A daily 2-3 times dose of 300 to 500 mg with major meals of the day.
Precautions:
Be careful and consult your doctor first because berberine can disrupt the digestive system, such as diarrhea and constipation.
9- Probiotics
Probiotics are a type of live bacterial strain. They are available in supplement form apart from foods such as yogurts and kombucha. Studies on type 2 diabetes show patients experience a reduced ratio of 16-mg/dl in fasting blood sugar after taking probiotics for two months.
Meta-analyses conducted results that probiotics supplements have taken 6-8 weeks to lower blood sugar in patients with high levels. Probiotics provide essential healthy bacteria in your gut system that help to make up the microbiome. The microbiome is responsible for everything from the immune system to controlling blood pressure and metabolic disorder. That’s where glucose plays a role in your body.
How To Take It?
It is recommended to take more than one beneficial species. This can include a variety of B. Bifidum and L. Acidophilus. However, there is not an ideal mixture of microbes for diabetes.
Precautions:
Probiotics don’t have side effects, but in unusual cases like people with the impaired immune systems, they could lead to serious infections. Hence, consulting your physician beforehand is a must.
FAQs
Do blood sugar support supplements work?
Studies have shown mixed results, some indicate it works while others have not found any visible benefit. Even the research finding of studies that shows supplements work with blood sugar indicate they are not as effective as diabetes drugs. However, combining well with medications and treatments, there’s a positive impact noticed.
What mineral lowers blood sugar?
Magnesium aids the metabolism of carbohydrates in the body which affects insulin in the body. Diabetic patients have a deficiency of this mineral, so taking in a considerable amount helps the effectiveness of insulin.
What is the best natural supplements for diabetic patients?
Many natural supplements help to reduce the blood sugar level. The best thing about using a natural supplement is they don’t have any specific side effects. The best natural supplements include Cinnamon, magnesium, aloe vera, probiotics, and vitamin D.
How to reduce your blood sugar level immediately?
In an emergency like hyperglycemia where your blood sugar level gets excessively high, taking fast-acting insulin or doing a workout can help reduce it fast.
What are the supplements diabetics should not take?
To control bad cholesterol, Vitamin B3 or Niacin are taken by people. If you also take them you might have to be careful because it boosts insulin resistance and increases blood sugar levels. Similarly, magnesium is a good supplement but the wrong or large amount dosage can have several consequences. That’s why talking to your doctor initially is important.
