In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleThe 5 Supplements You Shouldn’t Be Taking If You Have DiabetesTips for Healthy Eating If You Have DiabetesFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
The 5 Supplements You Shouldn’t Be Taking If You Have Diabetes
Tips for Healthy Eating If You Have Diabetes
FAQs
When it comes to managing diabetes, lifestyle plays a major role in blood sugar management and overall health. What you eat, how you move your body, your sleeping patterns and stress levels are all factors that can impact your blood sugars. Even if you are taking medications to manage your diabetes, they are to be used in conjunction with a nutritious eating plan and physical activity. But, what about supplements? Are they safe and effective?
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There are different types of diabetes and different treatment options for each type, so it’s difficult to generalize which supplements all people with diabetes should not take. That’s one of the reasons it is so important to talk to a health professional. All that said, here are five supplements you may want to reconsider if you have diabetes, as they may interfere with certain medications, disrupt blood sugar levels or cause unwanted side effects.
1. Chromium
Chromium is a mineral that is found in a number of foods, such as meat, vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts. Adeficiency in chromiummay cause high blood sugar; however, deficiency is very rare. If you have diabetes and take insulin or other oral medications aimed to reduce blood sugar, taking chromium may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
TheAmerican Diabetes Associationcautions anyone with kidney disease against taking chromium because supplementation can worsen kidney disease. Chromium supplementation may also interfere with levothyroxine (a medication commonly used to treat hypothyroidism).
2. Bitter Melon
Bitter melon is an herbal supplement that has been studied for its use in reducing blood sugars in people with diabetes. Its components—charantin, vicine and polypeptide-p—are thought to have a similar structure to insulin (the hormone involved in blood sugar control).
In a systematic review and meta-analysis inNature, researchers found that the data on bitter melon supplementation continues to remain inconsistent. Studies that have been done are short, and the doses of bitter melon used vary. More research is needed to determine long-term effects and safety. In addition, if you are prone to low blood sugar,bitter melon may increase your risk of low blood sugarand may not be appropriate for you.
3. Green Tea Extract
Drinking green tea has been shown to provide benefits for people with diabetes. For example, in a meta-analysis of 17 clinical trials published inThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that drinking green tea had favorable effects, such as decreased fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C (three-month average of blood sugar). However, there islittle researchon the effectiveness of a green tea supplement outside of studies conducted on animals, and most studies have been very short in duration. Therefore, additional supplementation beyond drinking green tea is probably not necessary.
4. St John’s Wort
More research is needed on the use of St. John’s wort and diabetes, due its potential effects on diabetes medications, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. One small study in theBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, which evaluated the use of St. John’s wort and metformin in 20 healthy male subjects, found that taking it in conjunction with metformin can increase insulin secretion and lower blood sugar after a glucose tolerance test. However,another very small study,including 10 healthy male subjects, found that there were no changes in insulin sensitivity when taking St. John’s wort alone. Instead, researchers noted less insulin secretion, which can increase blood sugar levels.
These very small studies had conflicting results and did not include diverse populations or people with diabetes or have a long enough duration to examine the long-term effects. Therefore, more studies are needed to explore the drug-herb interactions, as well as insulin secretion effects of St. John’s wort.
In addition, if you have diabetes and heart disease and are taking blood thinners, theADA recommendsavoiding St. John’s wort, as it can increase bleeding.
5. Vitamin E
Before spending lots of money on supplements that may not work or can cause harm, focus on making simple yet sustainable dietary changes. Whole foods contain a variety of macronutrients, vitamins and minerals. Aim to increase your intake of plants—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds—that are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats.
Fiberis the indigestible part of carbohydrate that can help to reduce blood sugar spikes because it is metabolized slowly. One simple way to eat more fiber is to ingest one fruit or vegetable at each meal, make half of your grains whole grains, and add one serving of unsalted nuts each day. The2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansrecommends consuming 25 to 38 grams of fiber daily. If you are not accustomed to eating fibrous foods, increase your intake slowly and drink ample amounts of fluids to reduce the risk of stomach discomfort, such as gas.
When eating carbohydrates (grains, potatoes, beans, corn), pair them with nonstarchy vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. This food combination will not only provide satiating power, but also it will help you up your intake of vitamins, minerals, essential fats and protein. A simple yet effective strategy is to use the plate method. Fill half of your plate with nonstarchy vegetables, one quarter with lean protein, and the other quarter with a complex carbohydrate. For example, roasted chicken with stir-fried broccoli and baked sweet potato is a balanced and filling meal.
The Bottom Line
While supplements can serve a purpose when you need to fill nutrient gaps or when you are deficient, they are not always safe, and oftentimes we don’t know their long-term effects. Therefore, before you spend money on supplements, take a look at your lifestyle. A foods-first approach is a safer, more affordable and more realistic way to prevent and manage diabetes. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and lean protein can help you to manage blood sugars and inflammation (another key factor in diabetes).
If you have diabetes, or take care of someone who does, and don’t know where to start, meet with a registered dietitian or certified diabetes care and education specialist. Before taking any supplements, discuss it with your health care provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very important not to replace medical treatment with over-the-counter products that claim to treat diabetes. Treatment of diabetes is ongoing and requires daily diabetes self-management. Lifestyle changes, such as eating a nutritious diet, weight loss (when indicated), physical activity, adequate sleep and reducing stress can help you manage your diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no supplement that will cure you.
If you are deficient in a vitamin, you may benefit from supplementation. And if you have complications of diabetes, some supplements—including vitamin D, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics—may help with symptoms or delay the progression of complications related to diabetes.
Vitamin D: Having low levels of vitamin D is associated with the development of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.Low vitamin D levelsare also associated with an increased risk of foot ulcers and other infections, feelings of depression and impaired bone health, to name a few.Some studiessuggest that supplementing with vitamin D and calcium, in people who are deficient, may help to improve blood sugar control. It is important for all people with diabetes to assess their vitamin D status with their health care provider to determine if supplementation is needed.
B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids: People with diabetes, particularly those who take metformin, can be atincreased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.Metformin can reduce the absorption of B12 as well as blood concentrations.B12 deficiency and insufficiency is associated with neuropathy, so assessing B12 status is important. If levels are low, supplementation may be recommended. If you have complications of diabetes, such as neuropathy (nerve damage), you may want to discuss with your doctor the use of B vitamins or fish oil in treating pain and preventing the progression of disease.Animal studieshave shown omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to be beneficial, but more research is needed.
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