It is not uncommon to develop diabetes as we grow older, and with an increasing number of people suffering diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and pre-diabetes in their youth, the number only looks like it’s going to go up every generation.
Many of us are aware of the efforts we can make to prevent diabetes – healthy diet, low carb diet, low processed food diet, more fiber, more exercise, reduced calories, etc.
However, once you have it, it can be difficult if not impossible to reverse. This is where medicine comes in.
Most diabetics are on some form of medicine or another. Insulin, metformin, and gabapentin are common medicines for treating diabetes and its side effects.
There is also a whole industry of alternative medicines for diabetics such as herbal or traditional or supplements – often with a focus on micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
If you suffer diabetes, you have probably been recommended natural remedies – either by a salesperson, a diabetic friend and/or relative, or even your own doctor. Cinnamon, magnesium, herbal drinks… all promising that an active vitamin, mineral, or antioxidant will help lower your blood sugar, regulate it, improve your appetite and energy, or calm the side effects of your medications.
And the sales pitches are clearly working, as over fifty percent of diabetic patients claim to have used a supplement at some point during their condition, either to treat their diabetes, manage the side effects, or out of precaution.
Twenty-five percent opted for herbal solutions thanks to their promises of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But what alternative medicines actually work for diabetics? Which ones are worth taking, and which ones are complete snake oil?
Vitamin D3
You have probably heard a lot of good things about vitamin D3, and that’s because it really is effective. Vitamin D3 is responsible for regulating our hormones, including helping us destress, protecting our fertility, making us happy, and telling us when we need to eat.
But what about diabetics? Does it do anything in particular for diabetes? Sadly, the jury is still out on whether vitamin D3 helps with diabetes, but some early research is promising.
Low vitamin D3 has been associated with erratic blood sugar levels. That said, the benefits of making sure you get enough vitamin D3 are so many, you may as well supplement just in case.
VERDICT: No evidence for treating diabetes, but still a good idea.
Omega 3s
Omega 3 oils are a fatty acid that is essential for our health, and one which we cannot make ourselves. It has no direct effect on blood sugar, but it massively reduces inflammation and slashes your risk of heart disease.
This is important for diabetics, as diabetes is a leading cause of chronic inflammation and diabetics, as a consequence, are far more likely to suffer from heart conditions. This means that omega 3 doses are essential to diabetics, as they will protect you from wear and tear.
VERDICT: Helps reduce inflammation and heart disease risks associated with diabetes.
Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is a global health crisis, and one of the only deficiencies which is just as common in developed nations as it is in developing ones.
Magnesium deficiency has been linked to inflammation, depression, cognitive decline, brittle bones and, yes, diabetes. Especially if you are taking blood sugar reducing drugs and diuretics, both of which can cause you to lose magnesium, in which case your recommended dietary allowance should be above the typical dose recommended to a healthy person.
If you are getting enough, however, there is no additional benefits and it can even be dangerous, so get a blood test done before supplementing.
VERDICT: Check if you are deficient, especially if you are on medicine, and if you have a deficiency, take a supplement. Do not supplement if you are not deficient.
What to Avoid
All that said, there are some supplements you definitely want to avoid. Some of which are even recommended to diabetics! Over thirty years of research had suggested that chromium was an excellent supplement for diabetics. However, every study was conducted on people with deficiencies.
In most developed nations, chromium deficiencies are rare, and supplementing it can harm your liver and kidneys. This is especially bad news for diabetics, who are already at risk of liver and kidney damage.
Finally, fenugreek has been found to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. However, if you are on any sort of medication, fenugreek is unnecessary and dangerous. It does nothing for people on medications, and can even interact with blood-thinning drugs and put your life at risk.
