Word: The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve dietary supplements for security or effectiveness. Discuss to a healthcare skilled about whether or not a complement is the appropriate match on your particular person well being, and about any potential drug interactions or security considerations.
A spread of dietary dietary supplements are marketed as simply the ticket to bettering blood glucose, losing a few pounds, or supporting coronary heart well being, however consultants typically advise individuals with sort 2 diabetes to keep away from most of them.
“There’s not sufficient proof to counsel taking dietary supplements, and the consequences differ relying on the individual and their comorbidities,” says Joyce Y. Lee, PharmD, a well being sciences scientific professor on the College of California Irvine College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dietary supplements aren’t an alternative to diabetes medicine prescribed by your doctor, and a few dietary supplements can work together with such diabetes medicines, resulting in excessive or low blood sugar.
More practical blood sugar administration comes from way of life changes like consuming a balanced weight loss plan and exercising repeatedly, says Dr. Lee. However in case you’re nonetheless inquisitive about supplementation, know that a number of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and crops needs to be prevented, and all the time seek the advice of your physician earlier than including any dietary complement to your wellness routine.
1. Beta Carotene
Beta carotene is a compound that converts into vitamin A within the physique.
There’s some proof that beta carotene will be helpful for metabolic well being. An antioxidant, beta carotene might lower one’s threat of growing weight problems and sort 2 diabetes as a consequence of the way it helps neutralize oxidative stress that results in irritation.
When consumed by way of complete meals like carrots, candy potatoes, and darkish leafy greens, beta carotene is protected and wholesome. Nevertheless, Lee recommends in opposition to taking beta carotene dietary supplements.
“It’s a complement that’s been proven to doubtlessly contribute to most cancers or worsen cardiovascular outcomes,” she says. “I believe the hurt outweighs the profit, and if sufferers point out beta carotene supplementation, I discourage it.”
2. Bitter Melon
As its identify suggests, bitter melon is a bitter, inexperienced, vine-growing fruit that appears like a cucumber and accommodates compounds that will have an effect on glucose metabolism. Bitter melon dietary supplements have been dubbed “pure insulin,” however the actuality is a little more murky, says Amy Kimberlain, RDN, CDCES, founding father of Amy’s Vitamin Kitchen primarily based in Miami.
“Research are inconsistent, making it tough to attract correct conclusions about its security and effectiveness,” she says, recommending that folks with sort 2 diabetes method this complement with warning.
Taking bitter melon with different glucose-lowering medicines may doubtlessly decrease your blood sugar ranges an excessive amount of.
Lee additionally factors out that some individuals have glucose–6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a standard genetic dysfunction that makes them extra susceptible to anemia, which can be triggered by taking bitter melon.
Your most secure transfer is to seek the advice of your prescribing doctor about bitter melon, to allow them to assess potential opposed reactions and drugs interactions for you individually.
3. Chromium
Chromium, a mineral discovered naturally in complete grains, carrots, potatoes, broccoli, and molasses, is vital for blood sugar management as a consequence of the way it enhances insulin perform. Issues can happen in case you’re poor in chromium, although most individuals get sufficient via their weight loss plan.
As vital as chromium is for metabolic well being, there’s no proof that taking extra chromium by way of a dietary complement will assist somebody with diabetes.
“The American Diabetes Affiliation doesn’t advocate the complement, as there’s no clear profit,” says Kimberlain.
“Moreover, chromium in complement kind isn’t absorbed as [efficiently] as it’s from meals sources.”
Chromium dietary supplements might work together with diabetes medicines like insulin or sulfonylureas, decreasing blood sugar an excessive amount of when taken collectively. There are different potential well being dangers related to chromium supplementation as properly. “Chromium is often not really useful, particularly in individuals with preexisting kidney and liver points,” says Lee. “Not everybody is aware of they’ve liver or kidney issues.”
4. Vitamin C
Vitamin C–wealthy meals like strawberries, bell peppers, and citrus will be a part of a wholesome diabetes weight loss plan.
There’s additionally proof that vitamin C supplementation might assist glycemic management and wholesome blood strain.
Nevertheless, you’ll be able to run into issues with giant doses of vitamin C, says Lee. “Excessive-dose vitamin C may doubtlessly masks low glucose ranges, which is usually a downside for individuals with diabetes who use instruments and units that measure their glucose resembling steady glucose screens,” she says.
Lee recommends taking not more than 1,000 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C in complement kind per day, although learn the producer’s suggestion in your CGM, as some fashions specify that issues can happen at doses over 500 mg.
In the event you’re fascinated by taking extra vitamin C, discuss to your physician first, particularly in case you use a CGM.
5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice that helps sweeten yogurt, oatmeal, and low with out including sugar. Including the spice to your meals isn’t an issue, and doing so might even assist decrease post-meal blood glucose ranges.
Nevertheless, the sort, kind, and dose of cinnamon issues. “Whereas meals quantities are protected, concentrated kinds can have an effect on liver well being and blood sugar unpredictably,” says Kimberlain. Lee agrees that cinnamon in meals is completely positive, however individuals ought to train warning with high-dose cinnamon dietary supplements.
Cassia cinnamon, the kind of cinnamon mostly utilized in complement kind, is of specific concern, as it could include excessive ranges of a chemical known as coumarin, which is usually a security problem for individuals with liver issues.
The largest risk could also be the truth that cinnamon has a status as a blood sugar-lowering spice that’s primarily based on inconclusive science. “The effectiveness of cinnamon supplementation for diabetes or weight administration stays unsure, and extra rigorous analysis is required to verify any potential advantages,” says Kimberlain.
The Takeaway
Many dietary supplements marketed to individuals with sort 2 diabetes declare to enhance blood sugar or coronary heart well being, however consultants warn they might be ineffective and even dangerous.
Consultants discourage utilizing beta carotene, bitter melon, chromium, high-dose vitamin C, and cinnamon dietary supplements as a consequence of security considerations, drug interactions, or lack of confirmed advantages.
The most secure method for blood sugar administration stays sticking with the medicine and way of life modifications that your clinician recommends, with dietary supplements solely taken beneath medical steerage and supervision.
