There has been quite a bit of debate…
…concerning macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat)…
…and blood sugar, but very little has been written…
…about micronutrients for diabetes (vitamins and minerals).
The following 9 best micronutrients for diabetes are important…
…for blood sugar control, and there are ways…
…to include them in delicious, nutrient-dense Paleo recipes.
Here are some quick reminders…
…(if you already know what glucose and insulin are, just skip it):
- Blood sugar: You have a lot of sugar in your blood (glucose). A meal may cause your blood sugar to rise, but it will then need to fall again. It is very dangerous to have too much glucose in your bloodstream for a long time.
- Insulin: It is responsible for removing sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream.
- Insulin resistance: If insulin tells your body to remove glucose from the bloodstream and store it in a fat/muscle cell, but your body fails to listen to it, and blood sugar stays high. This is a bad thing.
- Type 2 Diabetes: People with type 2 diabetes often have high blood sugar because of chronic insulin resistance. (Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and here “diabetes” means type 2).
Because diabetes is officially a “disease,”…
…there are reams and reams of studies about it.
Problems managing blood sugar aren’t considered a “disease”…
…until they reach a specific cut-off, so they don’t receive as much attention.
However, type 2 diabetes doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.
Problems managing blood sugar begin slowly…
…but steadily get worse over time.
Diabetes is the extreme end of the spectrum…
…not some new and unrelated problem.
To summarize: there are a lot of studies on diabetes…
…and people with diabetes in this post.
However, they are still relevant to people…
…who don’t have “diabetes” but still have blood sugar issues (or wish to avoid them).
Now, let’s talk about micronutrients for diabetes!
Best Micronutrients for Diabetes
Science confirms that vitamin, mineral…
…and antioxidant deficiencies suppress immune function…
…and contribute to chronic inflammatory degenerative diseases…
…including arthritis, cancer, Alzheimer’s…
…cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Over and over, scientific studies have demonstrated…
…the ability to prevent, treat…
…and even reverse type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle.
Lifestyle interventions have also been shown…
…to be more effective than metformin…
…(the preferred initial pharmacological agent…
…recommended by the American Diabetes Association)…
…for reducing the incidence…
…of metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
There are many factors that can contribute to nutrient deficiencies…
…including inadequate absorption of nutrients…
…due to co-morbidities, environmental toxins…
…that interfere with the transport…
…and absorption of nutrients, or drug-nutrient interactions…
…caused by prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Metformin, for example, used by many people…
…with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes…
…has been shown to lower vitamin B12 and folic acid…
…which can lead to higher levels of homocysteine…
…a major cardiovascular risk factor.
A folate deficiency has also been associated…
…with diabetes co-morbidities such as retinopathy and renal failure.
Micronutrient deficiencies have also been linked…
…to other pharmaceutical medications and over-the-counter treatments.
“Although, fresh, whole (unprocessed) foods are the basis of this lifestyle intervention approach to treat and reverse chronic disease, we cannot ignore that a number of supplemental nutrients have been shown to improve blood sugar control and reduce insulin resistance, and other inflammatory processes. ”
Cheryl Haas Winter MS, RD, CDE, MS, APRN, BC-ADM, FNP-BC – Diabetes Educator
In this article we will explore just a few of these micronutrients…
…that are often unbalanced in our diets…
…and in inappropriate amounts or forms…
…in over-the-counter multivitamin/mineral supplements…
…which might affect glucose metabolism.
This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many other micronutrients…
…that can be considered to affect glycemic control.
Chromium
Chromium is good for blood sugar control because it helps regulate insulin.
Chromium levels in the blood of diabetic patients…
…are lower than those in healthy controls.
Also, there is some evidence that chromium helps treat diabetes.
In this study, chromium-enriched yeast improved…
…some measures of blood sugar control in people with Type 2 Diabetes.
In some cases, it did less to improve things…
…than to prevent things from getting worse.
While markers of antioxidant activity declined steadily…
…in the control group (no chromium)…
…they did not change much in the chromium group.
Still, “preventing more problems” is a good thing, too.
In another study, chromium was investigated…
…for diabetes caused by steroid use.
It’s no secret that steroids can cause diabetes in some people…
…since they ramp up the production of stress hormones…
…(stress is really bad for you, no kidding).
Nevertheless, this study demonstrated…
…that steroid-induced diabetes could be treated…
…with supplemental chromium.
Researchers found that chromium-deficient diets…
…led to worse blood sugar control in people without diabetes…
…which could be reversed by taking chromium supplements.
Foods to eat:
Depending on the soil they were grown in…
…foods contain varying amounts of chromium.
Even considering the inevitable variations…
…broccoli is probably a good choice.
Other good options include potatoes, garlic, beef, and turkey.
Take chromium-rich foods with Vitamin C for better absorption.
Zinc
Zinc is another important mineral for blood sugar control.
This antioxidant mineral also helps manage insulin levels.
Diabetes patients have low levels of zinc in their blood…
…and zinc supplements improve their HbA1c…
…(a measure of long-term blood sugar control).
Researchers found that zinc levels were significantly lower…
…in patients with Type 2 Diabetes in this study and this one.
Zinc also improved blood sugar control…
…in obese children without diabetes, according to the study.
Again, it appears that there may be benefits…
…for both those with diabetes and those who do not.
Foods to eat:
One of the best sources is oysters. You can also eat beef.
Selenium
The mineral selenium is great for gut and thyroid health…
…as well as blood sugar control.
In addition to its general antioxidant properties…
…a study found that selenium altered the expression…
…of several genes involved in blood sugar regulation.
Selenium levels are lower in people…
…with consistently high blood sugar, even those without diabetes.
Among patients with diabetes…
…this study found that selenium supplements…
…improved blood sugar control and insulin levels.
There’s also some evidence that selenium…
…can be helpful in diabetes treatment.
Rats in this study received either standard insulin therapy…
…or insulin plus selenium. Selenium treatment was much better…
…at lowering blood sugar…
…and restoring normal glucose metabolism than insulin alone.
Meanwhile, some studies suggest that high-dose selenium supplements…
…can be dangerous for people who already get enough selenium.
If you insist on taking supplements instead of eating whole foods…
…maybe consult with your doctor first to see where you stand.
Foods to eat:
Brazil nuts are one of the best sources of selenium.
However, they have a very distinctive taste that not everyone appreciates.
Almost any seafood (especially salmon), shiitake mushrooms…
…or asparagus would also be good.
Magnesium
The mineral magnesium is a jack of all trades.
People who are prone to constipation may know it…
…as the miracle supplement that makes bowel movements easier…
…(it draws water into the intestine…
…which can loosen stool if it is hard or compacted).
Those who tend towards anxiety may know it as a calm-down supplement.
Time to add insulin regulation to the magnesium repertoire.
It’s a two-way street between insulin and magnesium.
The study explains that low magnesium levels…
…may contribute to insulin resistance…
…and then insulin resistance may reduce magnesium levels.
The study found that magnesium supplements significantly…
…reduced insulin resistance…
…and improved blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Better still, here’s one on non-diabetic subjects …
…with insulin resistance and low magnesium levels.
The study also found magnesium…
…to have health benefits, even among non-diabetics.
Foods to eat:
Almonds, most other types of nuts, spinach…
… avocado, bananas, salmon, most other types of fish.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
This antioxidant regenerates other antioxidants…
…such as glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C…
…and prevents protein glycosylation.
A study has shown that alpha-lipoic acid…
…enhances glucose uptake in skeletal muscle tissue…
…thus improving glucose control in people with diabetes mellitus.
It has also been shown to be effective…
…in treating peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes.
Despite the fact that this nutrient…
…may be in an over-the-counter supplement…
…is the dose and form of this nutrient correct?
In the literature, doses of 800-1600 mg have been shown…
…to be effective, so less may not be helpful.
Vitamin D
There is a link between type 1 and type 2 diabetes…
…as well as obesity, and this fat-soluble vitamin.
It is known that living at higher latitudes increases the risk of type 1 diabetes.
Researchers found that children who received 2000 IU vitamin D…
…during their first year of life had a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes…
…compared with children who didn’t receive it.
Diabetes patients (both type 1 and type 2) have an increased risk…
…for bone fractures because vitamin D modulates calcium…
…and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with lower bone density.
Low vitamin D levels are also associated…
…with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
Normal insulin release is facilitated by vitamin D…
…by increasing transmembrane calcium movement in the islet cells.
Vitamin D-dependent calcium binding proteins have been detected…
…in pancreatic tissue and vitamin D receptors…
…have been detected in pancreatic islets.
Vitamin D deficiency occurs 60% to 65% of the time when tested.
Riboflavin
Diabetes patients often have abnormal riboflavin metabolism….
…which is often overlooked.
There is a possibility that even people taking over-the-counter supplements…
…that contain riboflavin may not be getting adequate dosing…
…because these supplements usually do not contain…
…the proper form of riboflavin, which should be riboflavin 5-phosphate.
Riboflavin plays an important role in antioxidant function…
…working through the production of glutathione, the “master” antioxidant.
A diabetic with poor glucose control will produce free radicals…
…which can damage multiple systems…
…including their nerves, liver, kidneys, and intestines.
Niacin
Niacin protects pancreatic beta cells from autoimmune destruction.
This is not the nicotinic acid form of niacin that is used…
…to lower cholesterol and triglycerides…
…but the amide form of niacin (nicotinamide)…
…which does not cause flushing.
Niacin may also act as a weak antioxidant of nitric oxide radicals…
…but the most significant role it plays…
…in diabetes is in its interaction with the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF).
Additionally, niacin may slow the development of nephropathy,…
…so supplementation may be appropriate for individuals with diabetes.
According to some studies, if a family member has type 2 diabetes…
…every other family member may benefit…
…from taking niacin to prevent beta cell destruction…
…rather than waiting until disease develops.
In general, 500 mg of nicotinamide is given as a prophylactic dose.
Deep Sleep Diabetes Remedy
The main selling point of this system is the unique tea recipe…
…that was developed by the creators of the system.
It is known for providing a lot of assistance when it comes…
…to managing diabetes-related problems.
Scott Hanson creates the drink using herbs and natural ingredients he studied deeply.
He discovered a strong correlation between sleep and diabetes during his research.
The effects of diabetes can be exacerbated…
…as well as strengthened by inadequate sleep patterns and insomnia.
By developing this tea, he ensured that his users could get a good night’s sleep.
As a result, their diabetic issues were also resolved.
Users have indeed credited the program with a multitude of benefits.
It is a tried and tested solution, so it is likely to please and impress many.
Here are a few words from Rick…
I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about four years ago.
My efforts to manage it have been numerous over those four years.
Among these have been more physical activity, healthier eating, and weight loss.
Micronutriens for diabetes are also a part of my daily routine.
I would still have high blood glucose despite these methods working…
…and I would not be cured of diabetes.
After trying Deep Sleep Diabetes Remedy, I was able to get everything under control.
My blood sugar was unbalanced due to lack of sleep.
My new lifestyle has allowed me to eat whatever I want…
…and I have reversed my type 2 diabetes. I encourage you to try it as well!
Sum Up!
There are no miracle nutrients that cure diabetes.
Nevertheless, chromium, zinc, selenium…
…and magnesium all contribute to a healthy blood sugar balance.
If you’re concerned about your blood sugar…
…it might be worthwhile to make sure you’re getting…
…enough of these nutrients in your diet.
The majority of people are able to meet their dietary requirements…
…by eating nutrient-dense whole foods.
The food recommendations are at the bottom…
…of some nutrient because of this. Use them!
Prepare something tasty and nutritious.
Conclusion
Diabetes patients should be taught how important it is…
…to obtain their daily vitamin…
…and mineral requirements from natural foods.
A multivitamin preparation may be advised for certain groups…
…including the elderly, pregnant or lactating women…
…strict vegetarians, or people on calorie-restricted diets.
Nevertheless, vitamin and mineral supplementation…
…in pharmacological doses should be viewed…
…as a therapeutic intervention and, as with medications…
…be the subject of placebo-controlled trials to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
