Diabetes Vitamins Article Archives

news

In a recent study of the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and glucose intolerance in people with type 2 diabetes, more than 90 percent of the type 2 diabetes patients were found to be deficient in vitamin D, with their control over the disease worsening as their deficiency increased.

1 comment - Posted Jul 4, 2010

news

A group of Swedish researchers has found that men who consume more than the recommended daily amount of calcium are less likely to die than their counterparts who consume little calcium. Their study, titled "Dietary Calcium and Magnesium Intake and Mortality: A Prospective Study of Men," appears in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

1 comment - Posted Mar 15, 2010

news

Scientists and healthcare professionals have known for some time that low levels of vitamin D almost double the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. But until now, they haven't known why.

1 comment - Posted Sep 8, 2009

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If you have type 2 diabetes, you know that regular sustained exercise is one of the best and easiest ways to manage the disease. At the same time, proper nutrition-eating low glycemic foods, avoiding carbohydrates, and taking supplements, such as vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids-is the other key to non-medicinal control of blood sugar levels.

6 comments - Posted May 26, 2009

news

The American Diabetes Association has released a list of "superfoods" it says "have necessary nutrients for good diabetes management, including fiber, potassium, healthy fats, magnesium and antioxidants."

22 comments - Posted May 5, 2009

news

Well, this is a surprise. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 contains a little known section, Section 1013, that has actually led to something really useful: Up-to-date information about diabetes culled from real research and presented in language that we all can understand. Section 1013 authorizes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to compare the effectiveness of different approaches to difficult health problems and to make that information accessible and understandable to "decisionmakers": that is, you, me, and our doctors. And diabetes is one of the difficult health problems to which the AHRQ is directing its attention.

2 comments - Posted Apr 21, 2009

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Doctors often tell people with high blood pressure to decrease their consumption of sodium. Now researchers at the Loyola University Health System in suburban Chicago have found that it is probably wise to increase potassium intake at the same time.

0 comments - Posted Feb 4, 2009

Researchers at Boston-based Joslin Diabetes Center report that almost 75 percent of children and teens with type 1 diabetes lack sufficient vitamin D. As a result, they are susceptible to bone problems later in life, including an increased risk of bone fractures.  

2 comments - Posted Dec 29, 2008

Older men who are worried about insulin resistance can take heart from a Tufts University study which shows that higher than normal doses of vitamin K slow development of the condition. (Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body increasingly cannot use insulin properly and blood glucose levels rise. It is a major precursor to type 2 diabetes.)

1 comment - Posted Dec 8, 2008

Abundant dietary vitamin C may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, say researchers from the Institute of Metabolic Science at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England.

2 comments - Posted Sep 4, 2008

Does anyone living in our well-nourished country, eating a reasonable diet, really need to take vitamins, minerals, or herbs? Should a person with diabetes take them? If so, which ones and how much? When it comes to supplements, the answers are often unclear.

20 comments - Posted Apr 23, 2008

Previous research has found vitamin D deficiency to be associated with impaired beta cell functioning and insulin resistance, and it's been suggested that vitamin D reduces the risk of type 2.

0 comments - Posted Dec 8, 2007

In a recent three-month study, 43 non-insulin-dependent people with type 2 diabetes were given either a daily dose of 1000 milligrams of cinnamon or a placebo.

22 comments - Posted Nov 15, 2007

Old-fashioned cod liver oil supplements in infancy have already been associated with a decreased risk of type 1 diabetes among Norwegian children, who are apparently given the omega-3-rich, albeit nauseating, tonic on a regular basis.

3 comments - Posted Oct 30, 2007

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Stevia is a natural sweetener made from the leaves of a South American herb, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, commonly known as sweetleaf or sugarleaf.

7 comments - Posted Oct 24, 2007

People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have about three-quarters less thiamine (vitamin B) in their blood than people without diabetes, according to new research out of Warwick Medical School in England. And it's not because they're not eating enough thiamine.

4 comments - Posted Aug 25, 2007

Selenium has been touted as an anti-oxidant that may improve a variety of conditions from cold sores to arthritis; there are even a few ongoing studies that are testing it as a cancer preventative.

0 comments - Posted Aug 3, 2007

If you like cinnamon on your pudding, you could be in luck. In a Swedish study of fourteen healthy pudding-eating subjects, a teaspoon of cinnamon sprinkled on top dampened the post-meal blood glucose rises usually seen after a pudding fest.

0 comments - Posted Jul 6, 2007

In a recent Dutch study, researchers gave either a placebo or a daily dose of 400 micrograms of chromium in the form of chromium yeast to 57 obese, insulin-requiring type 2 patients with A1c’s above eight percent.

0 comments - Posted Jun 25, 2007

news

A company called Sugarest has developed a pill made from the Indian herb Gymnema sylvestre that purports to deaden your ability to taste sugar, thereby rendering sweets tasteless.

0 comments - Posted Jun 15, 2007

More fiber from grains and cereals (but not from fruit and vegetables) and higher intake of magnesium may each be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the May Archives of Internal Medicine.

0 comments - Posted Jun 9, 2007

In a recent Dutch study, researchers gave either a placebo or a daily dose of 400 micrograms of chromium to 57 obese, insulin-requiring type 2 patients with A1c's above eight percent.

1 comment - Posted Jun 3, 2007

Back in 2003, a study in Diabetes Care showed that in thirty people with type 2 diabetes, one to six grams of cinnamon daily for forty days resulted in a drop in blood sugar levels, triglycerides, and LDL (bad cholesterol)...

3 comments - Posted May 17, 2007

The benefits of unsaturated fatty acids in your diet are well documented. Now research is looking into the effects of incorporating one of these healthy fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), into animal and human diets. CLA is present in dairy products and meat from ruminants and in very low amounts in our bodies.

0 comments - Posted Apr 24, 2007

A December 2006 review of clinical studies on chromium picolinate, published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, confirmed that chromium picolinate improves blood glucose control and lipid levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Apr 15, 2007

Upcoming research in the Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice reveals that Pycnogenol (pik-naw-jin-all) that many-talented extract of pine tree, is 190 times more effective than the prescription medicine acarbose (Precose) in slowing uptake of glucose after a meal, thereby preventing after-meal glucose spikes.

0 comments - Posted Apr 15, 2007

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Q: I’m reading “The Diabetic Athlete,” by Sheri Colberg-Ochs. She writes that it’s good for diabetics to take some glycerol (glycerine) when exercising. Is this pure glycerol or is this in powder form? Here in Denmark I can get only the glycerol liquid, and I thought it was a constipation product.

0 comments - Posted Mar 21, 2007

Zinc plays a role in the synthesis and action of insulin in the body. Insulin, obviously, plays a critical role in diabetes. But does zinc, then, play a critical role in diabetes prevention? There’s no evidence of that, according to a review of the scientific literature published in January 2007 by the Cochrane Library, which found nothing to suggest that zinc supplementation is useful in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2007

Chromium picolinate supplementation in type 2s already taking sulfonylureas significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. In addition, it also improves body weight when compared with a placebo group.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2006

CAM Therapy Popular With Diabetics

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2006

Italian researchers say that approximately three out of every five people with type 2 diabetes show signs of vitamin D deficiency.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2006

Blaine Pharmaceuticals of Fort Wright, Kentucky, has announced the availability of its DiaSense family of nutritional supplements specifically for those living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2006

A study published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition says that chromium prompts muscles to become more efficient.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2006

Insulow is an all-natural oral supplement that, according to its manufacturer, “addresses the root of the problem for diabetics and pre-diabetics: the correct balance between insulin production and glucose uptake.”

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2006

Even though an adequate dietary intake of magnesium may alleviate the risk of cardiovascular disease, most Americans still consume magnesium at levels well below the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2006

Banaba is a variety of crepe myrtle that grows in the Philippines, India, Malaysia and Australia. A tea made from the leaves is used to treat diabetes.

1 comment - Posted Nov 1, 2005

Holy basil, or Ocimum sanctum, is an herb native to India and is regarded as one of the most important plants used in Ayurvedic medicine.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2005

Ivy gourd (Coccinia indica) is a unique tropical plant that is a member of the family of Cucurbitaceae. It grows well in India and Thailand as well as in tropical areas such as Hawaii.

5 comments - Posted May 1, 2005

Herbs, supplements and other nontraditional treatments have become increasingly popular. According to a study published in the February 2002 issue of Diabetes Care, people with diabetes are more likely to use complementary and alternative medicines than other healthy individuals. Are you tempted to try any? Here is a list of tips for you to consider before you do.

1 comment - Posted May 1, 2005

Nopal (Opuntia streptacantha), also known as prickly pear, is a member of the cactus family native to Mexico.

5 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2005

Ginseng is a root that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. There are two different forms that have been used for diabetes: Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) as well as American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L).

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2005

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is also known as bitter gourd, bitter cucumber, bitter apple, karolla and karela.

2 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2005

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant product that has been used for a variety of medicinal and other purposes, and may be used in the treatment of diabetes.

3 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2005

There is growing interest recently in the potential benefits of using cinnamon for treating diabetes.

30 comments - Posted Nov 1, 2004

Here are some facts you should be aware of before you decide to take a dietary supplement for diabetes:

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2004

As part of our Food for Thought section, we will begin profiling a nutritional supplement every month.

1 comment - Posted Sep 1, 2004

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We have known for years that an adequate calcium intake can help prevent osteoporosis. Current research suggests it may keep waistlines trim as well.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 2004

news

The next time you see or hear an ad claiming that some dietary supplement will help you lose 10 pounds in two days, take it with a grain of salt.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2004

news

Mulberry leaves aren’t just for silkworms anymore: When fed to diabetes-induced rats, they have been shown to improve glucose levels.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2004

German researchers propose that a synthetic derivative of thiamine, or vitamin B1, may be useful in preventing blindness, limb loss, kidney failure and other complications of diabetes that are caused by high blood-glucose levels.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2003

Prepackaged one-day supplies of vitamins, minerals and alpha-lipoic acid in a mix that is said to benefit people with diabetes are available from Nature Made.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2003

A recent study conducted as part of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trial found that vitamin E supplementation had no effect on cardiovascular disease, other coronary risk factors, or kidney disease in middle-aged and elderly people with diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2003

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The use of complementary and alternative medicine is higher than the national average in people with type 2 diabetes, say researchers from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who presented data at the June 2002 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2002

Giving a baby vitamin D supplements in its first year of life significantly reduces the child's chance of developing type 1 diabetes, according to a Finnish study. Researchers studied the effects of vitamin D supplementation on 10,366 children and published the results in the November 3, 2001, issue of Lancet.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2002

Short-term treatment with vitamins C and E lowers the urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) in people with type 2 diabetes who have micro/macroalbuminuria, according to a team of Danish researchers. In the September 2001 issue of Diabetic Medicine, they suggest that further long-term, large-scale studies of this albuminuria-reducing treatment modality are needed.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2002

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2002

Everyone, including your neighbor, manicurist and racquetball partner, seems to be jumping enthusiastically onto the "supplement bandwagon." Should you and your diabetes climb aboard?

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2001

Nutrition 21 has announced the introduction of a dietary supplement that has been shown to help improve the absorption of glucose in the body.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

Very Fine Products of Littleton, Massachusetts has announced the arrival of Fruit2OPlus, a new line of flavored spring water enriched with vitamins and herbs.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2001

For many people with type 2 diabetes, diet and medication alone are not successfully treating the disease, researchers announced on March 16 at the Diabetes Health Expo in Miami.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2001

Could zinc hold one of the keys to a cure for type 1 diabetes?

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2001

Studies are increasingly proving the benefits of keeping your after-meal BG levels down. Along with these results comes an interest among many with diabetes to help lower their glucose levels using natural substances.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2001

A Tums a day could keep B12 malabsorption away, say researchers who studied the effects of metformin on vitamin B12 absorption. Metformin, sold under the brand name Glucophage, is an oral agent prescribed for type 2 diabetes.

2 comments - Posted Mar 1, 2001

blog

As a physically active individual in today's world, you are likely to be bombarded with all sorts of claims about nutritional supplements that will enhance your athletic performance. In reality, very few have been scientifically proven to have any effect on athletic performance.

3 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2001

A healthy dose of vitamins may be a valuable tool in lowering urinary albumin excretion rates in people with type 2 diabetes. Unveiled at this year's August meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, a recent Danish study found that taking large daily doses of vitamins C and E significantly reduced short-term levels of albumin excretion in the urine (Diabetologia, Vol. 43, Suppl. 1, p. A36).

1 comment - Posted Feb 1, 2001

In yet another study examining the benefits of vitamin E supplementation, researchers have proclaimed that routine vitamin E use may have a beneficial effect on the hearts of people with type 1 diabetes. They add that vitamin E should be considered a life-long part of a type 1's vitamin regimen.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2001

Chai-Na-Ta Corporation of Langley, British Columbia, announced on September 12 that a research study using its North American Ginseng significantly reduced the blood glucose level of patients with type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 2000

"Taking a quarter to a full teaspoon a day of cinnamon, perhaps in orange juice, coffee or on oatmeal, may prevent or at least delay type 2 diabetes," say researchers at the U.S. Agricultural Research Service's nutrition labs in Beltsville, Maryland.

1 comment - Posted Dec 1, 2000

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are saying a popular dietary supplement has been proven to reduce the amount of fat many dieters regain after losing weight.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 2000

High doses of vitamin E are shown to be anti-inflammatory as well as useful in reducing plaque formation in type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, administered a daily dose of 1200 IU of vitamin E (natural alpha-tocopherol) per day to 75 subjects in a clinical trial lasting three months.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 2000

Chromium's effects on diabetes have garnered attention in the past, but a recent study shows its benefits can be felt before type 2 diabetes develops—and may even prevent it from ever occurring.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 2000

Taking American ginseng before a meal can reduce blood sugar in people with and without diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Jun 1, 2000

Two more herbal preparations containing a blood sugar-lowering prescription drug were recalled by two California firms. The recall action came just two months after the FDA issued a warning about five other herbal products that contained blood-sugar lowering drugs.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 2000

On February 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned people with diabetes not to use five brands of Chinese herbal products. The FDA says that the herbs illegally contain the prescription diabetes drugs glyburide and phenformin which can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 2000

Robert C. Atkins, the author of "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," has not been a stranger to controversy ever since his first book was published 20 years ago. He continues to be controversial in his advocacy of dietary supplements and minerals in his diet plan. Many doctors are leery of supplements because they have not undergone the rigorous approval process that the Food and Drug Administration puts prescription drugs through. Yet, Atkins puts as much weight on supplements as he does on prescription drugs.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 2000

Pycnogenol, the number one prescription for retinopathy in France, is unknown to many doctors in the United States who treat people with diabetes. French doctors swear by Pycnogenol's antioxidant powers, but most American doctors cannot even pronounce it.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2000

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Pancreas Tonic, a new herbal treatment for people with diabetes, is drawing conflicting opinions from different quarters of the diabetes community. In 1999, Pancreas Tonic was hailed during an episode of the NBC television program EXTRA as "…the cure for diabetes" by William Taylor, MD, an internist. In additon, testimonials were given by people with diabetes who said that Pancreas Tonic really worked for the treatment of their blood sugars. According to transcripts from the EXTRA episode, Taylor added that Pancreas Tonic could be "one of the biggest medical breakthroughs of the century."

3 comments - Posted Jan 1, 2000

I am a recently diagnosed type 2, 32-year-old female. My diagnosis was a real wake-up call and I immediately started eating better. I've lost 40 pounds and am continuing to lose weight.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

If you've studied the facts, discussed them with your health care team, and concluded that one or more of these supplements will benefit you, here are some suggested daily amounts.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

Researchers from MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia discovered that a magnesium-poor diet increases insulin resistance in black Americans.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

Researchers suggest that getting less chromium than what you need may contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes over the long term. Rats given a diet low in chromium had insulin levels twice as high as a group of rats fed a diet high in chromium. The results of the study were published in the August issue of Metabolism.

0 comments - Posted Nov 1, 1999

Large doses of vitamin E may help normalize retinal blood flow problems and improve kidney function in people with diabetes, according to researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1999

In a January 1991 issue of Diabetes Care, it was demonstrated for the first time that vitamin E in patients with diabetes reduces protein glycoslation, which is a process where glucose attaches itself to the hemoglobin inside your red blood cells, contributing to complications. Also, a study conducted by vitamin manufacturer Hoffman-LaRoche of Switzerland reported that doses as low as 200 IU of vitamin E significantly reduced glycoslation.

0 comments - Posted Oct 1, 1999

According to the July issue of Diabetes Care, high doses of supplementary vitamin C may cause an unexpected elevation of blood sugar levels and false diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

2 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1999

Vitamin C and E supplements reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in women with diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1999

Fish oil helps lower triglycerides, but does not interfere with diabetes control. High levels of triglycerides might be harmful to people with diabetes.

1 comment - Posted Aug 1, 1999

Lester Packer and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, presented research that demonstrates for the first time that free alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is detectable in nerves, and that its level does not depend on the route of administration, but rather on the treatment dose. The study also shows that blood levels of ALA do not reflect its concentrations in nerve or other tissues. The research was presented at the American Diabetes Association's scientific sessions in June.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1999

B vitamins may prove to be more helpful than we thought they were. According to scientists, one B vitamin, niacin, also known as nicotinamide or B3, could even prevent type 1 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1999

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You rely on your physicians to recommend the best therapy, but how much do they know about vitamins and nutrition?

2 comments - Posted Apr 1, 1999

news

Vanadium, a metallic element found in humans, has insulin-like capabilities, according to recent discoveries. As a result, there is increased interest in using vanadium as a possible treatment for diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1999

In a preliminary study conducted at the departments of endocrinology and neurology at Hacettepe University in Turkey, it was discovered that vitamin E supplementation could aid in the prevention of mild-to-moderate peripheral neuropathy in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1999

Dori Linnell of Eureka, Montana, would do anything for Tel, her 5-year-old son with diabetes. With diligence, knowledge and love, she has kept his HbA1cs in the nearly perfect range of 6.8 to 7.0 %. Linnell is obviously doing what works but always looking for something that may work better. She read about BetaFast, a product that is said to help people with diabetes control their blood sugars. BetaFast is made from the leaf extract of the herb Gymnema sylvestre, a climbing plant found in India. Always a believer in herbs, she wanted to try it with Tel.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1998

Current evidence suggests that lipoproteins (such as LDL-cholesterol) need to be oxidized to cause atherosclerosis. Such oxidative stress appears to be increased in diabetes, which causes additional atherosclerosis.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1998

Prevention magazine's publication, 200 herbal remedies, linked the following herbs with diabetes control:

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1998

For centuries Middle Eastern cultures have been using the herb fenugreek to treat obesity. Nutricept, Inc. has applied this ancient knowledge to diabetes care, creating a new form of fenugreek in its product Limitrol. Limitrol is a dietary fiber supplement which can be taken as a capsule or a pudding.

0 comments - Posted Sep 1, 1998

It's impossible to pick out the "best" research, particularly when there is so much interesting scientific work to choose from. My choice of what to include in this report, while necessarily arbitrary, was guided by what seemed most interesting to me. So if you've been involved in a particular research project that I've omitted, please accept my apologies. Here are the new findings that I would like to share.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1998

The vitamin known for numerous health-related benefits may also aid circulation in patients with type 1 diabetes.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 1998

Recent research by Sven-Erik Bursell, PhD, of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston suggests that high doses of Vitamin E (1300 IU per day) alter the development and/or progression of diabetic retinopathy.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1998

B vitamins have been found beneficial for degenerative nerve diseases like diabetic neuropathy, according to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics vol. 34, No. 2 - 1996 (47-50).

1 comment - Posted Oct 1, 1997

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for the digestion of carbohydrates. As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, researchers evaluated magnesium levels in over 12,000 people and found over six years of follow-up that those with the lowest levels had a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While it is a reasonable hypothesis, there is no proof yet that magnesium supplements can decrease this risk or improve glycemic control for type 2s.

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1997

Antioxidants, a main selling point for countless nutritional supplements and multi-vitamins these days, are drawing the attention of health experts.

0 comments - Posted May 1, 1997

A new study shows vitamin E reduces heart attacks by 75 percent. Results like this, and those from similar studies, have led the American Heart Association to name vitamin E the fourth most noteworthy health aid for heart disease in its review of 1996 research advances.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1997

It seems hard to believe that a simple, over-the-counter vitamin could greatly reduce the chance of developing cardiovascular disease, lower HbA1c levels and improve insulin sensitivity without anyone having noticed. But, until recently, vitamin E seems to have been doing just that.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1997

Could vitamin B3 help slow down, or possibly halt the development of type I diabetes? A recent study shows that when the vitamin is given at diagnosis it helps keep the remaining Beta-cells active.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1997

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People with diabetes are taking steps to enhance their lives and feel better using complementary therapies in conjunction with their prescribed medical treatments. Practicing complementary therapy is a way of integrating non-western treatments with conventional medicine.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1997

news

Research from Finland indicates that high doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) helps people with type 2 diabetes maintain glycemic control.

1 comment - Posted Jul 1, 1996

Scientists have found yet another reason for people to take a daily supplement of vitamin C. Not only does it help to ward off colds, but the antioxidant vitamin C can improve the blood circulation in people with type 2 diabetes. As a result, vitamin C may prove to be a potent combatant against diabetes-induced vascular disease, which can cause retinopathy, nephropathy and atherosclerosis.

1 comment - Posted May 1, 1996

According to some reports, chromium picolinate can lower insulin requirements. In fact, some people swear by it, and there are athletes that take more than 800 mcg of the substance every day.

2 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1996

We live in a toxic environment. Much of what we consume is simply not good for our bodies-it builds up and eventually damages our health. Antioxidant vitamins-vitamins C and E, and beta carotene-may be what we need to "clean up" our systems.

0 comments - Posted Jan 1, 1996

news

Ginseng, long used to treat a variety of ills, can reduce blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Ginseng is a plant extract that has been used for centuries to reduce fatigue and elevate mood.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1995

Thirty-five children, ages 9-13, with diabetes of varying severity were studied in Russia to observe their ability to metabolize vitamins.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1995

Vitamin E may decrease the risk of developing some of the most common complications of diabetes, according to a study done at Joslin Diabetes Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and Kyushu University in Japan.

0 comments - Posted Feb 1, 1995

The vitamin E market in the United States, estimated at $600 million in sales, has been growing at an annualized rate of 25 percent.

0 comments - Posted Jul 1, 1994

Introduction

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1994

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is associated with altered electrolyte metabolism and a derangement of the parathyroid hormone (PTH)-vitamin D endocrine system. Twenty three children with diabetes were found to have lower serum values for calcium, magnesium, PTH, calcitriol, and osteocalcin than age- and sex-matched control subjects without diabetes. After patients were given magnesium orally (6mg/kg daily) for up to 60 days, concentrations significantly increased, reaching control values.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1994

Thirty people with diabetes who require insulin, matched for duration of disease and metabolic control, were sorted into three groups of ten each. One group was given a placebo, one group was given 600 mg of Vitamin E and the third group received 1200mg of Vitamin E daily for two months.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1994

Researchers in a Texas hospital report that patients treated with vitamin B6 over periods of 8 months-28 years have never developed retinopathy. Since blindness and vision are so important, they suggest the apparent relationship of a deficiency of vitamin B6 should be studied as a molecular cause of diabetic neuropathy (Biochemistry and Biophysiology Research Communications, August 1991).

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1994

The tissue vitamin C level in adults with and without IDDM was measured before and after an above average daily vitamin C intake. Subjects with IDDM stored half as much Vitamin C as non-diabetics.

0 comments - Posted Mar 1, 1994

Magnesium appears to play a role in insulin resistance, carbohydrate intolerance, and hypertension. Is adequate magnesium is obtainable by following a nutritionally balanced mealplan?

0 comments - Posted Aug 1, 1993

Researchers at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem have reported evidence that diabetes may lead to ascorbic acid (vitamin C) deficiency. The study, published in Nutrition Research Newsletter, v 11, October 1992, shows a direct relationship between glycemic control and levels of plasma ascorbic acid. Patients that measured low in glycemic control had lower levels of plasma ascorbic acid. The researchers speculate that high levels of blood glucose interfere with ascorbic acid.

1 comment - Posted Apr 1, 1993

Most patients with diabetes generally do not require routine vitamin and mineral supplementation, just like the rest of the population. However, based on the published medical literature, it would appear that some degree of supplementation with certain vitamins (e.g., vitamins C and E) and minerals (e.g., magnesium) may be worthwhile and become more commonly recommended in the future. The role of vitamins and minerals in controlling blood glucose levels in the patients with diabetes also is discussed.

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1992

Vitamin - Effect

0 comments - Posted Dec 1, 1992