Vitamins and Minerals That Diabetics Need!
Consuming a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and lean meat are the optimal approach to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. But sometimes Type 2 diabetics do not get the recommended daily allowance of what they need. Whether in the foods they eat, or through supplements, there are some key vitamins and minerals that should be consumed to help ward off the side effects of Type 2 diabetes.
Magnesium is an important place to start since it helps in the digestion of sugar, fat and starches. This, of course, helps to maintain blood sugar levels. When diabetics consume too many refined carbohydrates, magnesium is given since it is required in the secretion of insulin. It also produces stomach acid and digestive enzymes, both of which are crucial for diabetics, and helps to ensure that energy is present in muscle cells.
Manganese plays an important role in metabolizing protein and fat while it also produces energy for the body’s needs. But aside from that it is essential for the proper absorption of vitamins such as E, C and B, which are, in themselves, important.
Vitamin E is one of the most important elements for a diabetic since it prevents damage to the vascular system; mainly arterial degeneration. Besides it’s role of protecting the heart, it appears to directly improve insulin sensitivity.
Vitamin C is widely used to regulate glucose tolerance in diabetics, helps to reduce the amount of protein that is lost from urination and lowers levels of the sugar, sorbitol. This is important, in and of itself, since the accumulation of sorbitol damages different parts of the body, predominantly the kidneys and the eyes. Besides all that, Vitamin C is believed to reduce glycosylation. This occurs when increased amounts of glucose (sugar) are allowed to bond to red blood cells, which causes a series of further complications.
Even Vitamin D has its own place in the life of a diabetic. It appears to maintain adequate levels of insulin in the blood, as it has been observed that a deficiency of Vitamin D weakens the secretion of insulin.
Vanadium is another excellent regulator of blood sugar and sends sugar to your muscles, where it’s needed. It’s widely known in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes not only for its ability to enhance the effects of insulin, but to also act like it. Low levels of this particular mineral have also been associated with high cholesterol.
Another mineral that helps regulate glucose levels is Chromium. Deficiency in this mineral can lead to intolerance in sugar. Chromium doesn’t help the body make more insulin; it helps insulin work better. Biotin also improves insulin sensitivity.
Vitamin B12 not only helps to fuel the body, but it assists in the normal function of nerve cells.
