Many sufferers use dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes. Long-term users of these products presumably believe them to be efficacious. Medical studies are less definite; they do not always find the dietary supplements to be of benefit. Indeed, studies confirm that incorrect dosages of some supplements may have negative effects.
The Maryland-based National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) provides its independent view online at its website. It has reviewed relevant scientific studies and summarized their overall conclusions. The NCCAM findings are available online. The results are worthy of attention and perhaps a little provocative.
Type 2 diabetes represents about ninety percent of all diabetes sufferers. All diabetes sufferers have bodies with diminished ability to produce enough insulin or with cells that are not efficiently stimulated by insulin, or both. Insulin is a hormone that assists body cells to absorb glucose and convert it into energy. Without treatment, diabetes sufferers experience a growing amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Over a prolonged period, high blood sugar can harm body organs including the heart, eyes, skin, feet and kidneys.
People with type 2 diabetes have difficulty in keeping their blood glucose in a healthy range. The main conventional strategies for managing this issue are a healthy diet, exercise, and vigilant monitoring of blood glucose level. Many diabetes sufferers also take prescription pills, insulin, or both in strict consultation with their physician.
Additionally, some diabetes sufferers choose to take dietary supplements. These supplements have several potential benefits but the focus of diabetes sufferers is to better manage blood glucose. Common dietary supplements used by sufferers include alpha-lipoic acid, chromium and omega-3 fatty acids.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as thioctic acid) is an antioxidant. It protects against cell damage. ALA occurs naturally in certain foods such as liver, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes. The scientific evidence on the effectiveness of this supplement for diabetes patients is mixed. One cautionary point that emerges from medical studies is that ALA might lower blood glucose too much, so people with diabetes that take this supplement are urged by the NCCAM to monitor their blood sugar very closely.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral for all individuals. The body requires only small amounts. Chromium is found in many foods, good sources being whole grain items, red and white meats as well as some spices, fruits and vegetables. The NCCAM found that the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of chromium supplements for diabetes patients is, as in the case of ALA, mixed. The NCCAM also highlights that, for people with diabetes, too much chromium might cause blood sugar levels to go too low. Moreover, at the other end of the spectrum, high doses can cause serious side effects, including kidney problems that are of particular concern to diabetes sufferers.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are beneficial for health and well-being. They are present in a relatively narrow range of foods such as salmon and other fish, vegetable oil, walnuts, and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil). Omega-3s are important for a number of bodily functions including the flow of calcium and other substances in and out of body cells. Again, as in the case of thioctic acid and chromium, the NCCAM finds that the weight of evidence does not point to omega-3 supplements being of positive benefit in terms of better blood glucose control be diabetes patients.
The Maryland-based NCCAM is the US government's top authority for research on alternative medical systems, procedures and products that are not part of mainstream medicine. It concludes the above mentioned supplements appear not to assist the control of blood glucose. It emphasizes this can only be a preliminary conclusion since the available evidence is in some cases badly designed, lacking in depth and inadequate in terms of time period length.
Mentioned above are some of the things you need to know about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes.
The Maryland-based National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) provides its independent view online at its website. It has reviewed relevant scientific studies and summarized their overall conclusions. The NCCAM findings are available online. The results are worthy of attention and perhaps a little provocative.
Type 2 diabetes represents about ninety percent of all diabetes sufferers. All diabetes sufferers have bodies with diminished ability to produce enough insulin or with cells that are not efficiently stimulated by insulin, or both. Insulin is a hormone that assists body cells to absorb glucose and convert it into energy. Without treatment, diabetes sufferers experience a growing amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Over a prolonged period, high blood sugar can harm body organs including the heart, eyes, skin, feet and kidneys.
People with type 2 diabetes have difficulty in keeping their blood glucose in a healthy range. The main conventional strategies for managing this issue are a healthy diet, exercise, and vigilant monitoring of blood glucose level. Many diabetes sufferers also take prescription pills, insulin, or both in strict consultation with their physician.
Additionally, some diabetes sufferers choose to take dietary supplements. These supplements have several potential benefits but the focus of diabetes sufferers is to better manage blood glucose. Common dietary supplements used by sufferers include alpha-lipoic acid, chromium and omega-3 fatty acids.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as thioctic acid) is an antioxidant. It protects against cell damage. ALA occurs naturally in certain foods such as liver, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes. The scientific evidence on the effectiveness of this supplement for diabetes patients is mixed. One cautionary point that emerges from medical studies is that ALA might lower blood glucose too much, so people with diabetes that take this supplement are urged by the NCCAM to monitor their blood sugar very closely.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral for all individuals. The body requires only small amounts. Chromium is found in many foods, good sources being whole grain items, red and white meats as well as some spices, fruits and vegetables. The NCCAM found that the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of chromium supplements for diabetes patients is, as in the case of ALA, mixed. The NCCAM also highlights that, for people with diabetes, too much chromium might cause blood sugar levels to go too low. Moreover, at the other end of the spectrum, high doses can cause serious side effects, including kidney problems that are of particular concern to diabetes sufferers.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are beneficial for health and well-being. They are present in a relatively narrow range of foods such as salmon and other fish, vegetable oil, walnuts, and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil). Omega-3s are important for a number of bodily functions including the flow of calcium and other substances in and out of body cells. Again, as in the case of thioctic acid and chromium, the NCCAM finds that the weight of evidence does not point to omega-3 supplements being of positive benefit in terms of better blood glucose control be diabetes patients.
The Maryland-based NCCAM is the US government's top authority for research on alternative medical systems, procedures and products that are not part of mainstream medicine. It concludes the above mentioned supplements appear not to assist the control of blood glucose. It emphasizes this can only be a preliminary conclusion since the available evidence is in some cases badly designed, lacking in depth and inadequate in terms of time period length.
Mentioned above are some of the things you need to know about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes.
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