|
Home / Health / Diseases and Conditions / Diabetes
Six Popular Diabetes Supplements and Their Effect on Type II
By:Jessica Deets
For someone with diabetes, often there are 6 supplements recommended by well-meaning persons. These are alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, garlic, omega-3 fatty acids. The following info relates findings by the government regarding the effectiveness of every one of these supplements.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Above normal levels of blood glucose are one cause of oxidative stress. It is believed that alpha-lipoic acid should be beneficial due to its antioxidant abilities. There have been some small studies in animals and in people showing some beneficial results. The concern to understand is that someone with diabetes needs to be aware that an alpha-lipoic acid supplement could lower blood sugar a great deal. So you'd want to pay careful attention to your blood sugar level. Alpha-lipoic acid might also reduce blood concentrations of some minerals (iron) and can interfere with some medicines (such as antacids), and due to its antioxidant capabilities it might diminish the effectiveness of some anticancer drugs.
Chromium
Chromium is often sold in the form of chromium picolinate, and chromium polynicotinate. Chromium can add to insulin and have effects on blood sugar by causing it to become too low. Some other low dosage side effects might include skin irritation, headache, weight gain, insomnia and sleep problems (which could result in mood changes). High doses for one having diabetes could result in the development of kidney concerns. Above all, it is just not known whether there is any benefit for someone with diabetes to take chromium, and there currently is a lack of substantiated, scientific science studies to support a benefit.
Magnesium
Popular supplements of this mineral include Calcium-Magnesium-Zinc tablets and liquid forms of magnesium. Magnesium is involved in muscle function and helps the heart, nerves, and making proteins. Those with diabetes commonly have reduced levels of magnesium. Research currently found that magnesium didn't influence blood glucose control. Additionally, low magnesium levels might make glucose control worse in type II diabetes and might contribute to further complications. Although there is some evidence that magnesium supplementation might be helpful for insulin resistance. Magnesium supplements seem to be safe at low doses, however at high doses they can cause extremely low blood pressure and irregular heart rate and other problems. Magnesium could also affect antibiotics.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) helps cells make energy and also acts as an antioxidant. CoQ10 has not been shown to affect blood glucose control. CoQ10 seems to be safe for most of the adult population. CoQ10 might interact with certain medicines (such as warfarin) and those used for high blood pressure and cancer chemotherapy.
Garlic
This is the same type of garlic as used on food. It is a herb that also thins the blood. "Allicin" gives garlic its strong taste and odor, and it is the main component of garlic that is looked at the most. One of the claims for garlic is that the rates of some diseases are smaller in countries where lots of garlic is consumed (although a direct correlation has not been proven). There are some reports that indicate that garlic may have some related activities that may be relevant to the treatment of diabetes, but also nothing has been proven directly. Garlic is safe for most adults, particularly the fresh or crushed garlic. One thing to note is that garlic may interfere with the action of birth control pills, and cyclosporine, and medications that are broken down by the liver, and those medications designed to thin the blood. Garlic is also known for that garlic breath "odor".
Omega-3 (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from food sources, commonly from fish oil, flaxseed oil and borage seed oil. Omega-3 supplements are sold in many health food stores and will usually also have omega-6 and omega-9 components to balance them out. Omega-3 is important for the maintenance of cells in the body and may decrease the effects of heart disease and lower triglyceride levels. Diabetes increases a person's chance for heart disease and stroke, so Omega-3 has been of special interest. A 2001 analysis was published by the Cochrane Collaboration, of 18 randomized placebo-controlled trials on fish oil supplementation in type 2 diabetes. The authors found that fish oil lowered triglycerides and raised LDL cholesterol, but had no significant effect on fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, or HDL cholesterol. Omega-3s appear to be safe for a good number of adults at low-to-moderate doses. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't take fish oil supplements. Omega-3 in high doses may interfere with blood-thinning drugs and drugs for high blood pressure, and they could cause diarrhea.
Conclusion
The result they found is that there is limited scientific proof on the effectiveness of any of these dietary supplements as an alternative to medicine for type II diabetes. Of the six mentioned supplements, the use of omega-3 fatty acids seemed to show some positive impact in lowering triglyceride levels. The evidence that is available just doesn't give enough proof that any of the others hold benefits for type II diabetes or its complications.
Therefore, if you have diabetes, it is very important not to replace any prescribed medical therapy with an unproven alternative remedy. These six supplements appear to be generally safe at low-to-moderate doses. Although they may interfere with some prescription medications, so you'll want to discuss these with your physician before starting on any changes. Your doctor may even want to adjust your prescription if you are using an alternative remedy.
This information is not intended to replace medical advice. It is ideal to see your doctor for any medical questions or concerns you may have... especially if you are taking prescription medications and are considering any alternative remedies.
Copyright (c) 2006
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: diabetes, type II diabetes, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, heart attack, stroke, hypertension
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Jessica Deets researches the internet and writes helpful information. You can find out more about diabetes, including news and articles, at this website http://www.BestDiabetesNews.com
|
|
| Top Diabetes Articles |
- 1). Blood Presure, High or Low, You Need to Know This By : Tyson J Stevenson
Blood pressure is generally categorized into optimal, normal, high normal and excessive high or hypertensive.
High blood pressure can cause coronary heart disease which may result in heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and bleeding from several parts of our body.
|
- 2). Diabeticine and Diamaxol: New Diabetes Medicines and the FDA By : Vivian Brennan
Diabeticine, however, claimed to target the root of diabetes. Diabeticine claimed that it was a hypoglycemic agent. The FDA looked at Diabeticine’s advertising campaign and declared that it was a drug, not a supplement. This seems to be fair reasoning on the part of the FDA. (The name, Diabeticine, also implies that it is a medicine).
There appears to be mixed feelings about Diabeticine (now Diamaxol).
|
- 3). What Is Diabetes? By : Mary Williams
With diabetes such an epidemic today, it is essential that you know exactly what it is. Why? Well, to prevent getting diabetes yourself that is!
In layman terms, “diabetes” is the inability of the body to process sugars properly. When we eat or drink, our “pancreas” produces a hormone called “insulin”. Insulin is released into the blood and helps to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream.
|
- 4). 8 Signs of a Diabetes Symptom By : Carol Ann
If you have two or more of these pre-diabetes symptoms you should seriously consider getting yourself checked out:
1) If you find you are excessively thirsty, not just after extreme exercise or hot weather.
2) You seem to constantly have a dry mouth - even if you've just had a drink.
3) You find you are having to urinate frequently.
4) You have unexpected weight loss or gain (even though you may be constantly hungry and eating well.
|
- 5). Diabetes and Insulin By : Dr. Mark S. Johnson
Diabetes and Insulin
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not manufacture sufficient amounts of insulin or does not properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that is necessary for the transport of sugar from the blood stream into the cells for use as energy. Type 2 diabetes results when our bodies become insensitive to insulin and cause our blood sugar go out of balance.
|
- 6). Diabetes mellitus type 2 – Symptoms, causes and treatment By : Knut Holt
Special areas in the pancreas gland, the Islets of Langerhans, produce a hormone called insulin. This hormone is a protein of small size. Insulin stimulates muscle cells and other body cells to take up glucose from the blood and convert the glucose to glycogen, a kind of starch, and then store the glycogen. By need the body cells convert the glycogen to glucose and use it as fuel.
|
- 7). Diabetes: Diabetic Foot Ulcers May be Cure by A Vitamin A Compound By : Hector Milla
A compound of vitamin A called topical Retin-A also known as tretinoin, mainly used to treat acne problems, enhances the healing of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes, according to a report of the Archives of Dermatology.
Though previous studies showed that topical Retin-A was a bit helpful in enhancing wound healing in patients with diabetes and some results were discussed by different scientifics, a group of researchers tried to know if tretinoin really helped or not to these patients.
|
- 8). Diabetic Food - Reading Food Labels Properly Is Key To Your Health By : Dean Shainin
With diabetic food, it all comes down to the nutrition facts. It’s that list of nutrition information found on the package of foods sold in the grocery store. Reading food labels can help you make wise choices about the foods you buy. The labels will tell you what ingredients were used, the amount of calories, and other pertinent information essential to a diabetes patient.
|
|
|
- 10). Keep Your Blood Sugar Level Under Control By : Scott Michaels
Controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels is one of the most important aspects of diabetes management. It will make you feel better in the short-term and it will help you to stay fit and healthy in the long term.
The National Committee on Prevention Detection Evaluation, the chromium and many interesting articles. People who do not have diabetes keep their blood glucose levels within a narrow range for most of the time.
|
| New Diabetes Articles |
- 1). How Cinnamon Seems to Help a Diabetic with their Diabetes Condition By : Arland Kent
Cinnamon, used for a long time as a spice that assists with energy, this is a cheap form of help for the control of diabetes. With the sourced funding from a major foundation, a doctor is studying the possible cinnamon effects on diabetes. He was able to isolate the sourced compound in cinnamon that is a responsible for a portion of the superb effects that this substance has on diabetes.
|
|
|
- 3). Understand Diabetes and Its Effective Natural Treatment By : Rian Azari
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy for daily life requirements. It is still a mystery the cause of diabetes although genetically and environmentally influence such as not enough exercise and obesity play a role.
To understand diabetes, it is good to learn something about pancreas, the long and thin situated behind our stomach.
|
- 4). Diabetes Management: Blood Glucose Meters By : Scott Michaels
One of the great things about the Internet is that it’s created a global community for discussions of topics such as diabetes. You’ll find there are a number of forums that will allow you to talk to others facing your situation.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with diabetes, one of your first steps will likely be to find a glucose meter.
|
- 5). Diabetes Today, the Disturbing Truth By : illich
Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease. Since 1987 the death rate has increased 45 percent. In 2002; diabetes claimed an astonishing 224,092 lives in the United States alone. It is believed that the number was actually higher since most deaths of the elderly had multiple chronic conditions associated with their death including diabetes. Many people.
|
- 6). Diabetes Epidemic because of self-inflicted Obesity By : Carol Ann
One of the greatest contributors to the type 2 diabetes epidemic is reckoned to be obesity brought on by our modern lifestyles.
Are you eating yourself into diabetes type 2?
Check if you have these 4 eating habits that could contribute to obesity and possibly make you part of the type 2 diabetes epidemic...
1) Unconscious eating... No, I don't mean 'sleep-eating' (I wonder if there is such a thing?) I'm talking about automatic eating without any conscious thought to what is happening.
|
- 7). The Truth about Diabetes By : Hector Milla
What if you are diagnosed with diabetes? Are you going to stay indoors and just inject yourself with insulin everyday? Maybe you need to understand the facts about diabetes and accept it wholeheartedly so that it can't be a heavy burden in your part.
Let us start from defining what diabetes really is and the probable causes that brings this disease.
|
- 8). 5 Ways to Manage your Diet for Diabetes By : Jennifer Carter
Since my diagnosis with diabetes at the age of eleven, my own diet has changed dramatically. I maintain my current healthy weight with a great diet/eating plan. If you do plan on losing more than about a stone in weight then I would visit your doctor for more tips on how to do this without risk.
I've had diabetes for seven years now, but to tell you that how I maintain weight is perfect would be totally wrong of me.
|
- 9). Keep Your Blood Sugar Level Under Control By : Scott Michaels
Controlling blood sugar (glucose) levels is one of the most important aspects of diabetes management. It will make you feel better in the short-term and it will help you to stay fit and healthy in the long term.
The National Committee on Prevention Detection Evaluation, the chromium and many interesting articles. People who do not have diabetes keep their blood glucose levels within a narrow range for most of the time.
|
- 10). A Short Tutorial About Various Diabetic Supplies By : George Johnson
Diabetes is a chronic disease with no cure but the good news is that proper care and treatment a person can live a log and healthy life. Nearly 2,000 people are diagnosed with diabetes everyday.
It is estimated that there are 17 million people with diabetes in the U.S and another 16 million have pre-diabetes or higher blood-sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
|
|
|
