Potentially Helpful Supplements for Diabetes

Sara Lee Thomas, MS,RD rev. 7/18/07

Are you taking daily medicine for diabetes or other conditions?

Supplements can change how your medicine works

Always check with a health care provider before you take a new supplement. Monitor your blood sugar.

This is a summary for information only, please do additional reading on each supplement and discuss with your provider. At www.iherb.com. the Health Encyclopedia section called “Natural and Alternative Treatments” has good information.

• One-a-day supplement low in iron—most “senior” supplements work well. Too much iron might encourage clogging of the arteries. People with diabetes have up to 6 times the rate of iron overload as non-diabetics. Of course, if your blood tests low, then you do need to take iron. Make sure the supplement contains 100% Daily value for folic acid, vitamin B6, B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, selenium, manganese, zinc and chromium. Folic acid and Vitamin B6 will help reduce levels of homocysteine--a harmful artery hardening amino acid found in the blood. Being low in vitamin B6 worsens blood sugar control and contributes to the death of the “insulin factories” in the pancreas. Vitamin C helps your blood vessels stay relaxed and helps prevent excess sugar from sticking to and damaging proteins. Chromium works with insulin in your body to move sugar from your blood into your cells.

• Chromium, 200-1000 mcg a day, but usually 200-400mcg a day as chromium picolinate. Essential for getting blood sugar into the cell. Lowers average blood sugar by 29 points, fasting blood sugar by 15%, non-fasting by 19%. May lower need for insulin and diabetes medicines and prevent medication related weight gain. Improves the way the heart beats which may lower risk for heart attacks. Caution if you have liver, kidney, or mood related problems.

• Magnesium—250-500 mg per day. A lack of Magnesium is more common in people with diabetes, 25-38% are deficient. Magnesium may lower blood sugar, improve blood pressure, boost energy and fight leg cramps. People with kidney problems or advanced heart disease will need to check with their doctor before taking magnesium. Magnesium interacts with many medications, best to take 2 hours apart.

• Vitamin C-100-250 mg per meal. A separate vitamin C pill isn't needed at the meal you take your multi-vitamin. Vitamin C keeps your blood vessels relaxed and fights some of the damage caused by high blood sugar sticking to proteins in the body. People with Diabetes appear to need more vitamin C than non-diabetics.

• Vitamin E—200-400 IU per day. May help decrease damage from glycation (sugar frosting) and prevent complications of diabetes. Don’t take over 400IU, taking over 400IU a day may interact with warfarin (cause bleeding) and increase risk for heart disease; below 400 does not.

• Vitamin B6--50mg per day, might help peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by diabetes. Vitamin B12 may also be helpful for nerve damage.

• ? Biotin 6-15 mg (6,000-15,000mcg): activates glucokinase in the liver, first step in glucose metabolism. Good animal research. Preliminary human research looks good. Lowers cholesterol and blood fats as well
  

Other Supplements:

Alpha-Lipoic Acid: excellent antioxidant, lowers blood sugar, helps treat diabetic peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Usual Dose: 50-100mg as antioxidant, 300 to 600 mg daily for nerves. Up to 1800 mg/day have been used safely. Take extra biotin if taking over 100mg alpha-lipoic acid a day.

Brewer’s yeast 3 Tbsp (9g/day) decrease blood sugar, improve glucose tolerance, reduce insulin, improve cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL.

Cinnamon, ½ to 2 ½ teaspoons Emerging evidence, LDL↓7 -27%, Chol ↓ 12-16%, Trig ↓23 -30%, Blood sugar ↓18 to 29%

Fiber supplements 20-30 g, may help slow down the surge of sugar after a meal. Helps weight control efforts. Lowers cholesterol. Metamucil (pysllium), glucomannon, citracel, flaxseed meal.

Fish Oil, 1-3 capsules a day: cuts risk of heart disease , lowers triglycerides, might help prevent diabetes. May need 3-9 capsules a day to lower triglycerides. If it upsets your stomach, get enteric coated instead.

Garlic 100mg allicin per kg (2.2 lbs) equals about 9,000mg allicin for a 200 lbs person. May inhibit adrenalin/stress induced increase in blood sugar from the liver. Caution with blood thinners.

Onion extract 25-200ml a day may inhibit adrenalin/stress induced increase in blood sugar from the liver. Not to be taken if on warfarin (a blood thinner).

Herbs:

Aloe 1 tablespoon of aloe juice twice daily was used successfully in 2 small but fairly well done studies. Aloe is reported to be safe.

Bilberry Leaf, may help improve blood sugar and blood fat levels (26% and 39% in animals), may help protect the small blood vessels in the eyes and kidney. Usual dose: 120 to 240 mg twice a day standardized to contain 25% anthocyanosides.

?Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) one small, unripe, raw melon or 2 ounces juice 2 to 3 times a day. (warning: it is VERY bitter!). Impressive test tube and animal research but very little good human research. Stimulates insulin release and reduces blood sugar very well, reports of severe hypoglycemia (coma) have occurred in people also taking insulin or other blood sugar medications.

?Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract (AKA gumar) standardized to contain 24% gymnemic acid, usual dose 400 to 600 mg daily, improves blood sugar control however no large well done studies have been done.

?Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extract-- small uncontrolled trials show that it helps reduce blood sugar and cholesterol. Usual dose is 5 to 30 g 3 times a day with meals. Fenugreek is safe to use, however animal studies indicate that it should not be used during pregnancy since it may cause uterine contractions. Safe during breastfeeding, helps stimulate milk production.

?Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) standardized extract. One well done study found that it helps lower blood sugars, probably not directly but by making you feel more energetic. Reputable brand: Ginsana, follow package directions. Allow 2 months to see if it helps you or not.

?Pterocarpus marsupium 2-4g extract/day. lowers blood sugar, protects and may even help regenerate the “insulin factories” in the pancreas. Research looks good but we’ll see.

Minor editorial revisions by J. Thomas, 2016, 2024