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One of the key factors in diabetes management is nutrition, but getting adequate nutrition from food can sometimes be challenging. This is where vitamin and mineral supplements often remedy the situation.
However, not all supplements are healthy for your body. Therefore, before taking any vitamin or mineral supplement, you must know if it is going to help with your diabetes or increase your risk.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements That Can Adversely Impact Diabetes
If you have diabetes, several vitamin and mineral supplements may lead to dangerous side effects or increase the risk of diabetes complications. Some of these supplements include:
Chromium
A chromium deficiency may cause high blood sugar levels. Therefore, taking a chromium supplement may help. However, if you have kidney complications, chromium supplements may further damage your kidneys and worsen your condition.
Vitamin E
Heart complications are common in diabetes patients, and many diabetes patients take blood-thinning drugs to treat heart diseases.
Vitamin E supplements can interact with your blood-thinning medications and cause dangerous side effects. It can even increase your risk of bleeding.
Niacin
Niacin or vitamin B3 is helpful in raising HDL or good cholesterol in the body, but it also increases fasting glucose levels in diabetes patients. Therefore, it is essential to consult your healthcare team before taking niacin.
More Common Supplements and Their Effect on Diabetes
Vitamin B12
If you have diabetes and are deficient in vitamin B12, taking a supplement may help. Vitamin B12 deficiency is especially common among patients taking metformin drugs.
Vitamin C
There are no clear benefits of vitamin C on diabetes and diabetes complications. Therefore, it is better to avoid it till more research is done.
Vitamin D
Researchers have found an association between higher levels of vitamin D and a lower risk of type 1 diabetes in children. More research is needed to confirm the findings. However, if you are deficient in vitamin D, a supplement can definitely help.
Can Vitamin Supplements Replace Food?
Many people think that supplements contain the same nutrients as whole foods and, hence, can be used as an alternative to a healthy and balanced diet. However, this is not entirely true. Nutrients are best absorbed through whole foods.
Whole foods contain a mix of minerals, enzymes, fibres and other substances that help the body absorb these nutrients. Therefore, eating a well-balanced diet is always a healthier option than popping vitamin pills.
Nevertheless, if you have any vitamin deficiency, taking a supplement may be helpful. But, you need to know how these supplements are going to impact your blood sugar levels.
On a Final Note
Taking vitamin and mineral supplements without having a deficiency is not advisable, especially if you have diabetes. However, if you have any vitamin or mineral deficiency, a supplement may help.
But you must remember that all supplements do not have positive effects on your health. Some supplements, like chromium and vitamin E, can worsen your diabetes complications. Therefore you must consult your doctor before adding any vitamin supplements to your routine.
