Having high glucose levels means that there is too much sugar in your blood. Often, elevated glucose levels are a result of diabetes, which is caused by your body not producing enough insulin or not utilizing this hormone properly. If your blood sugar levels are too high, it can damage your eyesight, lead to weight gain, and increase your risk of heart disease.
There are many ways to manage high blood sugar, including changing your diet and incorporating more exercise. Additionally, there are various supplements that may help. Examples of common items include vitamin D, cinnamon, and magnesium.
There is no clear evidence showing that herbal or nonherbal supplementation is beneficial for people with diabetes who don’t have any nutrient deficiencies, according to the American Diabetes Association.
You should not stop taking your diabetes medication if you start taking these supplements. What they can do is help lower your blood sugar in addition to any medications that your doctor has prescribed.
The following is a list of common supplement options, along with a summary of the current research supporting their use.
Aloe Vera
A 2016 review of eight clinical trials found that drinking aloe vera juice improved glycemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Although there is some evidence to suggest that this supplement is beneficial, there is still a lack of high-quality, randomized, controlled trials to support this.
Another review found that aloe vera was especially helpful in lowering blood sugar levels for people with prediabetes. The authors of the study concluded that more research and clinical trials need to be conducted to investigate the benefits of oral aloe vera.
Researchers have long been interested in aloe vera as a treatment for blood sugar in people with diabetes. A study in 1996 looked at the effectiveness of aloe vera juice. The impact of taking one tablespoon of the juice twice a day for at least two weeks was examined in people with diabetes. The researchers found that triglyceride levels in the treated group decreased. However, as with other studies, they suggested that more research needs to be conducted.
How to Use Aloe Vera
Aloe vera comes in the juice that is ingested orally. The gel form has been applied to the skin, and the oral form has been studied to regulate blood sugar.
Precautions
Oral aloe vera has been shown to cause diarrhea, hives, and cramping.8 Aloe latex (the outer leaf) contains compounds that are stimulating laxatives. It is best to consume aloe orally from products made from the inner leaf or fillet to avoid any laxative effects. The designation for the product should be clearly indicated on the label.
Interactions with medications that are metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes have been observed with oral aloe vera ingestion. CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 are enzymes that are responsible for metabolizing a wide range of drugs. Aloe vera-based juice has been found to inhibit these enzymes, which may increase the risk of drug interactions. Antidepressants and opioids are in this category.
The drug can make the side effects of sevoflurane worse, potentially causing a patient to bleed excessively during surgery. You should tell your doctor that you are taking aloe vera juice before having surgery.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is made from the bark of cinnamon trees. It can be taken as a supplement in the form of an extract or whole powder.
A study from 2020 found that people with prediabetes who took cinnamon supplements every day saw improvements in their blood sugar levels. It is crucial to prevent type 2 diabetes from occurring.
The aim of the research was to see what effect taking three 500mg doses of cinnamon every day for 12 weeks would have. 54 people were surveyed as part of the study. 27 people received a supplement, and the rest received a placebo. Everyone had prediabetes.
The people who took the placebo had higher blood sugar levels after not eating for a night, while the people who took the supplement had stable blood sugar levels. Cinnamon was found to improve the ability to metabolize sugar for those who received it.10
The results of the study showed that those who took the cinnamon extract had lower blood sugar levels. The study found that 250 mg of cinnamon extract can help lower blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. They drank a placebo before breakfast and dinner over three months and reported an 8.4% decrease in fasting blood sugar levels compared with those on a placebo.
How to Use Cinnamon
Cinnamon is taken orally. A study recommends that people take 250 mg of cinnamon extract two times a day, once before each meal. The recommended dose of non-extract cinnamon-based supplements is 500 mg two times a day.
Cassia cinnamon is the most widely studied type of cinnamon, and it may have blood sugar control effects. In contrast, Ceylon cinnamon has not been demonstrated to produce the same result.
One way to integrate cinnamon into your diet is to add it to oatmeal or cereal or use it while cooking, using about a half teaspoon each day.
Precautions
particularly if you already have a health condition. If you have liver disease, some types of cinnamon may not be good for you because they contain the compound coumarin.3 Always check with your healthcare provider before adding a new supplement to your regimen, especially if you have a health condition.
Other Minerals That Can Control Diabetes
Chromium
A compound called Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) was isolated by Walter Mertz and Kenneth Schwartz in 1957. GTF was extracted from pork kidney. The term “glucose tolerance factor” (GTF) was first used in 1959 when chromium was identified as the active component. The primary symptom of chromium deficiency is increased blood sugar and insulin levels.
Chromium is essential for insulin regulation, which helps to maintain blood sugar levels in the body. Chromium is not easily absorbed as it is a mineral. The amount of chromium available for absorption affects how much will be absorbed, as well as the amount of chromium already in the body. It is essential always to have adequate levels of chromium.
Chromium intake, poor dietary habits, and a sedentary lifestyle all contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity- three of the most common diseases in the US.
Chromium has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes in over 15 controlled studies. Fasting glucose levels got lower; insulin levels, as well as total cholesterol and triglycerides, got lower; HDL-the good cholesterol-got higher. Chromium has been shown to be effective in reducing blood lipids in non-diabetics.
Chromium is a chemical that has been publicized as a weight reduction aid. This is because it can control insulin and blood sugar. Including chromium in your diet can help improve your acne. There is some evidence that people with acne may have difficulties regulating their blood sugar levels, even though most people with acne have normal blood sugar levels. Things that can cause a depletion of chromium in the body are refined sugar, white flour, and a lack of exercise. The minimum amount of chromium humans need in order to maintain the regulation of blood sugar levels is 200 micrograms. Only Trace Minerals contains 400 mcg of elemental chromium.
Vanadium
Vanadium was named after the Scandinavian goddess of beauty, youth, and luster. Although vanadium is found in many food sources, up to 90% of it is not absorbed when consumed this way. The results of these studies suggest that vanadium can normalize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Recent research on vanadium has focused on its role in improving or mimicking insulin action, with the results of these studies suggesting that vanadium can normalize blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Vanadyl sulfate is a vanadium compound that has numerous benefits for human health, including improved glucose tolerance, lower cholesterol levels, and stronger bones and teeth. Vanadyl Sulfate is often used by diabetics and bodybuilders because it can help regulate blood sugar levels in a similar way to insulin. Six patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were studied to see the effects of vanadyl sulfate. Some of the patients controlled their diabetes with diet, and others with glucose-lowering drugs. The subjects received 100mg of vanadyl sulfate for 3 weeks and were given the placebo for the first 2 weeks and the last 2 weeks. During the first two weeks, blood glucose levels were higher than normal in all subjects. After taking vanadyl sulfate for three weeks, the participant’s blood sugar levels decreased by 10%. The effects lasted for two additional weeks. The researchers concluded that vanadyl sulfate makes the liver and pancreas work better with insulin in people with NIDDM after only three weeks.
There is no set RDA for vanadium, but generally speaking, you don’t need more than 100 mg to maintain good health. No other supplement contains as much vanadium as Only Trace Minerals. Some researchers believe that taking a dose of 23 mg to 100 mg of the medication is too much and could be harmful unless it is taken under a doctor’s supervision to treat a specific condition, such as diabetes.
Manganese
Manganese was discovered to be an essential mineral in the early 1930s when it was observed that rats and mice who were lacking in manganese showed pronounced growth retardation and reduced ability to reproduce.
When humans consume a diet that doesn’t have enough manganese, it causes a lot of problems, like changes to bones, nails, and hair growth. It also lowers levels of HDL cholesterol, which is the “good” kind. Low manganese levels are also linked to epilepsy. In a series of studies conducted in the 1960s, it was observed that rats who were not consuming a diet with an adequate amount of manganese were more likely to experience epileptic brain wave tracings as well as seizures. Humans with epilepsy often have low blood and hair levels of manganese. Manganese is a necessary component for many enzymes that are vital for glucose metabolism. In guinea pigs that are deficient in manganese, many of them develop diabetes, and their offspring suffer from extreme pancreatic disorders or are born without a pancreas. In humans, diabetics have roughly half the amount of manganese compared to normal individuals. Manganese is occasionally prescribed to diabetics who aren’t responding to insulin therapy.
There is no suggested amount of manganese to consume per day, but 15 mg is usually enough. This amount can be found in most Only Trace Minerals products. Only Trace Minerals is a dietary supplement that is very low in toxicity. Too much magnesium in your system can block the absorption of manganese. If you eat a lot of iron-rich foods, you may absorb less manganese. And if you consume large amounts of manganese, there is a chance you could become iron deficient.
Zinc
Zinc plays a role in over 200 enzymes in the body and is present in every cell. Zinc is required for more enzymatic reactions than any other mineral and is necessary for proper cell division. Zinc is required for the production of thymic hormones, sex hormones, growth hormones, and insulin. The recommended daily allowance for zinc in adults is 15 mg. If you’re deficient in vitamin A, you may have poor wound healing, trouble seeing at night, growth retardation, mouth ulcers, a white coating on your tongue, and white spots on your fingernails. Zinc is also necessary for the preservation of vision, taste, and smell. The average human adult body contains 1.4 to 2.5 grams of zinc, which is stored primarily in the body’s muscle tissue. Zinc is also present in high levels in white blood cells, red blood cells, bone, skin, kidney, liver, pancreas, retina, and the prostate gland. Zinc is important for keeping male sex hormones and prostate function healthy. The best way to find out how much zinc is in your body is by measuring the amount of zinc in your white blood cells.
Conditions that are clinically severe and relate to a zinc deficiency include connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis, impotence/infertility, inflammatory bowel disease, alcoholism, night blindness, psychiatric illness, and acne.
Zinc is a key nutrient for a healthy immune system. If there is a zinc deficiency, the number of T cells will go down, levels of the thymic hormone will decrease, and many vital functions of white blood cells will no longer occur. The effects of zinc deficiency are reversible with proper zinc supplementation. Furthermore, zinc has been shown to have direct antiviral activity against numerous viruses, including the common cold. The amount of zinc you need to consume daily to maintain good health varies between 15 and 80 mg. Zinc is an important mineral for your health, and Trace Minerals provides 20 mg of zinc in each serving. This is more than what is typically found in multi-nutrient formulas.
A Final Word
Before starting any new medication regimen, consult your doctor to go over any possible side effects or drug interactions.
Although supplements can help lower blood sugar levels, be cautious of how they might affect your health in other ways or interact with other medications you are taking for other health conditions. Talk to your doctor about what treatment options might be best for you.
