How to Understand the Impact of Dietary Supplements on Blood Sugar Levels?
Hey everyone out there! The impact of dietary supplements on blood sugar levels is immense.
If you are fond of supplements and want to know how they change the overall color of your life then, you are definitely at the right place.
We shall delve into the safety aspect of dietary supplements with special regards to their impact on your blood sugar levels.
After reading through this article, you shall understand the overall impact of these supplements on your health.
You shall also learn how to continue using dietary supplements to enhance your health without jeopardizing your blood glucose levels.
So, read on this yawn-free article as it is short, crisp and to the point.
Why Do You even Need to Know all This?
The biggest question that almost every diabetic has in mind is, “why do I need to know the inter-relationship between my supplement and my blood sugar levels.”
Well, there are several reasons for the same:
To start with, it is important for you to understand your blood glucose fluctuations if you are a diabetic. In case you are unable to keep a tab on your (unwanted) insulin spikes then, your diabetes is all set to spiral out of control.
You would not want that to happen!
A dietary supplement can very well be compared to an addictive. Just like you put fuel in your car to keep it running, these supplements act as fuel to your body.
Also, a petrol vehicle needs only petrol and not diesel. If you put diesel into a petrol vehicle, your car shall stop functioning. Similarly, if petrol is poured into a diesel vehicle, the engine shall cease.
Hence, knowing how your chosen blood sugar control supplement affects your blood sugar levels is vital for keeping your diabetes in tab.
Best Supplements to Lower Blood Sugar – My Top 3 Ingredients
Found in almost every other household, the three most common ingredients are included in most diabetic dietary supplements. These are the best supplements to lower blood sugar.
Let me walk you through these in a jiffy:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids:
The first supplement is omega 3 fats. While this is often considered a fish oil supplement for athletes, omega 3 is a boon for diabetics as well. By reducing the triglyceride level in the body, they maintain optimal health of a diabetic.
Omega 3 has also been known to reduce glucose intolerance. At the same time, these healthy fats also reduce inflammation in the human body. So overall, this healthy fat helps your heart function optimally and it also helps stabilize your blood sugar levels.
The Magnesium Chill Pill:
Insulin secretion induced by arginine is reduced dramatically when you consume magnesium supplement. Magnesium supplementation has also been known to improve insulin sensitivity.
When your insulin sensitivity is improved, your blood sugar levels are automatically reduced. Magnesium has also been known to regulate hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
People with diabetes have lower magnesium levels as compared to normal individuals. Hence, increasing magnesium levels is vital for diabetics.
Cinnamon – The Kitchen King:
This is by far one of the most common spices that is usually found in most kitchens of the world. This spice is known to cause quite a stir in the lives of diabetics.
Cinnamon has the ability to mimic the function of insulin. When this happens, your blood sugar levels are maintained. So, if you have diabetes and you consume cinnamon then, insulin shall be pushed into the cells.
It is not a natural process as it was not happening before. Cinnamon also reduces LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. This is how you can easily hope to improve your diabetic issues.
Hey – Here Comes the Surprise Catch!
Not all supplements that you take to improve your overall health are beneficial for you. While they do boost your energy levels and improve your overall physical/mental functionality, they may adversely affect your diabetic condition.
So, it would be correct to state that all health supplements are NOT diabetic friendly in nature. This is with special regards to supplements that are primarily meant for diabetic control and help.
A classic example of ingredients that may be present within the diabetic supplement are vanadium and chromium. These two ingredients have mixed reviews with regards to they being beneficial for diabetics.
There are other supplements that contain artificial sugars and additives. These are infused within the dietary supplement in order to improve their taste or flavor. Once again, these may not be the best fit for controlling blood sugar levels (despite them being meant for stabilizing blood sugar levels in the human body).
Moreover, the interaction between certain supplements and diabetes medications can be another hidden hazard. Some products, like bitter melon, can enhance the blood glucose-lowering effect of diabetes drugs, leading to hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels).
This is a serious risk that requires careful monitoring and professional guidance.
The safety of a supplement can only be ascertained and confirmed when you consult a registered dietitian or a healthcare professional. So, never miss out on paying a visit to a healthcare professional.
Only when your chosen diabetes dietary supplement has been cleared by your healthcare professional should you go in for it.
How to Become an Intelligent Buyer?
Here are a few steps that you can follow diligently in order to become a smart diabetic supplement shopper:
Keep in Touch with Your Specialist:
Your healthcare provider needs to always be kept in the loop whenever you are out shopping for a diabetic supplement. Your specialist shall determine which supplement shall work in your favor and what might not.
Good Reviews Matter:
Whether you like it or not, a product that enjoys good reviews is to be preferred over ones that do not get bad reviews. At the same time, it also needs to be noted that not all product reviews that you read on the internet are to be trusted.
So, all you need to do is to check with other diabetics and seek their opinion on your chosen blood sugar control supplement. Log into diabetic forums and converse with fellow diabetics. Pick the supplement that everyone else agrees upon.
Scientific Research Matters:
Believe it or not but scientific research is what helps you judge a supplement in the most appropriate manner. You need to choose a safe dietary supplement for your diabetic condition.
Research studies on the ingredients of the supplement manufacturer inform you weather the product is trustworthy or not. Academic and scientific research enables you to avoid consuming supplements that are of low quality.
Maintain a Daily Diary:
Finally, if you want to learn how to lower blood sugar naturally, you need to maintain a diary. Keep a close watch on how your chosen blood sugar control supplement is affecting your overall health.
If it is helping you get healthier then, nothing like it. On the other hand, if your chosen supplement is keeping unhealthy and causing complications then, avoid it at all costs.
Conclusive Analysis
While searching for the best supplements to lower blood sugar, you need to keep the above pointers in mind. It is only when your chosen product is complimenting your health should you go ahead with it.
While most products that claim to lower your blood sugar do not have a scientific backing, most ingredients on the label do. So, it is best to check the scientific research conducted by registered labs and other institutions on the ingredients.
Doing so shall ensure that you get hold of only the very best blood sugar control products. If you suffer from allergies (from certain ingredients present in your chosen supplement) then, researching on these ingredients shall help minimize medical complications.
So, follow these simple steps and lead a normal life!
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321309622_Nutritional_supplement_for_control_of_diabetes
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/diabetes-and-dietary-supplements-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/tools/supplements-to-lower-blood-sugar.asp
