Supplements are a natural treatment option for people suffering from type 2 diabetes, and they can reduce the amount of insulin required to treat type 1 diabetes. (reference 2) Supplements can play a role in treating and even reversing the effects of diabetes, but the best course of treatment is a change in diet and regular exercise. (reference 3) While supplements should not be the only treatment used, knowing which supplements to take can greatly reduce your dependence on insulin and the symptoms of diabetes. (reference 1)
Instructions
1. Take the antioxidant known as alpha-lipoic acid. This supplement can improve glucose uptake and prevent glycosylation, which causes sugars to abnormally attach to proteins. It can also improve eye and nerve health. You should start with 100 mg a day and work your way up to about 600 mg a day. Higher doses are an effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy, which causes nerve damage. (reference 2)
2. Take a magnesium supplement to enhance insulin production. Take 400 mg a day, and try to incorporate magnesium glycinate, which has less of a laxative effect than other types of magnesium supplements. (reference 2)
3. Take the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, which has been linked to heart health. You should take around 60 to 100 mg a day. Be sure to take a coenzyme Q10 supplement with your largest meal of the day. (reference 2)
4. Take a supplement that contains the mineral vanadium. Vanadium performs a function of insulin, helping with the transportation of glucose into cells. It can reduce the effects of diabetes in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Take about 45 to 150 mg a day. Be sure to monitor your blood sugar levels carefully while taking a vanadium supplement. (reference 3)
5. Take vitamin C and vitamin E supplements to help control your diabetes. Vitamin C prevents glycosylation, which causes sugars to abnormally attach to proteins, and is safe to take at most levels. The only side effect, loose stool, occurs in patients taking over 2000 mg a day. Insulin sensitivity can be improved by taking high doses of Vitamin E. Take approximately 1350 IU per day. (reference 3)
6. Take biotin, a B vitamin that's necessary for your body to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Insulin sensitivity and glucokinase activity, which aids the liver in using glucose, can also be improved by taking a biotin supplement. Blood glucose control can be regulated with the use of biotin in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Damage to the nerves in the feet, a condition known as diabetic neuropathy, is another symptom that can be treated with biotin. Take approximately 9 mg a day. (reference 3)
7. Take supplements with omega 3 fatty acids, which help build up cell walls and provide energy. Your body doesn't make omega 3 fatty acids, but supplements that include flaxseed oil contain plenty. Take the equivalent of one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day. Fatty fish also contain omega 3 fatty acids, but avoid relying on them for your daily dose. Flaxseed has much higher amounts and has no risk of toxicity poisoning or contaminants as fish oils do. Other sources for omega 3 fatty acids include evening primrose, borage, walnuts, and wheat germ. (reference 3)
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