In Part 1 of this series we discussed how diabetics should be checked for vitamin B deficiencies to avoid neuropathy, or nerve damage, and help to reduce their sensitivity to blood sugar fluctuations. But, B vitamins are not the only ones that diabetics should be concerned about. Other vitamins and minerals can have a profound effect on insulin requirements and secretion, glucose tolerance, the loss of body fat, and other health concerns with diabetics.
Vitamin D deficiency is very common around the world and diabetics are no exception. Some studies report vitamin D deficiencies in as high as 90% of diabetics. It is unknown whether the deficiencies are caused by the condition, or a lack of sun exposure. Vitamin D is very important for diabetics because it is used in the pancreas to regulate pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. The deterioration of these cells is the main cause of Type 1 diabetes. Studies have shown that Type 2 diabetics with vitamin D deficiencies have less control over the disease as their deficiency increases. It is very important to have your doctor check your vitamin D levels, even if you supplement with vitamin D. Many people are unable to convert vitamin D to the biologically active forms usable by the body.
Diabetes causes inflammation throughout the body, which increased the body’s requirements for antioxidants. Vitamin C is very effective in reducing the free radical byproducts of inflammation and in turn, helping diabetics to avoid complications such as damage to the nerves, kidneys, and eyes. Vitamin C and E together can help to prevent vascular damage that leads to heart disease, narrowing of capillaries, and hardening of the arteries. Vitamin C also lowers sorbital, the sugar that accumulates in the body.
Vitamin C should be taken with plenty of water while vitamin E must be consumed with fats. Most doctors recommend that diabetics incorporate omega 3 fatty acids into their diets while combining them with vitamin E. The best vitamin C is a buffered vitamin c powder, which is highly absorbable and has very little acid. This form is more easily tolerated as a daily supplement than highly acidic chewables.
When taking antioxidants, diabetics should work with their doctors and monitor their activity levels. As you have probably been told, regular exercise is the easiest way to manage diabetes. The benefits are not only obtained through the loss of body fat. Exercise is predominantly recommended to diabetics because intense activity produces free radicals that activate the body’s immune response. This is essentially an antioxidant reaction that the body produces on its own. Your doctor may recommend that you continue to eat healthy fruits and vegetables if you exercise regularly, but that you not take additional antioxidant vitamins. If you exercise infrequently, your doctor may advise you to only take antioxidant vitamins on days that you do not exercise.
About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with vitamins and supplements, with an emphasis on vitamin C powder. Wholesale Nutrition has provided the world with the best vitamin C and wholesale vitamins since 1970. Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy high-quality discount vitamins today!
Sources:
Diabetes Mellitus-Information http://www.diabetesmellitus-information.com/diabetes_vitamins.htm
WebMD http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20100621/low-vitamin-d-linked-to-poor-diabetes-control
Diabetes Health http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2011/02/17/7058/medical-food-treats-neuropathy/
Medicine Net http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7261
