If you’re living with Type 2 diabetes, you may be interested in finding a supplement you can take to help improve your blood sugar naturally. There are many different types of supplements available, all with different claims of health benefits. It can be difficult to sort through the options and find out if there are supplements that can actually improve your blood sugar. To help you out, here is a list of a few Natural diabetes supplements claiming to be able to lower blood sugar or help diabetics in other ways, and the research that’s been done to see how effective they are…
1. Chromium. This is an essential trace mineral, meaning your body requires it in a small amount. It’s found in many different foods, like vegetables, grains, and meat products. One of chromium’s functions in the body is to help insulin in facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells. Chromium has been researched to see if it helps control blood sugar levels in diabetics. However, a review of these studies found chromium had no effect on controlling Type 2 diabetes.
2. Cinnamon. You may have heard about cinnamon in the news lately as a possible helpful supplement in regulating blood sugar. Cinnamon is a herb, and it’s thought it may be able to improve diabetes by decreasing insulin resistance. Several studies have researched this claim but it was found cinnamon does not help in the control Type 2 diabetes.
3. Omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in fish and some nuts and seeds. Your body needs them to function and, as well, they have many health benefits. Several studies have looked at the effect of taking omega-3 supplements on controlling blood sugar levels. A large review of all these studies found taking omega-3 supplements does not help Type 2 diabetics control their blood sugar.
As you can see, none of these supplements have been shown to improve blood sugar. Since supplements aren’t tested before they’re sold, we have to rely on research studies to test the health benefits supplements claim to have. Since no supplements have been shown to improve blood sugar, it’s better to eat a healthy diet containing a variety of different foods. This way you’ll get all the vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids you need without the possible risks of taking a supplement. Supplements contain much higher amounts of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, or herbs than you would take in by eating a healthy diet, and some of these high amounts can be unsafe. Some supplements can also interact with several of the medications you are taking. If you do want to try a particular supplement, make sure to talk to your doctor about it first.
