10 Best Vitamins and Supplements for Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you know managing your blood sugar is key to staying healthy.
Along with a healthy diet and exercise, supplements and vitamins can also play a role in diabetes management.
In this video, we’ll take a look at ten of the best vitamins and supplements for diabetics.
Watch the video now to learn about the benefits of these supplements and how they can help you manage your diabetes!
1. Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that can be destroyed by heat and light and is also sensitive to stomach acid.
It is an essential vitamin that can help with digestion and prevent symptoms resulting from a B12 deficiency.
That’s why most people need supplements to meet their daily requirements.
A B12 lack can lead to nerve damage, fatigue, heart disease, and anemia.
Because of the risk of nerve damage, people with diabetes should take a supplement or eat foods fortified with Vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is available as a pill and in injections.
The recommended dose for people with diabetes is 2-4 mcg daily.
Look for a Vitamin B12 supplement that contains no fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or dyes, as these can harm your health.
2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for the formation of collagen and cartilage.
Collagen is one of the most critical proteins in your body.
It is also crucial for immune system health, tissue repair, healing, and energy production.
As a result, it can also be necessary for people with diabetes.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body.
They result from normal metabolism and can also be produced by infections, pollution, and some medications.
These radicals can also damage cells in your body and lead to accelerated aging.
Vitamin C is also important for blood sugar control in people with diabetes because it helps the body use glucose.
It does this by helping the body transport glucose into tissues and stimulating insulin production.
A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a condition where the skin is patchy, and gums are sore.
Scurvy has been associated with diabetes as well.
If you have diabetes, you must ensure you get enough vitamin C in your diet.
3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and is found in a wide variety of foods, including milk, eggs, and fish.
It is made in the skin after exposure to sunlight.
It’s also produced when bacteria in the intestines convert cholesterol into vitamin D. This vitamin is necessary for bone health and may play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease.
Vitamin D increases insulin sensitivity, making it an excellent supplement for people with diabetes.
It is also known to support healthy immune function, maintain strong bones and healthy skin, and prevent and treat depression.
If you are not getting enough Vitamin D from your diet, consider taking a supplement.
4. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the maintenance of normal skin and hair.
It is also a potent antioxidant, which can help prevent cell damage.
In addition, vitamin E helps to regulate the immune system and support healthy cell growth.
If you have diabetes, your need for vitamin E increases because of the increased oxidative damage that occurs in the body.
Besides, when people with diabetes spend a lot of time in the sun, their skin may become more sensitive to burns.
It implies that they need vitamin E-rich foods or supplements to help protect their skin and cells from damage.
The recommended daily intake is 15 mg for men and women over 50.
5. Thiamin (B1)
Thiamin is an essential B vitamin that plays a vital role in energy production, brain function, and the regulation of metabolism.
It converts carbohydrates into energy and forms collagen and other proteins essential for proper muscle function.
Thiamin helps regulate glucose levels in the blood by helping with insulin secretion.
It may also help prevent nerve cell damage that can lead to diabetes complications.
This vitamin can be found in whole grain products, legumes, and nuts.
It is also added to some breakfast cereals.
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