3 Supplements Every Diabetic Should Know About

Get your blood sugar under control with these must-have supplements.

Certain vitamins and minerals may help control blood sugar and reduce the risk of complications. They're best when they come from foods -- but should you get more of them from supplements? Here are three you might consider.


1. Biotin. The body needs only about 300 micrograms (a unit measuring one-millionth of a gram) of this B vitamin every day from foods like egg yolks, corn, and cauliflower for normal metabolism (including the breakdown of carbohydrates, fat, and protein from food). But preliminary studies suggest that much larger amounts of 8 to 16 milligrams per day may lower blood sugar. In one study, type 2 diabetes patients who took 9 milligrams of biotin a day for one month lowered their fasting blood-glucose levels by an average of 45 percent. Biotin seems to work by boosting insulin sensitivity and helping the body use glucose. It may also help protect against nerve damage. Biotin is probably safe because the body excretes what it doesn't need.

2. Chromium. Your daily requirement for chromium, a still-mysterious trace mineral, is estimated at a meager 50 to 200 micrograms, but most Americans get only about 30 micrograms per day. Some studies find that taking supplements in amounts upwards of 500 micrograms brings down blood sugar (though other studies find no benefit). It's thought that chromium might help cells use insulin. Should you take it? The amounts used in studies are higher than the government's estimated "safe and adequate" limit of 200 micrograms. You can probably go above this amount, although no one knows exactly how much is too much.

3. Magnesium. This mineral lends a hand to many chemical processes in the body, and it may help cells use insulin. Deficiencies (common in people with diabetes) may promote eye damage. The official daily value is 400 milligrams, but some research finds that taking as much as 2 grams a day helps people with type 2 diabetes use insulin more effectively. Drawback: Doses that high often produce diarrhea. Avoid high doses if you have kidney disease or are pregnant.

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