Jul 5, 2022
The Best 8 Vitamins For Diabetes
If you’re living with diabetes, you know that the condition doesn’t only affect your body but also your daily routine and even your social life.
Fortunately, there are ways to manage the condition naturally and prevent complications such as vision loss or heart disease and vitamins can be a major part of this strategy. Let’s take a look at some of the best vitamins for diabetes, so you can feel well prepared to face the day ahead.
Vitamin A
A diet rich in vitamin A-rich foods may help protect against diabetes.
Because vitamin A improves insulin resistance, it can also play a role in preventing or managing diabetes.Vitamin A promotes pancreatic beta cell health and helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels by promoting proper insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Fatty fish is one of your best sources of vitamin A. Other good sources include poultry, eggs, dairy products and leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale and collard greens.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Your body needs thiamine, a vitamin that’s also known as B1, to use carbohydrates and glucose from food properly. A diet rich in whole grains and fish is full of thiamine, but if you have diabetes or insulin resistance, you may be at risk of deficiency. Thiamine can help keep your blood sugar levels balanced while helping fight cardiovascular disease and improving circulation. Many experts suggest 200 mg per day.
Vitamin B5
B5, or pantothenic acid, is a critical part of energy production. The form that’s most helpful for diabetes patients is called pantethine.
Vitamin B6
Pregnant women who supplement with vitamin B6 have a 60% lower risk of gestational diabetes. Vitamin B6 can also help diabetic patients lower their blood sugar and improve circulation, reports Prevention magazine. Taking 100 mg daily may help prevent complications such as nerve damage and heart disease.
Vitamin B9
Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9, folate or folacin. The importance of this essential nutrient cannot be overstated because it helps in the production of new cells and DNA. Be sure to get 400 mcg of folic acid every day.
Vitamin B12
It helps support neurological function and maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It also supports red blood cell production, which is important because people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing anemia. This helps control elevated blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that may be helpful in managing blood sugar levels. A study published in Diabetes Care found those with type 2 diabetes who were given 1,000 mg of vitamin C per day had a decreased risk of eye complications. This can be attributed to its ability to decrease oxidative stress, one of diabetes’ biggest causes.
Vitamin D3
This essential vitamin plays a huge role in your body’s ability to absorb and process glucose. Those with diabetes who have low levels of Vitamin D3 in their bodies are more likely to develop diabetic complications, like kidney disease and eye disease.
If you have diabetes, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about whether taking extra Vitamin D3 would be helpful for your specific situation.
