Blood Sugar is characterized by our body’s inability to regulate blood sugar levels, the main source of which is the carbohydrates we eat. As such, blood sugar disorder management always involves a balanced and strict diet, low in carbohydrates. Dietary care should be the main approach, along with regular exercise and the use of medication prescribed by your doctor. But are there supplements to for blood sugar disorder or that can help you.
Natural supplements available on the market are often a source of curiosity for sugar patients. It is natural for questions to arise such as “do they help to reduce blood sugar levels?” or “do they have any benefits in for blood sugar disorder?”
Therefore, we will focus on the different options available, namely the most common ones, as well as whether or not there is scientific evidence to support their use.
Supplements: What Are They?
When we talk about supplements, we can divide them into vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, spices and herbal products. Statistics show that, half of the American population takes dietary supplements, which reinforces the importance of knowing exactly whether there are benefits or harms in using them.
Innovative Supplements for Optimal Blood Sugar
Before we move on to each group of supplements, it is important to emphasize that no supplement medication is best for overall health.
Now, evaluating group by group:
– Herbal Products
Herbal products like ginseng, cinnamon, gymnema, fenugreek, and berberine have gained popularity for their potential to help lower fasting blood sugar levels. Here you can see more about these natural supplements. They are highly recommended for managing blood sugar disorders.
– Vitamins and Minerals
In general, supplemental intake of any vitamin or mineral is not recommended unless there is a nutritional deficiency. In other words, when blood tests show that the levels of a certain vitamin are low. These deficiencies usually occur in risk groups, such as pregnant women, vegetarians or the elderly , who should be monitored.
There are studies on vitamin D, zinc, chromium and magnesium supplementation that show some effectiveness in reducing blood sugar levels, but they are not consistent enough to support their recommendation. As with the general population, the American blood sugar disorder Association (ADA) only recommends taking extra vitamins and minerals with nutritional deficiencies.
In the case of blood sugar disorder, for those taking metformin (a medication widely used to cure the disease), regular monitoring of vitamin B12 levels has long been recommended. This is because there is an association between prolonged use of metformin and the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, which in turn is related to complications such as anemia (low levels of hemoglobin in the blood) or neuropathy (nerve damage). Therefore, symptoms such as tiredness, lack of strength, tingling and loss of sensation in the feet, legs or hands should draw attention to this problem and be reported to the doctor.
– Fatty Acids
Foods rich in fatty acids, especially omega-3, should be included in the diet, as they are beneficial in preventing cardiovascular problems. However, there is no evidence of their supplementation in blood sugar disorder, unless there is an obvious deficiency, as is the case with vitamins and minerals.
– Spices and other Foods
Some spices and other foods (such as cinnamon, garlic, stevia or white sweet potatoes) may show some potential in reducing fasting blood glucose. However, the available scientific evidence is not sufficient for these supplements to be considered effective or to be recommended in the management of blood sugar disorder.
In Conclusion
People with high level of sugar need to be concerned about reducing the amount of sugar and processed foods in their diet . However, it is essential that people do not forget to also balance their vitamin and mineral levels — they help keep the body functioning properly and, consequently, improve quality of life. A balanced diet and physical exercise, combined with medication (which can be oral antisugar drugs or insulin ), should be the main strategy adopted to control blood glucose levels. Natural supplementation should only be taken for best healthy results. In the specific case of blood sugar disorder, prolonged use of metformin (a very popular oral medication for blood sugar disorder) increases the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, so levels and possible symptoms should be monitored.