Nutritional Foods and Supplements for Diabetes

The food you eat directly affects your blood sugar levels and can help you control your Type 2 diabetes.

In recent years, doctors have learned that eating some sugar doesn't usually cause problems for most people with diabetes--as long as it is part of a balanced diet. Just be careful about how much sugar you eat and try not to add sugar to foods.

Foods That Affect Your Blood Sugar

The overall effect of a meal on your blood glucose level will depend on the different types of foods making up the meal. Carbohydrate foods have the greatest effects on blood glucose levels because they are mostly digested to glucose, which is absorbed from the intestine straight into the bloodstream. However, proteins and fats in the diet affect blood glucose levels too.

• Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in fruits, vegetables, beans, dairy foods and starchy foods such as breads. Try to have fresh fruits rather than canned fruits, fruit juices or dried fruit.
  
  You may eat fresh vegetables and frozen or canned vegetables. Condiments such as nonfat mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard are also carbohydrates. Different types of carbohydrate foods are digested at different rates and therefore have different effects in terms of raising the blood glucose level after a meal.
   
• Protein. Protein is found in meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, beans and some vegetables. Try to eat poultry and fish more often than red meat. Don't eat poultry skin, and trim extra fat from all meat.
  
  Choose nonfat or reduced-fat dairy products such as cheeses and yogurts. Excess protein in the diet that is not needed by the body is converted to glucose by the liver. This means that consuming large amounts of protein can result in an increase in blood glucose levels several hours after eating.
   
• Fat. Butter, margarine, lard and oils add fat to food. Fat is also in many dairy and meat products. Try to avoid fried foods, mayonnaise-based dishes (unless they are made with fat-free mayo), egg yolks, bacon and high-fat dairy products.
  
  The most significant effect of fat on blood glucose levels is probably to slow down the rise in blood glucose after a meal.
   
• Sugar. It is still widely believed that people with diabetes should avoid eating sugar because it causes a rapid increase in blood glucose levels. This is not true.
  
  Table sugar actually causes less of a spike in blood glucose than the some foods. Table sugar is called sucrose and is a disaccharide it contains two sugar molecules: one fructose and one glucose. Table sugar needs to be broken down by digestive enzymes before the fructose and glucose can be absorbed. Glucose is absorbed quickly because it does not need to be broken down (digested) first.
• Fruit for Diabetics - People with diabetes can eat any kind of fruit, regardless of the sugar content. Everyone is encouraged to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Spreading the fruit you eat through the day will avoid a sudden rise in blood glucose levels. Eating more fruit and vegetables also helps to improve the overall balance of the diet. [More Information]

Supplements That Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

There are several supplements and pills for diabetics that help with blood sugar levels. Some of them are:

• Vitamin E - People with diabetes have a higher than usual need for vitamin E, which improves insulin activity and acts as an antioxidant and a blood oxygenator.
  
  Research has shown that people with low blood levels of vitamin E are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Supplemental vitamin E may help prevent diabetic complications through its antioxidant activity, the inhibition of the platelet-releasing reaction and platelet aggregation, increasing HDL-cholesterol levels and its role in fatty acid metabolism.
   
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - Diabetics with neuropathy have been shown to be deficient in vitamin B6 and benefit from supplementation. Vitamin B6 supplements improve glucose tolerance in women with diabetes caused by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 is also effective for glucose intolerance induced by the birth control pill.
   
• Vitamin B12 - Vitamin B12 supplementation has been used with some success in treating diabetic neuropathy. Vitamin B12 is needed for normal functioning of nerve cells. Vitamin B12 taken orally, intravenously, or by injection reduces nerve damage caused by diabetes in most people.
   
• Vitamin D - Research shows that supplementing infants and children with doses of 2000 IU per day of Vitamin D or higher may protect against the development of type 1 diabetes. [More Information]
• Biotin - Biotin is a B vitamin needed to process glucose. It has been shown to work synergistically with insulin and independently in increasing the activity of glucokinase. This enzyme is responsible for the first step in glucose utilization.
  
  Glucokinase is present only in the liver, where, in diabetics, its concentration is very low.Biotin may also reduce pain from diabetic nerve damage.
   
• Chromium - As a key constituent of the 'glucose tolerance factor,' chromium is a critical nutrient in diabetes.
  
  Supplementation in the form of chromium chloride (200 micro g daily) or high-chromium-containing brewer's yeast (9 g a day) has been demonstrated to decrease fasting glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance, lower insulin levels and decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
   
• Manganese - Manganese is an important cofactor in the key enzymes of glucose metabolism. Diabetics have been shown to have only one-half the manganese of normal individuals.
   
• Magnesium - Magnesium levels are significantly lowered in diabetics, and lowest in those with severe retinopathy.
  
  Studies suggest that a deficiency in magnesium may worsen the blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes. Scientists believe that a deficiency of magnesium interrupts insulin secretion in the pancreas and increases insulin resistance in the body's tissues.
   
• Potassium - Potassium supplementation yields improved insulin sensitivity, responsiveness and secretion in diabetics. Insulin administration often causes a potassium deficiency.
   
• Zinc - Zinc is involved in virtually all aspects of insulin metabolism -synthesis, secretion and utilization.
  
  Zinc also has a protective effect against beta cell destruction, and has well-known anti-viral effects. People with Type 2 diabetes also have low zinc levels, caused by excess loss of zinc in their urine.
   
• Inositol - Inositol is needed for normal nerve function. Diabetes can cause nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy.

Supplement For Glucose Management - Glucose M2

When used in conjunction with regular exercise and sound diet, Glucose M2 can provide you with an effective means to manage glucose in your body. 

Research has shown that the ingredients contained in this unique formula may be able to enhance carbohydrate metabolism and control fluctuating blood glucose (sugar) levels.

A few ingredients in Glucose M2 are:

• Magnesium - Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism. It may influence the release and activity of insulin, the hormone that helps control blood glucose levels. A lack of magnesium can affect insulin resistance.
   
• Chromium - Chromium may be helpful for moving glucose and other nutrients into the cells of the body more efficiently. Additionally, low chromium levels are linked to other areas of health. Low Chromium levels may be responsible for glucose tolerance and glucose levels in the blood and urine.
   
• Zinc - Low zinc levels reduce the body's abilities to synthesize and secrete insulin, and glucose.
   
• Bitter Melon Ext. - The blood sugar leveling action of the fresh juice or extract of the unripe fruit has been shown in both experimental and clinical studies. Bitter melon's many constituents contain several compounds with properties shown to promote healthy blood sugar levels.
   
• Gymnemna Sylvestris Ext. - Gymnemna is thought to promote insulin secretion, and several studies report that it does control blood sugar. Gymnemna assists the pancreas in the production of insulin. It may also decrease one's cravings for sweets.

For a complete list of ingredients Click Here.

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