Many patients use dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes. Ongoing users of these products no doubt claim the supplements are of benefit. Yet medical studies of these products have not always supported their positive experience. Some studies have found the products to be of marginal benefit and might even produce negative effects if not taken in correct dosage.

The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has conducted a review of medical studies and published its impartial assessment on its website. Its conclusions deserve consideration.

Type 2 diabetes represents about ninety percent of all diabetes sufferers. All diabetes sufferers have bodies with diminished ability to produce enough insulin or with cells that are not efficiently stimulated by insulin, or both. Insulin is a hormone that assists body cells to absorb glucose and convert it into energy. Without treatment, diabetes sufferers experience a growing amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Over a prolonged period, high blood sugar can harm body organs including the heart, eyes, skin, feet and kidneys.

Mainstream medicine manages these issues by managing blood sugar level. It prescribes a regime that typically includes strict menu, regular exercise, prescription medicines, insulin injections, frequent measurement of blood sugar and regular consultations with a physician.

Some sufferers also elect to consume dietary supplements specially designed for diabetes patients. The key benefit claimed by these supplements is an enhanced control of the blood glucose. Perhaps the most common of these supplements are thioctic acid, chromium and omega-3 fatty acids (commonly known as good fats).

Chromium is a trace mineral essential for the human body. Only a tiny amount of it is required and the mineral is present in many foods. The NCCAM finds little evidence to conclude chromium supplements are effective for diabetes patients. It also found that too much chromium could cause blood sugar to sink too low. Too much chromium can also cause other serious problems, including kidney malfunction, a major issue for diabetes sufferers.

Chromium is a critical trace mineral required by the human body. However, the body needs only small amounts of the mineral and it is present in a wide variety of foods including meats, whole grain products as well as some fruits, vegetables, and spices. The NCCAM concludes the scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of chromium supplements is ambiguous. The NCCAM also highlights that, for people with diabetes, too much chromium might cause blood sugar to sink too low. At the other end of the spectrum, high doses can cause serious side effects, including kidney problems, this being of particular concern to diabetes sufferers.

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are beneficial for health and well-being. They are present in a relatively narrow range of foods such as salmon and other fish, vegetable oil, walnuts, and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil). Omega-3s are important for a number of bodily functions including the flow of calcium and other substances in and out of body cells. Again, as in the case of thioctic acid and chromium, the NCCAM finds that the weight of evidence does not point to omega-3 supplements being of positive benefit in terms of better blood glucose control be diabetes patients.

The Bethesda-based NCCAM is the US federal government’s lead agency for scientific research on the diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not considered part of conventional medicine. Its examination of the main diet supplements for diabetes sufferers indicates that the broad consensus of empirical studies appears to be that dietetic supplements for ALA, chromium and omega-3s do not assist type 2 diabetes sufferers in controlling blood glucose. If this conclusion were correct, the use of supplements would appear unnecessary. In particular, more well designed studies over long time periods are required.

You should take into consideration these things about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes.

Learn more about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes. Stop by Xylene Belita’s site where you can find out all about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes and what it can do for you: http://www.prevent-diabetes.info

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