7 Supplements for Blood Sugar Support
Why does blood sugar matter?
The concentration of glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream is called blood sugar. This amount should remain at a steady wave throughout the day and you should caution when it drops too low or when it rises too high. This extreme spikes in the blood sugar can lead to fatigue, tiredness, extreme cravings, weight gain, and diabetes. These supplements for blood sugar support can help manage your blood sugar naturally.
1. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a great supplement for blood sugar support. You can supplement with cinnamon or use cinnamon powder to add more flavor to your oatmeal, coffee, or pancakes. Cinnamon is a great way to manage your blood sugar because it helps your cells respond better to insulin when you consume food [1].
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is another supplement for blood sugar support. One research study found that 72% of patients who are type 2 diabetic are shown to have a vitamin D deficiency [3]. Vitamin D is beneficial for your blood sugar because it helps your body respond better to insulin, and it also stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin [3] [4]. The active form of the vitamin is D3, ask your doctor for the recommended dosage for you.
3. Magnesium
Another supplement for blood sugar support is magnesium. Participants have been shown to have lower blood sugar levels than a placebo group when given magnesium supplements [5]. Magnesium is a strong contributor in insulin release and how insulin acts in body tissue [6]. Take supplements during meal time so that it absorbs, dosage is usually around 250mg for patients with diabetes.
4. Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a supplement for blood sugar support. This is an antioxidant and vitamin like compound that can be produced in your liver. ALA is helpful for blood sugar because it can make our cells respond quicker to the uptake of sugar. In addition, ALA can protect our body against oxidative damage which is caused by high blood sugar in the body [7]. Supplements are the best way to make sure you incorporate this vitamin because it is limited in a small food selection.
5. Inositol
Inositol is a supplement for blood sugar support to help improve insulin sensitivity. Also known as vitamin B8, inositol aids blood sugar because it influences the action of insulin in the body [12]. Most US Americans are getting about a 1 gram of inositol from their diet daily. The average recommended dose is 2g per day.
6. Chromium
Another supplement for blood sugar support is chromium. This trace mineral helps to improve insulin sensitivity nad plays a role in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism [8]. Chromium helps by enhancing the effects of insulin by supporting the pancreatic cells which produce insulin [9]. Supplements typically contain 500-2000 mcg of chromium. Check your multivitamin before adding additional chromium as many may already contain this trace mineral.
7. Omega-3s
The two main forms are EPA and DHA which come from mainly fish, but many people supplement with fish oil depending on the availability of fish in their area. Some studies have shown that omega 3s can play a role in decreasing insulin resistance [10]. This makes omega-3s a great supplement for blood sugar support.
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