March 22nd is Diabetes Alert Day — an important day to raise awareness about this serious chronic illness that affects an estimated 37.3 million people (adults and children) in the US (1). Shockingly, some of them may not even know it!
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that impacts blood glucose regulation. The body stops producing or responding to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas in response to an increase in blood sugar levels. Insulin is meant to move sugar out of the bloodstream to be used for energy or stored. However, this process doesn't occur in diabetes, resulting in chronically elevated blood sugar levels.
There are two main forms of diabetes:
Type-1 Diabetes: This is an autoimmune condition whereby the immune system attacks beta cells in the pancreas and renders them unable to produce insulin. If not diagnosed or treated with insulin medication, it can be life-threatening.
Type-2 Diabetes: This is the most common form of diabetes that (typically) occurs in adults. Cells become desensitized to insulin in a process known as insulin resistance, which causes the pancreas to pump out even more insulin. Eventually, the pancreatic beta-cells become damaged and no longer produce adequate levels of insulin, resulting in chronically elevated blood glucose levels. Type-2 diabetes is considered a lifestyle disease and is caused by a combination of genetics, being overweight, lack of exercise, and a diet high in processed carbohydrates.
If left untreated, diabetes results in heart disease, kidney disease, eye damage, and poor circulatory health.
Top 3 Supplements for Blood Sugar Balance
While type-1 diabetes is difficult to influence without life-long medication, it is possible to prevent and reverse type-2 diabetes (either partially or completely) with the right diet and lifestyle tools.
Here are our favorite natural supplements to help you get your blood sugar levels under control.*
Glucose Defend
Number one on this list simply has to be MD Logic Health's Glucose Defend! This superstar product has been professionally designed to maintain blood sugar control.*
It contains a combination of 6 powerful ingredients known to support healthy blood glucose metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity: Chromium, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Cinnamon, Berberine, Vanadium, and Bitter Melon Extract. This formula helps your body to metabolize carbohydrates more efficiently, improves your cell's sensitivity to insulin, and encourages cellular glucose uptake.*
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in hundreds of metabolic activities in the body, including the ability to process glucose and use it for energy. Interestingly, low magnesium levels are common in those with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes, and research suggests supplementing with magnesium can lower fasting blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance (2, 3).
MD Logic Health's Magnesium Citrate is a highly absorbable form of magnesium and a must-have supplement for those with insulin resistance or type-2 diabetes.*
Vitamin D3
Almost every cell in the body has vitamin D receptors, so it's no surprise that this nutrient plays a role in pancreatic function and blood sugar control.
Research suggests vitamin D levels above 30 ng/ml are associated with a lower risk of diabetes (4). Additionally, a 2016 study of people with type-2 diabetes found that taking 4500 IU vitamin D for 2 months improved measures of both short-term and long-term glycemic control (5).
The majority of vitamin D is produced when the skin is exposed to direct sunlight. Since most of us spend all day working indoors, vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common! Luckily, MD Logic Health is a high-dose, biologically Vitamin D3 supplement that's ideal for diabetics or those with a family history of diabetes.*
Final Thoughts
By understanding the risk factors of diabetes and using the natural supplements mentioned in this article, you have a chance to nip diabetes in the bud! However, they should be used in conjunction with a whole food diet, regular exercise, quality sleep, and frequent check-ups with your doctor.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Resources
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9589224/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28526383/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29672520/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26391639/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27340676/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5633670/
