| Many patients use dietary supplements for type 2 | | | | studies highlight that thioctic acid supplements may |
| diabetes. Ongoing users of these products no | | | | even be harmful by overly decreasing blood sugar |
| doubt claim the supplements are of benefit. Yet | | | | below a safe level. Accordingly, the NCCAM urges |
| medical studies of these products have not | | | | diabetes patients, who take this supplement to be |
| always supported their positive experience. Some | | | | disciplined about the dosage, monitor blood sugar |
| studies have found the products to be of marginal | | | | with particular care and consult with their |
| benefit and might even produce negative effects | | | | physician. |
| if not taken in correct dosage. | | | | Chromium is a critical trace mineral required by |
| The Maryland-based National Center for | | | | the human body. However, the body needs only |
| Complementary and Alternative Medicine | | | | small amounts of the mineral and it is present in a |
| (NCCAM) provides its independent view online at | | | | wide variety of foods including meats, whole grain |
| its website. It has reviewed relevant scientific | | | | products as well as some fruits, vegetables, and |
| studies and summarized their overall conclusions. | | | | spices. The NCCAM concludes the scientific |
| The NCCAM findings are available online. The | | | | evidence regarding the efficacy of chromium |
| results are worthy of attention and perhaps a | | | | supplements is ambiguous. The NCCAM also |
| little provocative. | | | | highlights that, for people with diabetes, too much |
| Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common | | | | chromium might cause blood sugar to sink too |
| form of the condition. All three types of diabetes | | | | low. At the other end of the spectrum, high |
| inhibit the body changing food into glucose and | | | | doses can cause serious side effects, including |
| hence energy. This impairment arises because | | | | kidney problems, this being of particular concern |
| diabetes sufferers do not produce enough insulin | | | | to diabetes sufferers. |
| or their cells do not respond efficiently to the | | | | Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty |
| hormone insulin. Without intervention, glucose | | | | acids. They are beneficial for health and well-being. |
| accumulates in their bloodstream rather than being | | | | They are present in a relatively narrow range of |
| absorbed into body cells to facilitate conversion of | | | | foods such as salmon and other fish, vegetable oil, |
| food into energy. Over time, this high blood sugar | | | | walnuts, and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements |
| can harm many organs including the heart, eyes, | | | | are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil). |
| and kidneys to name just a few. Managing these | | | | Omega-3s are important for a number of bodily |
| secondary complications is possible by managing | | | | functions including the flow of calcium and other |
| the blood sugar level. | | | | substances in and out of body cells. Again, as in |
| Type 2 diabetes patients cannot easily control | | | | the case of thioctic acid and chromium, the |
| their blood glucose. Conventional medicine | | | | NCCAM finds that the weight of evidence does |
| manages the problem by recommending a healthy | | | | not point to omega-3 supplements being of |
| and strict eating plan, physical exercise, and | | | | positive benefit in terms of better blood glucose |
| frequent measurement of blood sugar. Insulin | | | | control be diabetes patients. |
| injections and proprietary medicines are frequently | | | | The Maryland-based NCCAM is the US |
| part of the regime designed for a diabetes patient | | | | government's top authority for research on |
| by the physician. | | | | alternative medical systems, procedures and |
| Some sufferers also elect to consume dietary | | | | products that are not part of mainstream |
| supplements specially designed for diabetes | | | | medicine. It concludes the above mentioned |
| patients. The key benefit claimed by these | | | | supplements appear not to assist the control of |
| supplements is an enhanced control of the blood | | | | blood glucose. It emphasizes this can only be a |
| glucose. Perhaps the most common of these | | | | preliminary conclusion since the available evidence |
| supplements are thioctic acid, chromium and | | | | is in some cases badly designed, lacking in depth |
| omega-3 fatty acids (commonly known as good | | | | and inadequate in terms of time period length. |
| fats). | | | | If you suspect that you have diabetes, you |
| Thioctic acid (also known as alpha-lipoic acid) is one | | | | should see your doctor and get an accurate |
| of many antioxidants. It protects body cells | | | | diagnosis. |
| against various forms of damage. A balanced diet | | | | Do you know that there is a highly |
| provides the body with all the thioctic acid it | | | | advanced dietary supplement for type 2 diabetes |
| needs. The substance is present in many | | | | which aims to address efficient insulin production |
| commonly available foods such as spinach, liver, | | | | and secretion, helps reduce the risk of potentially |
| and potatoes. It is perhaps not surprising | | | | fatal diabetic-related diseases and regenerate |
| therefore, that scientific studies do not universally | | | | insulin producing cells in the pancreas. |
| support the use of this supplement. Indeed, the | | | | |