Iron Supplements For Diabetics

Diabetes is a chronic disease best known for its effects on blood sugar. However, diabetes also affects other organ systems, including the heart, kidneys and digestive tract. If you become iron deficient, your doctor may recommend iron supplements to replenish your body's stores. However, iron supplements can cause side effects that may be more prominent in diabetics. Ask your doctor for specific instructions on how to take them, especially if you also take other oral medications.

Ferrous Sulfate

Ferrous sulfate comes in regular, coated and extended-release tablets; regular and extended-release capsules; and liquid syrup, drops and elixirs, all of which are taken by mouth. The standard dose of ferrous sulfate is 325 mg two to three times per day. If you have diabetes, your doctor may tell you to take 325 mg once a day or a lower dose two to three times per day because many people with diabetes suffer from a condition called gastroparesis, where stomach contents empty more slowly than normal. Increased time in the stomach sometimes means superior iron absorption. However, it may also mean increased side effects, such as stomach upset, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

Ferrous Fumarate

Ferrous fumarate comes in all of the same forms as ferrous sulfate, with the addition of a chewable tablet. Fumarate is a type of sugar and sugars enhance the absorption of iron. Some practitioners--including Pennsylvania-based gastroenterologists Dr. Wilson Jackson and Dr. Steven P. Siegelbaum of GICare.com--say that ferrous fumarate causes fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to ferrous sulfate. However, as of November 2010, the National Library of Medicine lists no studies that substantiate this. The amount of fumarate sugar in your iron supplement is unlikely to affect your blood sugar because a single 325 mg capsule contains less than 1 g of carbohydrate. However, ask your gastroenterologist or primary care doctor what type of iron is right for you.

Ferrous Gluconate

Ferrous gluconate comes in all of the same forms as ferrous fumarate. Gluconate, like fumarate, is a type of sugar which may make it easier for your body to absorb iron. Between the two types, ferrous gluconate contains less iron--approximately 9 percent by weight versus 33 percent by weight--so it may be less irritating to your stomach than both ferrous fumarate and ferrous sulfate. However, the lower dose of iron may mean that you must take ferrous gluconate more frequently or for a longer period of time compared to other types of iron. As with ferrous fumarate the amount of sugar in ferrous gluconate is unlikely to affect your diabetes. Always take the type and dose of iron that your doctor recommends and let her know if you experience unacceptable side effects.