The human body needs various vitamins and minerals to support normal growth and development. Most vitamins and minerals help produce enzymes and proteins needed for the thousands of chemical, or metabolic, reactions in the body. Diabetes, a lifelong metabolic condition, occurs when your body fails to produce enough insulin -- a hormone necessary for the storage and use of glucose. Although the American Diabetes Association encourages those with diabetes to meet their vitamin and mineral needs through healthy food choices, certain nutrients that affect glucose may provide benefits in managing your diabetes, according to research published by Belinda O'Connell in the August 2001 issue of "Diabetes Spectrum."
Magnesium
In addition to supporting the formation of strong bones, magnesium helps to regulate blood sugar levels because it plays a role in the breakdown of carbohydrates. During the process of digestion, the body converts carbohydrates, found in starchy foods or sugars, into glucose. The increase in blood glucose levels triggers the pancreas to produce insulin. Although patients with type 1 diabetes fail to produce insulin, patients suffering from type 2 diabetes still produce insulin, but it fails to work. Magnesium influences the release and function of insulin, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Many people with type 2 diabetes exhibit low levels of magnesium. Eating foods rich in magnesium, such as green vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, can help to increase magnesium levels to help improve the response and activity of insulin.
Chromium
The body only requires trace amounts of chromium. The National Institutes of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board recommends adults consume between 20 to 35mcg per day. Chromium is known to enhance the activity of insulin, making it a mineral of interest to help those with type 2 diabetes manage their blood glucose levels. Scientists believe chromium may increase the number of insulin receptors, which increases the ability of insulin to bind to cells to facilitate the uptake of glucose, as described by the research published in "Diabetes Spectrum." The food content of chromium varies depending agricultural and manufacturing processes, but broccoli, grape juice and wine typically contain significant levels of chromium, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.
Niacin
Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, occurs naturally in two forms -- nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. As with many of the B vitamins, niacin aids in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose. For patients with type 1 diabetes, the type that occurs when the immune cells destroy the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, nicotinamide may delay the onset of insulin dependence by protecting the insulin-producing cells, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Patients with type 2 diabetes often exhibit high levels of fats and cholesterol in the blood. Consuming foods with niacin, or taking a niacin supplement can help to lower those levels, which helps prevent complications, such as heart disease, that often accompany diabetes. However, because niacin may raise blood glucose levels, you should only take niacin under the direction of your doctor.
Antioxidants
Several types of vitamins act as antioxidants, which means that they help protect cells in the body from the harmful effects of free radicals -- molecules formed in chemical reactions involving oxygen. High blood sugar levels are associated with an increased production of free radicals, meaning patients with diabetes may require higher levels of antioxidants, according to the research in "Diabetes Spectrum." Although research on antioxidants, specifically vitamin E, and their effect on glucose control fails to provide any conclusive evidence, increasing your intake of foods containing antioxidant vitamins can help to neutralize the additional free radicals.
References
- Diabetes Spectrum: Select Vitamins and Minerals in the Management of Diabetes
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Diabetes Overview
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Chromium
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B3 -- Niacin
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