Fish Oil for Diabetics

Fish oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, also known as essential fatty acids since the body cannot manufacture them. Fish oil supplements are usually recommended to provide adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids, according to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied for their usefulness in diabetes with promising results.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease characterized by hyperglycemia, or chronically elevated blood glucose, also called high blood sugar. Hundreds of millions of people have diabetes, and the incidence is expected to double by 2030, according to the World Diabetes Foundation. Insulin is the hormone produced by the body to control blood glucose. There are two basic forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from an inadequate supply of insulin since the cells that make it have died off. Type 2 diabetes is caused by fat, muscle and liver cells not responding to the insulin that is available. This results in a condition called insulin resistance, according to the NIH.

Blood Glucose Levels

The fasting plasma glucose test, or FPG, is used by doctors to assess the amount of glucose in the blood. After fasting for more than eight hours, a person's FPG can determine the presence of diabetes. If the glucose level is below 99 mg per dl, it is considered normal. Glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg per dl generally denote pre-diabetes, while glucose levels above 126 mg per dl generally denote diabetes.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a result of a person's lifestyle, according to the publication Hospital Nutrition. Such lifestyle includes eating habits, weight and degree of physical activity. Over time, a less healthy lifestyle can lead to the body's inability to react to insulin. The result is that the body cannot effectively control its blood glucose. Over time, insulin-producing cells try to compensate for the lack of insulin use by making even more insulin. Eventually, the insulin-producing cells become exhausted and stop functioning.

Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids have been particularly studied for their effect on diabetes. According to Hospital Nutrition, the two major chemicals comprising omega-3 are EPA and DHA. These chemicals play an important role in maintaining the health of the cell membrane, and this is where insulin's action takes place. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can help control blood glucose by changing the membrane. When obese and overweight patients were given 4 g of omega-3 fatty acid supplements for three months their insulin sensitivity improved. It also improved metabolism of blood sugar. Studies have concluded that fish oil supplements can decrease insulin resistance.