Diabetes is a condition in which your body either not making enough insulin or does not use it properly. People with type 2 diabetes often have elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which increases the risk of developing heart disease. If you have type 2 diabetes and want to improve your cholesterol profile, niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, may be beneficial. Diabetics must use it carefully, however, because niacin can cause some dangerous side effects.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor to see if niacin is safe for you to take. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, niacin can improve cholesterol levels in diabetics, but it can also increase your blood glucose levels. Your doctor can tell you if the potential benefits of niacin supplements outweigh the risks.
Step 2
Choose the form of niacin you want to take. Niacin comes in both standard and extended-release formulations. The extended-release forms typically cause fewer side effects, such as flushing and nausea, but they also can increase your risk of developing liver problems.
Step 3
Take your niacin supplement according to the directions on the packaging. According to Pubmed Health, you should take standard release niacin 2 to 3 times per day with meals, whereas you only need to take extended-release niacin once per day with food.
Step 4
Take with a low dose to start and gradually increase your dose. For standard formulations of niacin, starting with a dose of 100 mg taken three times daily will reduce the severity of the side effects. For extended release forms of niacin, a good starting dose is 500 mg per day. You can then gradually increase your dose to the level recommended by your doctor over a matter of weeks.
Step 5
Carefully monitor your blood glucose levels. If your blood glucose levels get too high, contact your doctor to see if you should continue taking niacin or to determine if you need to adjust your treatment regimen for diabetes.
