Two separate groups of researchers from Johns Hopkins University reported that low potassium levels in the blood stream is an independent risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Potassium is an essential nutrient but must be balanced. Both too much and too little can cause serious consequences. Potassium is thought to affect the release of insulin, and you could be taking a medication that interferes with your potassium level. In either case, it's important to talk to your doctor about it.
Potassium's Role in the Body
Most of your body's potassium is stored inside your cells. You need this important electrolyte for normal cell function, conducting your nerve cells and contracting your muscles --- including your heart. According to the Merck Manual, the range of healthy potassium levels is fairly narrow, so your body has to work constantly to keep it in balance. According to Amy Campbell, a dietitian with "Diabetes Self-Management," that range is between 3.7 and 5.2 mEq/L. Hyperkalemia, or too much potassium, in diabetics can cause kidney problems as well as irregular heartbeat and a weak pulse. Hypokalemia, or too little potassium, can cause muscle weakness and paralysis, including your lung. As demonstrated, it can also cause diabetes.
Low Potassium and Diabetes
When your potassium level drops, your risk of diabetes increases. That's the conclusion of an Oct. 25, 2010, study in the "Annals of Internal Medicine." Johns Hopkins researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, which included 12,209 people followed since 1986. They said potassium affects the amount of insulin secreted from the pancreas's beta cells. They found that the low potassium in your blood, and possibly low intake of dietary potassium, was significantly associated with diabetes.
Hypertension Treatment and Diabetes
Most diabetics have high blood pressure, according to the American Diabetes Association. One of the long-standing "frontline" treatments of hypertension is a class of medications that act as a diuretic. One type of diuretic, known as thiazides, lowers blood potassium and may induce diabetes. Another set of Johns Hopkins researchers investigated this connection in a sample of 3,790 people in the Systolic Hypertension in Elderly Program. All of them were non-diabetic and older than 60. Published in the Dec. 2008 "Hypertension," they found for each 0.5 mEq/L decrease in blood potassium, there was a corresponding 45-percent higher risk of diabetes. They concluded that thiazide-induced diabetes occurs early in the treatment of hypertension and the risk changes as potassium levels change.
Dietary Sources of Potassium
The "Hypertension" study also concluded that your doctor might be able to prevent diabetes brought on by the use of thiazides by having you supplement. That could mean simple dietary changes like eating more bananas, prunes, potatoes and other potassium-rich foods as well as cutting back on your intake of sodium.
References
- "Hypertension"; Changes in Serum Potassium Mediate Thiazide-Induced Diabetes; Tariq Shafi et al.; December 2008
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Serum and Dietary Potassium and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study; Ranee Chatterjee et al.; October 2010
- PubMed Health; Hypokalemia; David Dougdale; Aug. 3, 2009
- "Diabetes Self-Management"; The Power of Potassium; Amy Campbell; April 2007
- American Diabetes Association: High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- PubMed Health; Hyperkalemia; David Dougdale; Nov. 15, 2009
