High blood sugar isn't the only concern for diabetics. Diabetes, especially adult-onset or Type 2 diabetes, decreases your body's ability to distribute nutrients. Imbalances in biochemical reactions result in increased production of free radicals, which are reactive and damaging chemicals. Antioxidants can help prevent complications of diabetes, including peripheral neuropathy, scar tissue formation and chronic inflammation that leads to cardiovascular disease.
Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Free radicals are unstable chemicals that are produced by biochemical reactions. Commonly, these reactions involve molecules containing oxygen that have too many or few electrons, called reactive oxygen species. Free radicals will react with and damage the first molecule they come across: DNA, enzymes or cell membranes. Antioxidants are compounds that can react with free radicals, neutralizing them. A single molecule of antioxidant can typically react with many free radicals before being removed as waste. The result is that antioxidants protect important biological molecules from being damaged by free radicals.
Role in Diabetes
In diabetes, insulin signaling breaks down, preventing cells in your body from absorbing sugar and, to some extent, other nutrients from the blood. Lacking ample sugar, your cells must resort to methods of energy production that are more likely to produce free radicals. According to a 2011 review published in "Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine," damage from poor blood flow and other complications of diabetes can cause iron to be released into the blood. This free iron increases the production of free radicals.
Complications
Damage from free radicals can cause nerve damage that results in peripheral neuropathy. In diabetics, neuropathy is commonly observed as pain, tingling, itching or other aberrant sensation in the legs. Thickening of the skin and other tissues in addition to poor wound healing is also observed as a consequence of free radical damage. Damage to DNA from free radicals can increase the likelihood of developing other diseases such as cancer.
Antioxidants for Diabetes
Vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and beta carotene are natural antioxidants commonly obtained from foods. Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural antioxidant that has been shown to improve diabetic neuropathy and may also improve insulin sensitivity, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. ALA may also help to regenerate levels of glutathione, a potent antioxidant produced by your body. Vegetable pigments and many other nutrients have been shown to be antioxidants in the test tube, but it is unclear whether your body can maintain high enough levels to prevent free radical damage.
