The University of Maryland Medical Center reports diets low in chromium can result in several problems, including poor blood sugar control. Its role in controlling glucose levels suggests potential for treating diabetes.Chromium comes in various forms, and studies examining it as a treatment for diabetes have used chromium picolinate. The results, however, have been mixed. If you want to experiment with natural treatments to control your blood sugar, do so only under supervision of your physician -- remember, natural does not always equal safe.
Link Between Chromium and Insulin
Your body uses the hormone insulin to help move glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells as a source of energy. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center explains that chromium appears to help insulin open up the cell membrane, which ensures removal of glucose from the blood and into the cells.
Chromium Supplementation for Blood Sugar Control
Supplementing with chromium might assist in managing various types of diabetes, including Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, as well as prediabetes, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Again, however, not all studies have produced this benefit. Do not use any supplement without your doctor's approval if you are pregnant. Doses for managing diabetes range from 200 mcg to 1,000 mcg daily. The University of Michigan Health System notes studies that found using 200 mcg daily helped manage Type 1 diabetes. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reports studies examining the effects of chromium picolinate on Type 2 diabetes used doses of either 200 mcg or 1,000 mcg, and the results suggests the higher dose demonstrates better effectiveness.
Combining Chromium and Diabetes Medications
Whenever you use medications and supplements that perform similar actions at the same time, you might require dosage adjustments in the drugs to compensate for the effects of the supplement. If chromium picolinate actually works for you, you might need to reduce your doses of insulin and other diabetes drugs to prevent blood sugar from falling too low. Monitor your blood sugar carefully while using chromium. Only your doctor can safely determine if you require changes to your treatments -- do not do this on your own.
Safety Concerns
Taking chromium in smaller doses does not appear to pose any significant health risks. Higher doses, such as the 1,000 mcg potentially necessary to manage Type 2 diabetes, might cause some adverse effects, and the safety of using high-dose chromium picolinte long term remains unclear. Drugs.com notes high doses might be ''genotoxic,'' which means it could damage the DNA. The University of Michigan Health System notes the following adverse effects were reported in individuals using doses of 1,000 mcg of more: liver and kidney damage, irregular heartbeat and rhabdomyolosis, a condition in which muscle fiber breaks down and enters the bloodstream, potentially leading to kidney failure. It notes, however, that whether or not the chromium was exclusively responsible cannot be determined. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center reports high doses of chromium could lead to the production of a cancer-causing substance, and that this supplement might also exert negative effects on patients with schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder.
