If you have diabetes, lifestyle choices like a proper diet and regular exercise factor heavily into successfully managing this condition. Vitamins and minerals contribute to health in various ways and magnesium appears to perform functions that keep blood sugar in check. Supplementing with magnesium in larger doses might produce medicinal effects that help manage diabetes, but you should view this type of treatment as a complement to standard ones, not a replacement for them. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements to manage your diabetes as they carry a risk of negative effects, just as drugs can.
Magnesium and Diabetes
Magnesium might help manage diabetes in various ways. It plays a role in helping the body convert carbohydrates to energy and it might also affect the production and actions of insulin, the hormone that helps move glucose out of the blood and into the cells for energy. Low magnesium levels might also contribute to complications of this disease, such as diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics tend to have low levels of this nutrient in their body.
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements reports that several large-scale studies have found a relationship between high intake of dietary magnesium and reduced risk of diabetes. It reports one study, however, did not come to this conclusion. If you already have diabetes, eating a magnesium-rich diet might not be enough, and taking therapeutic doses of magnesium supplements might help correct some of the damage already done.
Evidence
The University of Michigan Health System reports that numerous studies conducted in the '80s and '90s found magnesium supplements helped manage both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, though not all studies found benefit. Some positive findings included the reduced need for insulin in type 1 diabetics, slowed development of nerve damage and improved insulin production in type 2 diabetics. Whether taking magnesium will truly offer benefits has not been conclusively established, particularly if you do not already have a demonstrated deficiency.
Dosage
Studies have used doses anywhere from 200 to 600 mg daily. The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that taking magnesium in doses beyond 350 mg poses a greater risk of side effects. Many factors will determine the appropriate dose, such as your current magnesium levels and whether you have impaired kidney function – diabetes being the number one cause of this condition. Working with your doctor can ensure you take a proper and safe dose; he can also monitor your treatment to watch for adverse effects and deal with them accordingly. It is important to keep in mind that natural does not always equal safe, and even substances widely found in food can cause negative effects in supplement form, particularly when you take them in doses that far exceed your nutritional requirements.
Other Considerations
Magnesium might interact negatively with several medications and the larger doses you might need to treat your diabetes would likely increase the risks.Take magnesium and antibiotics at least a few hours apart to prevent reduced absorption of the drugs. It might also reduce the effectiveness of thyroid hormone medications.
If you have low levels of calcium, supplementing with magnesium might contribute to a further deficiency as these two minerals compete for absorption. Talk to your doctor about whether you need a calcium supplement as well.
