When it comes to keeping diabetes under control, it’s not all about medications. It’s more about creating a balanced lifestyle to keep your overall health thriving and your blood sugar in check. A good lifestyle is related to your daily choices, such as what you eat, how much you move, or other little things that make a difference.
What about supplements? Should we see them as a clever addition or as a potential risk? We won’t hesitate to tell you that, while they do have a role in bridging nutritional gaps, they also come with a set of cautions. Long story short – without the right guidance they can do more harm than good.
Let’s see some facts and make sure you make the best decisions for yourself.
Everyone needs to know if some supplements are safe, but when you have diabetes, you need to know the right approach, as it can vary depending on the type of diabetes and your treatment plan.
This is why the most important thing you can do is simply ask a professional before adding in your routine a supplement that you heard about.
We have a list of supplements that could interfere with your medication, so you know what to be aware of.
1. Green tea extract
Green tea is generally beneficial for people who face diabetes, as it can help lower fasting glucose levels and reduce hemoglobin A1C. There are clinically proven positive effects of drinking green tea.
However, when it comes to green tea supplements, there is not enough evidence. Studies on green tea supplements are short-term and mostly animal-research studies, so there is not enough information on their effectiveness compared to drinking the tea itself.
Our advice would be to stick with drinking green tea; this is sufficient and safer.
2. Chromium
You can find this mineral and foods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. A deficiency in chromium can lead to high blood sugar levels and these deficiencies are pretty uncommon.
When you have diabetes and you already use insulin or another type of oral medication meant to lower your blood sugar, by adding chromium you increase the risk of hypoglycemia which is dangerous.
The American Diabetes Association warns people with kidney disease to stay away from chromium supplements because they can worsen the issues. Chromium also interferes with levothyroxine, a medication for hypothyroidism, so when you’re managing diabetes, discuss with your healthcare provider about what supplements you consider taking.
3. Bitter melon
You may, or may not have heard about this plant until now. It is an herbal supplement used to manage blood sugar levels because it contains compounds like vicine, charantin, polypeptide-p – thought to mimic insulin.
It sounds promising, but the research is still mixed, with inconsistent data, studies done short, and too much variation in dosage. So, this one still needs to be studied more, to have its long-term effects determined, as well as its safety.
What it is important to know, is if you are prone to low sugar levels, bitter melon may not be appropriate for you, as it lowers them as well, leading to the early-mentioned hypoglycemia.
4. St John’s Wort
This is another supplement that needs to be involved in more studies to know for sure its potential effects on diabetes medication and insulin sensitivity and secretion.
A study appearing in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology evaluated the use of St. John’s wort and metformin on 20 male subjects who were not diagnosed with diabetes and found that taking it in addition to metformin can increase insulin secretion and lower blood sugar after the glucose tolerance test.
Moreover, a test on 10 healthy male subjects showed that St John’s wort alone didn’t produce any changes in insulin sensitivity. However, they notice less insulin secretion, which can lead to increasing blood sugar levels.
These small studies are not accurate because of their conflicting results and lack of diversity in subjects, as well as not having a long enough duration to examine the long-term effects.
The advice for this one is coming from the American Diabetes Association: if you have diabetes or heart disease, or taking blood thinners, avoid St. John’s wort, because it can increase bleeding, which is an important consideration. Always talk to your healthcare provider before changing your regimen.
5. Vitamin E
Known for its antioxidant properties and praised potential to help with oxidative stress, this one can play a role in type 2 diabetes. You need to be cautious with vitamin E if you’re taking blood thinners. It can interfere with blood clotting by blocking vitamin K effects. This will end up increasing the risk of bleeding.
Vitamin E supplements should not be taken without medical supervision, even for a healthy person, but you should pay even more attention if you have diabetes or are on blood thinners. Check with professionals to make sure they don’t interact with current medication.
There are more supplements you better stay steer of:
6. Vitamin C in a high dosage
The potential risk here is that large doses can affect blood sugar control and potentially lead to kidney stones. Taking too much vitamin C can also make your glucose tests inaccurate.
However, it’s safe to stick to the daily dose recommended by your healthcare provider.
7. Fenugreek
Sometimes used to manage blood sugar, Fenugreek can cause gastrointestinal problems and interact with diabetes medication. Because it can lead to low blood sugar, monitor sugar levels closely if you use fenugreek and consult your healthcare provider.
8. Ginseng
Ginseng affects blood sugar levels and it interacts with diabetes medication, depending on its dosage. It can either lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, so it’s important to be aware of your situation and discuss with your healthcare provider if it’s appropriate for you.
9. Licorice Root
These supplements are known for raising blood pressure and lowering potassium levels. Particularly for those with diabetes and hypertension, they present a risk and they should be avoided.
If you’re in the mentioned situations, but you enjoy the taste, you can opt for natural licorice-flavored alternatives that won’t affect your health.
10. Garlic supplements
Generally, you should use garlic in moderation in your diet and not take high-dose supplements without consulting your doctor, especially if you’re taking blood thinners.
Their role is to lower blood sugar, but they might interfere with blood thinners which will increase bleeding risk.
How to manage supplement use with diabetes?Â
- Always discuss with your healthcare provider about the potential interactions and side effects.
- When starting a new supplement, keep a close watch on sugar levels to see if there are any changes.
- Don’t try to substitute prescribed medication with supplements.
- Report any unusual symptoms to your doctor after taking a new supplement.
- Always research and ask about the interactions between supplements and your current health condition or medication.
- Choose a safe manufacturer that ensures the product’s safety and efficacy.
Staying informed and cautious will keep you safe from any potential complications. Maintain a healthy lifestyle more than taking supplements. Make sure you include in your diet everything your body needs and portion it correctly. This is where you can find a Diabetes Portion Plate with DIVIDED SECTIONS for Healthy Eating and Portion Control.
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