Diabetes Increases Oxidative Stress
High blood sugar is the defining characteristic of diabetes, but a number of other metabolic abnormalities are also going on, and one of them is oxidative stress.
Hyperglycemia increases the production of unstable and highly reactive free radicals. Unless these marauding atoms are neutralized and controlled by antioxidants, which donate electrons to stabilize them, free radicals inflict damage on proteins, fats, DNA, cell membranes, and other cellular structures.
This is the essence of oxidative stress, and it is a major player in insulin resistance and the development and progression of diabetesas well as a primary cause of nerve and blood vessel damage, cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, vision loss, and other complications of diabetes.
Studies On Vitamin Supplementation In The Treatment Of Diabetes
In a 1991 study published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrient Research, a group of researchers compared the plasma concentrations of essential vitamins and nutrients between 100 type-2 diabetes patients and 112 non-diabetic patients.
The study result showed that diabetics usually have nutritional deficiencies and low levels of vitamins B1, B2, A, and E. Commonly reported mineral deficiencies involved in zinc and iron.
A 2006 study published in the journal, Molecular Nutrition and Food Research investigated the benefits of vitamins A, C, and E in reducing oxidative stress in diabetic rats. After inducing these rats with diabetes, they were given suboptimal doses of insulin while being supplemented with vitamins A, C, and E.
The study results showed that these antioxidant vitamins reduced the production of reactive oxygen species and improved the production of antioxidant enzymes especially superoxide dismutase.
This study supports the use of antioxidant vitamins in the management of diabetes and suggests that these vitamins can help prevent the complications of the disease.
Benefits of Mineral and Vitamin Combination for Diabetics
In a 2005 study published in the journal, Diabetes Care, a group of researchers compared the benefits offered by vitamin and/or mineral combinations in reducing kidney damage in type 2 diabetes patients. Sixty-nine type 2 diabetes were recruited for this study and divided into 4 groups.
Diabetes And Your Immune System
When your blood sugar is higher than it should be, that defense system starts to break down. One effect is increased inflammation throughout your body and especially in your blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular disease.
A weakened immune system also means you have an increased risk of contracting common infections like colds, flu, skin infections or pneumonia, and more serious ones like bone, joint, or heart infections. In fact, a study published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that people with diabetes are twice as likely to be hospitalized or die from a serious infection compared to those without diabetes.
Thats an important reason to manage your blood sugar. The closer to normal it stays throughout the day, the easier it is for your immune system to do its job. Heres what to aim for:
- If you have prediabetes, try to keep your fasting sugar below 100 mg/dL, and your A1c below 5.7%. Those numbers are considered normal no diabetes.
- If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends working to keep your fasting or premeal blood sugar under 130 mg/dL, and your A1c under 7.0%.
Luckily, there are a few natural ways to improve your blood sugar and support your immune system at the same time. And hey, anything that kills two birds with one stone is good in my book!
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Vitamin C May Lower Blood Pressure Sugar Levels In Diabetics
Taking vitamin C supplements can help diabetics by lowering elevated blood sugar levels throughout the day, a study has found.
The research, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, also found that vitamin C lowered blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting benefits for heart health too.
According to Glenn Wadley from Deakin University in Australia, the results may help millions currently living with the health condition.
We found that participants had a significant 36% drop in the blood sugar spike after meals. This also meant that they spent almost three hours less per day living in a state of hyperglycaemia, Wadley said.
This is extremely positive news as hyperglycaemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people living with type 2 diabetes, he said.
We also found that the proportion of people with hypertension halved after taking the vitamin C capsules, with both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels dropping significantly, Wadley added.
The dose of vitamin C used in the study was about 10 times the normal dietary intake and readily available from most health food stores, researchers said.
Vitamin Cs antioxidant properties can help counteract the high levels of free radicals found in people with diabetes, and its encouraging to see this benefits a number of the diseases common comorbidities, such as high blood pressure, he said.
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Taking A Zinc Supplement

The daily recommended dose of zinc is 12 mg for women and 15 mg for men. In some cases, your doctor may recommend for you to take more than this daily. Speak with your doctor about adding a zinc supplement to your diabetes care plan. Zinc lozenges, particularly in the form of zinc gluconate, are a good source of zinc because they are readily absorbable.
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What Vitamins Can Help Lower Blood Sugar
vitaminhelp lower blood sugar
Besides, what vitamins should diabetics take?
Using Supplements for Diabetes Treatment
- Cinnamon.
- Chromium. Chromium is an essential trace element.
- Vitamin B-1. Vitamin B-1 is also known as thiamine.
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant.
- Bitter Melon.
- Resveratrol.
- Magnesium.
do vitamins affect blood sugar levels? A number of over-the-counter and prescription medications even some vitamins and supplements have been shown to raise blood sugar.
Secondly, how can I lower my blood sugar quickly?
Here are 15 easy ways to lower blood sugar levels naturally:
Can vitamin D help lower blood sugar?
Vitamin D is believed to help improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels and thus reduce the risk of insulin resistance, which is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
How Much Vitamin C Do You Need
The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies have established the following Recommended Dietary Allowances for vitamin C for adults:
Age | |
85 mg | 120 mg |
People who smoke are advised to consume 35 additional milligrams of vitamin C each day, since smoking can deplete vitamin C levels in the body.
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How Eating Sugar Steals Your Vitamin C
To utilize the antioxidant potential of vitamin C our white blood cells need to have over 50 times more vitamin C in their cell walls than there is in the surrounding blood plasma. This can be difficult to achieve, however, because our bodies dont actually have the ability to produce vitamin C we can only take it from food and supplements. To make matters worse, consuming too much glucose can deprive our cells of the vitamin C that weve eaten, essentially nullifying its effects.
How does this happen?
This isnt something new. Weve known since the 1970s that sugar and vitamin C enter our cells through the same doors, namely the Glut-1 receptors. That makes sense since animals that are able to synthesize their own vitamin C do so through glucose. This has also led some scientists such as Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling to believe that humans were also able to synthesize vitamin C at one point but weve lost that ability over time.
All that has a nasty side-effect, however when we consume sugar it gets within our cells and takes the place of vitamin C. Not only that, but our white blood cells actually prefer to take the sugar instead of the vitamin C when given the chance. Add to that the fact that consuming too much glucose also leads to more free radicals in our systems and sugar becomes a clear nemesis to vitamin C.
How Does Vitamin C Help People With Diabetes
Some studies suggest that vitamin C could be helpful to people with diabetes in terms of blood sugar and even blood pressure control. A meta-analysis published in the February 2021 journal Diabetes Care concluded that vitamin C supplementation significantly lowers HbA1c, fasting and postprandial glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, SBP , DBP and MDA in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the authors added that more studies with a larger sample size and longer supplementation periods are needed.
Another, smaller study, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2019 of just 31 people with diabetes showed that the group given two 500 mg doses of vitamin C daily had a significant 36% drop in blood sugar spike after meals. They also had lower blood pressure.
Higher intakes of vitamin C may protect against heart disease, which is common in people with diabetes, although there is no recommended dose to aim for. But there is evidence that supports eating vegetables and fruit can lower the risk of heart disease, as well as some types of cancers.
If you have a wound that is healing, such as a foot ulcer or other type of cut or sore, talk with your provider or registered dietitian about increasing your vitamin C intake, including taking a supplement. Vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation , as well as overall skin health.
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Can Vitamin C Help Type 2 Diabetes
Could vitamin C help people with type 2 diabetes? A small study suggests it might, but there’s more to the story. Find out more.
Vitamin C could help those with type 2 diabetes, multiple media reports suggest but as always, theres more to the story.
The media reports are based on a recent but very small study which was led by researchers from Deakin University and published in the journal, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
The study found that people with type 2 diabetes who took a vitamin C supplement for 4 months had lower post-meal blood sugar levels, compared with those taking a placebo for the same length of time.
Are You Looking For Natural Blood Sugar Control Techniques Zinc Benefits For Diabetes Care Are Impressive
Zinc benefits include promoting healthy insulin function, providing natural blood sugar control, and might even help to prevent diabetes in the first place.
I take zinc when I feel a cold coming on and find that it definitely helps to keep me from getting sick. Many people use zinc for this immune-boosting purpose, but zinc benefits can do more for your body than just that. The benefits of taking zinc include lowering your risk of heart disease, treating Parkinsons disease, and even helping clear up acne.
As if that werent enough, yet another reason to love zinc is that it can be helpful for diabetes care. Zinc is highly concentrated in the islet cells of the pancreas, where insulin is produced. Zinc benefits include promoting healthy insulin function, providing natural blood sugar control, and might even help to prevent diabetes in the first place.
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What Were The Results
For the 27 participants who completed the study, post-meal blood sugar levels were significantly lower following 4 months of vitamin C supplementation compared with 4 months of placebo treatment.
After taking vitamin C supplements, participants also had fewer hours per day with hyperglycaemia or post-meal hyperglycaemia, and had lower blood pressure.
Red And Green Bell Peppers*

The highest amount of Vitamin C is concentrated in the red variety of bell peppers with one medium-sized red bell pepper containing approximately 152 mg of Vitamin C. You would need to eat three oranges to total the amount of Vitamin C that you consume in one red bell pepper! Its trusty sibling, the green bell pepper, contains 96 mg of Vitamin C.
Further, a red bell pepper contains only 3.9 grams of sugar, whereas a green bell pepper contains 2.9 grams of sugar, nearly three times less than that of an orange. This antioxidant-rich food is also packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin E.
When consuming bell peppers, be certain to buy organic as they are heavily sprayed with pesticides and for that reason are included in this years Dirty Dozen list.
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Nutrition And Meal Timing For Diabetes
Eating a balanced diet is vital for people who have diabetes, so work with your doctor or dietitian to set up a menu plan. If you have type 1 diabetes, the timing of your insulin dosage is determined by activity and diet. When you eat and how much you eat are just as important as what you eat. Usually, doctors recommend three small meals and three to four snacks every day to maintain the proper balance between sugar and insulin in the blood.
A healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in your diet will help keep your blood glucose on target. How much of each will depend on many factors, including your weight and your personal preferences. Watching your carbohydrates — knowing how much you need and how many you are eating — is key to blood sugar control. If you are overweight, either a low-carbohydrate, low-fat/low calorie, or Mediterranean diet may help you get your weight to goal. No more than 7% of your diet should come from saturated fat, and you should try to avoid trans fats altogether.
Try to fill half your plate with nonstarchy vegetables such as:
- Asparagus
- Whole oats oatmeal
- Whole wheat
In general, less-processed food is better. It has a lower glycemic index, which means it may have less of an effect on your blood sugar. For example, oatmeal from whole oats has a lower glycemic index than instant oatmeal.
What Are The Sex Hormones
The sex hormones comprise of oestrogen and testosterone. Oestrogen is known as the female hormone and testosterone as the male hormone this is due to the fact that women normally produce more oestrogen and men more testosterone. Nevertheless, both hormones play an important role in our bodies, regardless of our gender.As the name sex hormone suggests, these hormones are primarily responsible for sex drive and reproduction. If the hormone levels in our bodies decrease, then our libido also suffers at the same time.
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Drink Herbaly Wellness Collection Tea Each Day
I recently discovered Herbaly Teas Wellness Collectionand its like a secret wellness weapon especially if you want to improve your blood sugar and support your immune system. I cold-brew a pitcher, keep it in my refrigerator, and sip it throughout the day.
Its a tasty and refreshing organic herbal blend thats formulated to support healthier blood sugar. The herbs and ingredients in Herbaly Wellness Collection tea may also strengthen your immune system and reduce inflammation. They include:
- Ginger which is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to naturally enhance the immune system. Theres research that shows some compounds in ginger have antibacterial properties.
- Fennel seeds which contain vitamin C and antioxidants. They also have antimicrobial properties.
- Dandelion root which can help fight inflammation. Some research on compounds in dandelion root suggests it can lower blood sugar levels.
- Sencha a type of green tea which contains powerful antioxidant compounds called catechins. Theyve been shown to reduce inflammation, maintain insulin sensitivity and support healthy blood glucose levels.
- Turmeric root, a source of curcumin. Its the compound with a wide range of superpowers including anti-inflammatory and immune system supporting benefits. Research suggests it may both reduce inflammatory damage caused by high blood sugar and also help to lower glucose levels.
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Zinc For The Prevention Of Diabetes
Because zinc deficiency is associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, researchers want to know, can zinc help prevent the onset of diabetes? Although more studies are needed to know for sure, preliminary research suggests that it can . In one study following 82,297 women across 24 years, those who had higher zinc intakes had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Another study in 2013 found the same higher zinc intake was associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women.
What Are Some Effects Of Thyroid Hormones
There are several hormones that are produced in the thyroid gland and secreted from there. In particular, the two hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine influence processes that regulate the development, growth and metabolism of our body. More specifically, the thyroid gland and its hormones are involved in the following processes:
- Energy regulation and body temperature
- Muscle, nerve, heart, circulatory and digestive activity
- Emotional well-being
- Physical and psychological development
- Skin health, hair health and nail growth
Your thyroid gland can either be overactive or underactive. If you suffer from hypothyroidism, you may experience a lack of interest or energy, weight gain, cold sensations, constipation and an overall lower level of performance. Hypothyroidism usually runs in families and is more common in adults especially in women. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include nervousness, weight loss, heat and diarrhoea.
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