preventativemedicine

Can Supplements Support Blood Sugar?

Before jumping to take a bunch of supplements for blood sugar support, please see my previous post about lifestyle changes to reverse insulin resistance!

Supplements can be a helpful addition but will not have much effect unless you also make lifestyle changes. 

That said, let’s look at 5 top supplements for blood sugar support:

💊 Gymnema

Gymnema is an herb that comes from the Ayurvedic tradition. If you taste it directly, it will numb your taste buds so that you cannot taste sweet! The leaf extract is used to support blood sugar. 

💊 Berberine

Berberine is a plant compound that’s responsible for the yellow color of herbs like goldenseal and Oregon grape. It supports blood sugar but may also interact with medications or disrupt digestion. 

💊 Chromium

Chromium is a trace mineral that’s needed for insulin to function properly. It can be supplemented along with meals to support insulin sensitivity. 

💊 Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)

Alpha-lipoic-acid is not an official vitamin but is similar to B vitamins. It is a powerful antioxidant and also supports blood sugar metabolism. 

💊 Magnesium

Low blood levels of magnesium have been found in people with type 2 diabetes. Many people do not consume the recommended amount of magnesium, making it an important supplement to consider. 

It’s always best to talk with a health professional before adding supplements into your routine—especially if you are already taking medications. 

🎁 This wraps up my post series on insulin resistance! I hope you’ve learned a thing or two. More importantly, I hope you’ve been inspired to take an action or two. 

Because lifelong health begins with prevention and that begins now. 

If you have any concerns about blood sugar or insulin resistance and want professional guidance and a personalized plan, please call our office to book an appointment 🗓️

The Invisible Condition that Comes BEFORE Diabetes…

🤔 Most people think that if they don’t have diabetes, they don’t have to worry about their blood sugar. 

That’s not actually true. 

Have you heard of insulin resistance?

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond to insulin (the hormone that allows sugar to enter cells). 

That means sugar cannot effectively enter the cells to be burned for energy. Which means… 

🩸 Blood sugar starts to creep higher, especially after eating carbohydrates or sweets. 

Insulin resistance is usually present in prediabetes and can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes, but it can exist long before a diabetes diagnosis. The trickiest part?

There usually are no obvious symptoms. 

But there are definitely some clues that are often associated with insulin resistance, like:

😬 Abdominal weight gain (around the waist)

🍭 Sugar and carb cravings

😴 Crashing after eating sweets

It’s important to know that a person does not have to be overweight to have insulin resistance! The only way to know for sure is to look for subtle changes in bloodwork. 

Ready for the good news?

Insulin resistance is reversible 🎉

👀 Watch for my upcoming posts where I’ll be taking a deep dive into the root causes of insulin resistance, lifestyle changes to help reverse it, and supplements to support healthy blood sugar levels.