Contrary to popular belief, popping multiple supplements does not improve health and might even harm.
However, selected vitamins and minerals are necessary in patients with diabetes, especially if patients are not eating in a balanced manner or there’s a problem in absorption of vitamins.
Let us understand about some very common vitamins and minerals.
*Vitamin D: The “Sunshine Hormone”
Vitamin D is important for bone metabolism
It places a role in normal functioning of skeletal muscles, immune system, and for normal glucose metabolism.
Recent studies have shown that vitamin D Supplementation helps to decrease blood sugar levels in people with vitamin D deficiency.
causes of deficiency
• Less exposure to direct sunlight.
• Decreased absorption from the skin(applicable in Indians).
• Use of sun blocks, Covering whole body with Clothes.
Symptoms
There may be no symptom of following symptoms may occur-
• Bone and muscle pains
• Fractures due to fragile bones, even at slight impact
• Short stature in children
Calcium
Consuming enough calcium between 1000 and 1200 mg per day for healthy men and is important, however, receiving higher amounts of calcium over a long period of time raises the risk of kidney stones in some people.
There is an association between low calcium and vitamin D levels and diabetes.
Supplements that combine both calcium and vitamin D help in improving blood sugar levels and insulin action in patients with diabetes.
Taking oral calcium does not lead to calcium deposition in arteries.
However, excess and unnecessary calcium and should be avoided.
Calcium should be taken according to the physician’s advise especially if patient has kidney damage, parathyroid disorder or high blood calcium.
Deficiency of calcium leads to
1. Osteoporosis.
2. Muscle cramps.
3. Heart dysfunction
4. Memory loss
Vitamin B12
1. Necessary for health in nervous system and healthy blood cells.
2. It is low in vegetarian population.
3. It needs to be absorbed efficiently.
4. Use of metformin, which is usually used in the treatment of diabetes, may cause deficiency of vitamin B12.
Deficiency
1. Anemia.
2. palpitations, or shortness of breath
3. Nerve problems like numbness, or tingling muscle, weakness of problems in walking
4. A smooth, bald tongue, and altered mouth sensation.
5. Constipation, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.
6. Depression, memory, loss, or behavioural changes.
Food sources of Vitamin B12:
Milk and milk products,
Egg, mutton, liver, fish, goat, fortified cereals.
Folic Acid
• Folic acid is required to synthesise nucleic acids, essential to body functions .
• It aids in rapid cell division and growth.
• It helps to red blood cell cells.
• It is important for pregnant women.
• It enhances brain health.
Deficiency of folic acid results in Megaloblastic anaemia, which is often seen in children and pregnant women.
Dietary Sources of Folic Acid
1. Beans and lentils.
2. Peas
3. Soymilk
4. Vegetables like green leafy vegetables, spinach, turnip greens, mustard, greens, cabbage, broccoli, corn, cauliflower, potato, green, green onions.
5. Fortified foods.
Potassium
What does potassium do to the body?
1. Potassium is one of the most important electrolytes in the human body.
2. Potassium is vital to healthy functioning of cells, tissues, and organs.
3. Important for ability of skeletal and smooth muscles to contract.
4. It is vital to the health of the heart for normal rhythm, and heartbeat
5. Safe intake of potassium is 2500 mg per day.
6. If you have kidney issue, potassium should be restricted or avoided.
7. High potassium is bad for the heart, low potassium causes weakness of muscles.
8. Kidney failure, and some drugs like ACE inhibitors increase potassium levels.
Dietary sources of potassium
• Fruit & dry fruits like dried dates,
• Pulses and legumes
• Leafy vegetables
• Fruit, and tubers, like potatoes and sweet potatoes.
• Nuts, and oil seeds
• Cereal grain, and products.