How you eat is important if you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes. The body needs a certain amount of vitamins and nutrients, and if you have diabetes, it’s even more important to get the nutrition you need to keep your glucose levels under control. Fortunately, you can use dietary supplements to help keep your body healthy and balanced, and there are twelve nutrients that are key for diabetics.

Calcium is important for everyone, but many people don’t get enough by drinking milk or eating dairy. Calcium is especially important for women, who are at risk for osteoporosis later in life. Even if you think you’re getting enough calcium, you may want to consider a separate supplement that contains between 500 and 1,000 mg of calcium.

Chromium supplements should be between 50 and 200 mcg. Unfortunately, you may not get enough chromium in the food you eat, and since this mineral helps your body handle blood sugar, it’s especially important to make sure you’re getting enough chromium. Extra chromium can also help you build muscle.

Copper contributes to regulating your blood sugar, the way your body uses iron, and in bone and heart health. It’s an important part of your diet, but like chromium, your regular diet doesn’t give you enough. Diabetics should look for supplements that contain 2 mg of copper.

Folic Acid, also known as folate, is particularly important for women in their child bearing years. About 400 mg of folic acid in early pregnancy help the development of your baby’s brain and spine. Higher levels of folic acid can lower your risk of heart disease and colon cancer.

Iron is important, but too much can be harmful to you. On the other hand, if you’re not getting enough iron, you can become anemic. Most people get enough iron if they eat fortified cereals, but if you need a little extra iron, make sure you don’t exceed 18 mg of iron each day, which is the daily recommended amount for everyone.

Magnesium supplements should contain 100 mg for diabetics. Magnesium is particularly important since it has been linked to protection from diabetes, as well as hypertension, osteoporosis, and migraine headaches. If you have kidney problems, be sure to check with your doctor before adding magnesium to your diet.

Vitamin A should be in the amount of 5,000 international units (I.U.), but no more than 10,000 I.U. Diabetics should look for supplements that contain 2 mg of vitamin B6. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and diabetics should have 200 to 500 mg of it as a daily supplement. Vitamin D can be added to your body from sunlight, but to get enough through the sun, you would spend too much time exposed to the sun without protecting your skin. Diabetics should look for 400 I.U. of vitamin D, but be sure your supplements, in conjunction with fortified cereals and milk don’t exceed 800 I.U. Vitamin E is another antioxidant, and diabetics should look for 100 to 400 I.U. of it.

Zinc is one mineral that is probably the most lacking in your diet, and diabetics should look for supplements that contain 15 mg of zinc. Zinc helps wounds heal properly, as well as helping keep your immune system strong.

Insulin resistance is a syndrome that is commonly discovered to be an issue in those that suffer from diabetic conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes. Many medical professionals also refer to this as “metabolic syndrome”. While this syndrome is normally found to be an issue with those that suffer from Type 2 diabetes, it must be understood that it can develop into this diabetic condition and result in other medical complications as well. These complications include, but are not at all limited to, ovarian complications that include polycystic complications, blood pressure that is high, cholesterol levels that are deemed as abnormal, heart disease, and several other complications.

Insulin Resistance Explained

In order to appropriately understand insulin resistance, you must first understand the initial digestion process when it comes to foods that are consumed. As food travels through the gastrointestinal tract, the body will pull out nutrients, minerals, and other items that can be used for basic maintenance. These substances eventually end up in the bloodstream as this is the quickest means of travel throughout other locations in the body. Basic sugars which typically enter the bloodstream as glucose also enter into the blood. As soon as the body recognizes the glucose located in the blood, the pancreas kicks in and begins to secrete insulin. Insulin that is produced by this organ is identified as a hormone.

Insulin travels through the blood and seeks out cells that are traveling from one location to another. It acts as a type of sponge when it comes in contact with glucose. It absorbs the glucose and retains it so that it can be used when necessary for the production of energy. When an individual suffers from insulin resistance, the body is not as receptive as it normally would be at the optimal level of health. The cells simply “ignore” the hormone and continue without the energy that is required to successfully maintain the functions of the body. As a result of the cells simply bypassing the hormone of insulin, the pancreas immediately kicks in and begins to work harder producing the hormone because it recognizes the fact that the cells passing through the bloodstream require it.

Common Symptoms of Insulin Resistance

There are many common symptoms of insulin resistance. If you have Type 2 diabetes, or have found that you are not as healthy as you once were, it is important to ensure that you become familiar with these symptoms just in case this syndrome begins to infect you. By knowing the symptoms, you can obtain the medical care that you need to treat the metabolic condition. The symptoms are as follows:

* Many may begin to develop moderate to high levels of fatigue. This may affect an individual either physically or mentally. Many cases involve fatigue that affects one physically as well as mentally.

* One may notice that they begin to gain weight. The weight gain typically occurs in the area of the middle abdomen area.

* Mild to severe bloating due to gas accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract may be experienced in those that suffer from insulin complications in the body.

* If the blood is tested, one may be informed that they have a high level of sugar in the blood. In addition to this, they may be informed that their triglyceride level is relatively high.

* Many individuals may notice spikes when it comes to their blood pressure reading. High blood pressure is a common issue in those that experience insulin resistance as well as Type 2 diabetes.

* Difficulties surrounding focus and concentration levels are often experienced in those that suffer from a resistance to insulin.

If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, it may be time to talk to a medical professional. Delay could result in serious medical complications. While insulin resistance is a syndrome, it can result in many potentially dangerous medical conditions and disease.