Chromium is no doubt one of the most important trace elements needed for type 1 and type 2 diabetics. It is essential:

• for fat and carbohydrate metabolism
• as a deficiency clearly affects glucose tolerance and impairs glucose metabolism
• as an aid in insulin metabolism and therefore may reduce insulin resistance

Also, a chromium deficiency may contribute to the complications many diabetics suffer from such as:

• impaired immunity
• increased infections
• high cholesterol levels
• peripheral neuropathy or the feeling of numbness in your legs, feet, arms and hands

Simply supplementing with chromium is risky because it is too easy to throw off the normal balance of other minerals and trace elements that chromium works in conjunction with in your body. Increasing one lone nutrient will cause a decrease in others; proper dosing of chromium is essential if you want to get the most benefit.

A health care practitioner who can test your mineral levels is indispensable to you as she/he can help you balance all your nutrients and relieve, not only a chromium deficiency, but all deficiencies that may exist. It is not unusual to have more than one deficiency.

It is always a good idea to include foods in your diet that are high in chromium, although generally this will not be enough to counter a deficiency. The foods that are naturally high in chromium are:

• brewer’s yeast
• beef
• liver
• chicken
• dairy
• eggs
• potatoes
• whole grain foods
• seafood
• green peppers
• green beans
• broccoli
• beer
• bananas
• drinking water

Eating foods that contain vitamin C, like berries and green pepper, may increase the absorption of dietary chromium.

With all these commonly eaten foods, you would think it would be almost impossible to have a chromium deficiency. However, consuming sugary foods will deplete your body’s stores of chromium. Exercise and suffering traumas can also reduce your current stores down to zero.

Although beer is mentioned as being high in chromium … it is worth pointing out alcohol consumption speeds up the damage done by type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Meals based on foods that are high in chromium could include breakfast with an omelet made with green peppers, onions, and mushrooms along with a small serving of lightly sauteed potatoes, a slice of whole grain bread and a glass of milk. Lunch could be a chicken or tuna sandwich on whole grain bread with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise and a banana for dessert!

Maybe the safest approach to supplementing with chromium is through the foods you eat!

• Proper Control of Diabetic Diet - A Golden Pathway to Stay Healthy
• Important Information For Diabetics
• Diabetes Mellitus - How Can it Be Prevented and Controlled?
• What Really Causes Diabetes?
• Pros and Cons of Using Insulin Pumps - Diabetics Must Know Before Using it
• An Overview of Diabetic Complications From High Blood Glucose
• Emotions and Diabetes
• Five Warning Signs of Diabetes
• Natural Cures For Diabetes - Treat it the Natural Way
• Watching What You Eat

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