120
VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 • SEPTEMBER 2012
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
S Afr J Diabetes Vasc Dis
2012;
9
: 120–123
Talia den Dalk
Dietician, Somerset West
e-mail:
Diabetes Educator’s Focus
SUPPLEMENTS FOR TYPE 2
DIABETES PATIENTS
T
hese days, many diabetes patients are opt-
ing to go the natural route to enhance lon-
gevity and to improve their general health
and well-being. Complementary medicine is often
used by type 2 diabetes patients to improve their
health and blood glucose control. In Canada, a re-
cent survey found that 75% of people with diabetes
used non-prescribed supplements (herbal, vitamin,
mineral or others) and alternative medications.
Overall, research indicates that most people who
use complementary alternative therapies do so in
addition to, rather than in place of, conventional
medical treatmen
t.
The aim of this article is to ex-
amine some of these alternative therapies and the
evidence regarding the use of supplements in type
2
diabetes.
Multivitamin/mineral and anti-oxidant
preparations
As with nearly all biochemical processes, glucose
metabolism and insulin signaling require cofactors
and vitamins, which are essential in the diet. Defi-
ciencies in any of these micronutrients have the
potential to impair glucose metabolism and cause
insulin resistance. Clinical evidence supporting this
hypothesis is mounting regarding the metabolic ef-
fects of specific deficiencies, including vitamin D,
chromium, biotin, thiamine and vitamin C.
Modern agriculture and food-processing techniques
result in a relative reduction in the micronutrient con-
tent of common foods. Despite an excess of dietary
calorie intake, obese individuals have relatively high
rates of micronutrient deficiencies (Table 1).
No health professional organisation promotes the
regular use of multivitamins or individual nutrients
without considering first the quality of a person’s
diet. However, individuals with poor nutrient intake
from diet alone, and those who consume low-calorie
diets and avoid certain foods (such as strict vegetar-
ians or wheat avoidance) might benefit from taking
multivitamins.
Several medical studies support the use of daily
multivitamins while following a calorie-restricted eat-
ing plan for weight loss. As type 2 diabetes patients
are often overweight, they will be encouraged to lose
weight by means of calorie-restricted eating plans.
These patients should consider the use of multi-
vitamins in order to meet daily nutrient requirements
and to prevent worsening of existing nutritional de-
ficiencies.
Table 1.
The prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Micronutrient
Type 2 diabetes (%)
Obesity (%)
Thiamine
17–17
15–29
Vitamin B
12
22
3–8
Vitamin C
–
35–45
Selenium
–
58
Zinc
–
14–30
Vitamin D
85–90
–
Chromium
20–40
–
–
Prevalence data not available.
