Combination of chromium and biotin found to benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes
Posted on 26 March 2008
When it comes to blood sugar control, it makes sense to avoiding eating too much in the way of foods that tend to disrupt blood sugar levels. This is particularly true for diabetics whose bodies tend not to handle sugar at all well. However, in addition to eating a
Published March 26, 2008 . Filed under: Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrients and Supplements
The way I interpret this study (and similar studies that show a slight decrease in abnormally high BG) is that taking biotin and chromium supplements might be a nice little addition, sort of like “dessert” but carbohydrate restriction is the real “meal” of controlling blood glucose. One shouldn’t have “dessert” without having a good “meal”.
If someone has a high fasting BG of say, 190 mg/dl, reducing it by 10mg/dl isn’t much of a significant benefit. It’s still very high and cell damage continues to occur. At most, a 10 mg reduction ever so slightly slows the progression of complication development, but progression still takes place. And someone with an A1c of over 10 must have very high BG indeed, so even a reduction of 35 mg/dl is peanuts compared to reductions they would see with carb restriction. It would be interesting to see what the range of reduction was, rather than the averages.
And human nature being what it is, many uninformed people would “splurge” on carby foods that aren’t good for their BG because they think they have added “protection” with extra chromium and biotin.
I think the benefits of many, if not all, of the supplements that are suggested to people with diabetes are modest. The slight improvements in BG are not enough to be a major part of BG control, merely an adjunct to an already effective treatment program.
When I tell people I am pre-diabetic (my weight is normal, my fasting BG is still in the high normal range, but my post meal BG can go into diabetic ranges for too long with moderate and high carb foods, so I restrict concentrated sugars and starches to keep BG normal and steady), inevitably they offer the suggestion to take cinnamon, chromium, whole grains or whatever else is in the news. I’ve tried this. It isn’t that simple. Nothing, I mean nothing works as well as keeping concentrated sugar and starch out of my diet. My BG stays in a normal, tight range without sugars and starches. Supplements might improve that a tiny bit more, but they won’t allow me to include sugars and starches in my diet. I can continue to avoid meds if I do this, and perhaps, dramatically slow or even halt the progression to full blown diabetes.
These studies demonstrate that supplements are, at best, an addition to a carb restricted diet, not a supplement for one. I’m not suggesting that people not try the supplements, but they should also understand that supplements are not the biggest part of the solution.
March 26, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
Anna
Thanks for these comments. Your sentiment regarding supplementation being an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, a carb-restricted diet, mirrors my own feelings on the subject.
March 26, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
What about other forms of chromium. The multi-vitamin I take has chromium (amino acid chelate).
March 26, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Sorry to go off topic, but having just listened to your original podcast, I’m wondering if any more will be coming? Hopefully with a better cellphone connection.
March 27, 2008 @ 7:37 am