Vanadium
Vanadium is a compound found in tiny amounts in plants and animals. Early studies showed that vanadium normalized blood glucose levels in animals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. A recent study found that when people with diabetes were given vanadium, they developed a modest increase in insulin sensitivity and were able to decrease their insulin requirements.
Potassium
Potassium supplementation yields improved insulin sensitivity, responsiveness and secretion in diabetics. Insulin administration often causes a potassium deficiency.
Zinc
Zinc deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the development of diabetes in humans. Zinc is involved in virtually all aspects of insulin metabolism - synthesis, secretion, and utilization. Zinc also has a protective effect against beta cell destruction, and has well-known anti-viral effects.
People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) tend to be zinc deficient, which may impair immune function. Zinc supplements have lowered blood sugar levels in people with IDDM. People with Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) also have low zinc levels, caused by excess loss of zinc in their urine.
People with NIDDM are recommended to supplement their diet with moderate amounts of zinc (15-50 mg per day) as a way to correct for the deficit.
Note: Take zinc with food to prevent stomach upset. If you take over 30 milligrams of zinc on a daily basis for more than one or two months, you should also take 1 to 2 milligrams of copper each day to maintain a proper mineral balance.
Coenzyme Q10
People with diabetes cannot adequately process carbohydrates. Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is needed for normal carbohydrate metabolism. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that fights free-radical damage and is a blood oxygenator.
Animals with diabetes are CoQ10 deficient. In one trial, blood sugar levels fell substantially in 31% of people with diabetes after they supplemented with 120 mg of CoQ10 per day.
Because the eye is so richly supplied with tiny blood vessels, this is another nutrient that can help in cases of retinopathy. Take 50 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 twice daily for up to three months, then reduce the dosage to 30 milligrams daily.
Inositol
Inositol is needed for normal nerve function. Diabetes can cause nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy. Some of these abnormalities have been reversed by inositol supplementation (500 mg taken twice per day).
ALA and GLA
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful natural antioxidant. It has been used to improve diabetic neuropathies (at an intake of 600 mg per day) and has reduced pain in several studies.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in black currant seed oil, borage oil, and evening primrose oil, has been shown to be helpful for improving damaged nerve function, which is common in diabetes.
Supplementing with 4 grams of evening primrose oil per day for six months has been found to reverse the cause of diabetic nerve damage and improve this painful condition. In double-blind research, 6 grams per day helps reduce nerve damage in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (IDDM and NIDDM). Take 500 to 1,000 milligrams of any of these oils twice daily.
Carnitine
Carnitine is a substance needed for the body to properly use fat for energy. When diabetics are given carnitine (1 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight), high blood levels of fats-both cholesterol and triglycerides-dropped 25-39% in just ten days. In addition, carnitine improves the breakdown of fatty acids, possibly playing a role in preventing diabetic ketoacidosis.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid found in protein-rich food. People with Type 1 diabetes (IDDM) have low taurine levels, that leads to "thickened" blood-a condition which increases the risk of heart disease. Supplementing taurine (1.5 grams per day) restores taurine levels to normal and corrects the problem of blood viscosity within three months.