Best Supplements For Pre-Diabetes

Diet and lifestyle interventions are always the first lines of defense when inching toward a pre-diabetic diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes is reversible, even if you weren’t dealt the best genetic hand. Yes, there are genes that are associated with diabetes, but with type 2 diabetes, it’s your lifestyle and diet that will turn those genes on or off. For some people, just changing their lifestyle, including eating a low-carb diet compromised of whole food nutrition could be enough. For others, supplements may be the next line of defense. Below is a list of some of the most beneficial supplements available to people who are on the cusp of diabetes.

Best Supplements to Take For Pre-Diabetes

Chromium

Chromium picolinate is a trace mineral found in various foods, such as egg yolks, liver, onions, potatoes, and sea vegetables. While not fully understood, chromium supplementation has been shown to stabilize blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce Hg-A1C, improve blood lipid panels, and decrease inflammation.

CoQ10

This antioxidant increases cellular energy and lowers blood glucose levels. Foods, such as oily fish (salmon, sardines, and tuna), organ meats (liver), chicken, beef, and pork, are all rich in CoQ10.

Omega 3-Fatty Acids

This very special type of fat converts harmful VLDLs into LDLs, decreasing inflammation in cells.

Berberine with ALA

This plant extract has been shown in clinical trials to stabilize blood glucose levels by activating AMPK, a metabolic enzyme that influences genes that support metabolism, and mitochondria. It increases insulin sensitivity, reducing blood glucose. ALA (Alpha-lipoic acid) is in every cell in our body and it helps turn glucose into energy. You can find supplements with both of these ingredients together. Food sources for ALA are liver and red meat.

Magnesium

This essential mineral is a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic systems in the body, including several that regulate blood glucose levels. Magnesium is found in food, but most people are not getting enough through their diet and must supplement. There are multiple forms of magnesium, but these are the best for diabetes: chelated, glycinate, or malate for bioavailability. Food sources include avocados, dark chocolate, dark leafy green, beans, and nuts.

Vitamin D

This micronutrient acts more like a hormone, than a vitamin, and is crucial for healthy bones. It also helps to regulate insulin sensitivity and inflammation and reduces oxidative stress. Food sources include cod liver oil, salmon, sardines, tuna, and beef liver.

Inositol

Inositol is a type of sugar molecule that our body makes and that we get through our diet. Inositol comes in two forms (Myo-inositol and D-Chiro-Inositol) and has been shown in numerous studies to have a greater effect on Type 2 diabetes than Metformin. Many functional medicine doctors use inositol supplementation with their PCOS patients due to its positive effect on insulin signaling. It also aids in deep sleep when taken at night - a huge win for women struggling with insulin resistance and sleep. 

As you can see, many of these micronutrients can be found in animal-based foods, which is why some people with type 2 diabetes try a carnivore diet for 3-6 months. Micronutrient deficiencies are highly correlated with diabetes. Correcting those deficiencies is important in reversing your pre-diabetes diagnosis.

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This blog is not to be used as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having.