Pre-diabetes is a condition that should not be taken lightly. If your doctor has alerted you that you are pre-diabetic, then it is important that you take action to prevent the condition from progressing and becoming full Type 2 diabetes.
Making lifestyle changes, eating a healthy diet, staying active, and, in some cases, losing weight can help to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
There are a lot of pre-diabetic supplements on the market. They are advertised quite heavily, and it can be difficult to figure out which ones are effective and which are a waste of money. Here, we consider a few of the most popular or well-known supplements and whether they are worth your money.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a popular supplement that is touted as helping to reduce blood sugar. Studies show that when people with pre-diabetes take cinnamon before breakfast and dinner, they experience a decrease in fasting blood sugar.
They also experienced a fall in A1C levels. These results are promising. It means that cinnamon could help with how the body responds to insulin, and therefore reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
If you’re interested in trying cinnamon, look for Ceylon cinnamon extract, because it is low in coumarin, a compound that can irritate the liver if taken in large amounts. A dose of 250mg twice a day should be enough to help.
Probiotics
There are a lot of different kinds of bacteria living in our gut. Those bacteria can impact on our mood, our cravings, how well we digest food, and other parts of our physical and mental wellbeing. The exact relationship between our gut flora and our health is complex and something that medical scientists do not fully understand yet.
Initial studies however, do suggest that probiotics can have a beneficial impact pre-diabetes. There are many probiotic-enriched foods. Taking a small supplement such as a drink of probiotic milk or a probiotic-containing yogurt could be beneficial to your overall wellbeing.
Berberine
Berberine is a bitter-tasting compound that comes from the roots of certain plants. Studies into the use of berberine have found that it can help to reduce fasting blood sugar in people with pre-diabetes and also help to improve insulin sensitivity. Suggested doses are 300-500mg per day, taken with meals.
There are many other pre-diabetic supplements. If you are considering adding supplements to your diet, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor first. The same applies for any major lifestyle changes. Note that supplements can sometimes interact with prescription medication, making the medication more or less effective. This is one of the reasons that you should always inform your doctor about any supplements that you are currently taking, and any changes that you are planning to make to your lifestyle.
Supplements can help to improve your well-being, but they are not a magical cure. They should be used as a part of an overall healthy lifestyle and a carefully controlled, protein and fiber-rich diet.
