In the United States, about one in every 11 people has diabetes. This is a sobering statistic, especially considering that out of these 29.1 million people, a quarter don’t even know they have the disease. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, or suspect that you may be diabetic, it’s far from the end of the world.
Today, there are treatments that will benefit you greatly, lifestyle changes that ensure a normal life, and multivitamins that help restore your energy and vigor.
Of these treatments you might ask, “What is the best multivitamin for diabetics?” Well, let’s discuss some of what you should look for in a diabetic multivitamin.
How Can Multivitamins Help Diabetics?
Being overweight is the leading cause of type II diabetes in the U.S., and as a person that has struggled with their weight in the past, I know how easy it is to overeat. One of the primary treatments for managing diabetes is to strictly monitor your diet and calorie intake. Eating less is imperative for managing this condition, but that doesn’t mean that we can have to cut important diabetes-fighting vitamins from our lifestyles as well.
The primary power of multivitamins for the treatment of diabetes is the fact that often times they can help supplement us from a dietary perspective when we are forced to eat less. Vitamins are needed to boost the effectiveness of your body’s enzymes by acting as coenzymes. Each vitamin provides a different boost to the way your body deals with weight loss, fatigue, or infection.
B vitamins like folic acid reduce homocysteine levels and may reduce cardiovascular risk (source), so a supplement that has these types of vitamins are generally very helpful for managing the progressive nature of the disease. Vitamin C on the other hand, reduces the amounts of the damaging sugar that forms in the eye.
Unfortunately, diabetes weakens our immune systems. As a diabetic, you can expect to get sick from colds and flu on a regular basis if you don’t manage it. Vitamin D, which many diabetics don’t have high enough of, boosts your body’s levels of cathelicidins – these help boost your immune response. When you add a multivitamin, you’ll find that you will get sick less and when you do, you’ll get better quicker.
Diabetic lethargy can be disruptive in your professional and personal life. (source) Taking a supplement can restore your energy levels.
Here’s a great video that outlines the value of vitamins in a diabetic’s life:
Which Vitamins and Minerals do I Need?
If you have been prescribed a strict weight loss diet by your doctor, the list of key vitamins and minerals that you should look for in a diabetic multivitamin are:
Vitamin A (beta carotene is the best source for this)
Folic acid
Niacin
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
There are also minerals that help fight the effects of diabetes, some of these can be found in your food so supplementation might not be expressly needed:
Calcium
Chromium
Copper
Magnesium
Potassium
Zinc
Iodine
Manganese
Molybdenum
Chloride
Outside of these vitamins and minerals, vegetables like fenugreek have been used to fight the effects of diabetes. You can read more about supplements for diabetes here.
You should look for a multivitamin that includes at least 50 percent of the list that we provided. In this case, the more the merrier! The last thing you want is to have to take several pills when the health benefits can be contained in one or two.
Each of the vitamins and minerals listed above are useful, but some multivitamins have less of one ingredient and more of another, so the best practice when it comes to selecting a supplement is to do a little research on each pill’s composition.
Iron
Iron as a mineral can be useful when you have a reduced amount of it in your diet. Conversely, too much iron can also oxidize too quickly in your system; a condition that can actually cause type 2 diabetes. As it’s best to not have an overabundance of this mineral, a good rule of thumb is to avoid additional iron.
Price
More expensive doesn’t always mean more effective. Some of the best multivitamins are available for a relatively cheap price ; so don’t feel the need to spend a lot of money for a “better” supplement.
Pack Size
This can vary. For the most part, multivitamins come in a 60 count bottle, but it’s not uncommon for pills to come in 30, or even 100 count varieties as well.
Your Specific Needs
This depends on your health. These supplements are designed to give you an energy boost, reduce lethargy, and empower your immune response, so if you feel lacking in any of these areas, then yes it will make you feel better.
Reviews
Conclusion
Of the five reviewed multivitamins, Nature’s Way Completia comes out on top as it provides the most well-rounded amount of vitamins and minerals that help diabetics manage their condition. Simply put, this multivitamin will provide you the best general coverage when it comes to beneficial vitamins. It’s also comprised of natural ingredients and is preservative free.
Leave a comment