Supplements

[MarieC]

Just been diagnosed as type 1 does anyone take anything to help with complications?

 

[Schrodinger]

Hello welcome to the forum.

Your info on the avatar says "Type 2".

Complications? what complications do you have or envisage?

 

[MarieC]

Just diagnosed as 1 eye problems,kidney,heart,circulation,cholesterol the lot associated with it.

 

[grovesy]

Are you saying you already have all these problems, or are these your fears?

 

[Jodee]

Generally if you get your blood glucose under control will help all the other problems that can result from uncontrolled diabetes, blood glucose levels. https://www.xperthealth.org.uk/

 

[MarieC]

No problems at moment but a little worried long term at what might happen

 

[Eddy Edson]

No problems at moment but a little worried long term at what might happen

This is what the recent American Diabetes Association statement on diabetes+nutrition has to say:

• Without underlying deficiency, the benefits of multivitamins or mineral supplements on glycemia for people with diabetes or prediabetes have not been supported by evidence, and therefore routine use is not recommended.
  
• It is recommended that [therapy] for people taking metformin include an annual assessment of vitamin B12 status with guidance on supplementation options if deficiency is present.
  
• The routine use of chromium or vitamin D micronutrient supplements or any herbal supplements, including cinnamon, curcumin, or aloe vera, for improving glycemia in people with diabetes is not supported by evidence and is therefore not recommended.

https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/42/5/731

That's focused on BG.

The US National Institutes of Health has this: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/diabetes/supplements Focused on T2, but also looks at complications common to T1 & T2.

For a few dietary supplements, there is weak evidence of a possible benefit. For example, chromium might help with blood sugar control, and alpha-lipoic acid might be helpful for diabetic neuropathy (nerve problems). For most supplements, however, there isn’t evidence to support a beneficial effect on diabetes or its complications.

And it goes into detail for a bunch of different supplements.

 

[grovesy]

The main thing seems to be to prevent complications is try to maintain good control of blood sugars.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I agree. There’s no need to take supplements or multivitamins - just concentrate on eating a varied, nutritious diet, and in managing your diabetes to keep your BG in range as much if the time as you can.

 

[Schrodinger]

Like everything with T1 its the long game you play for.

I've been a T1 for more years than I care to remember and so far, apart from some background retinoprathy, which has not changed in 10 years, I'm intact.

 

[Drummer]

It is all about the blood glucose level - isn't it?
If your diet is poor them a multivitamin and mineral might help, but only because it is needed.