Pathway to Healing Natural remedies for optimal health
Key Minerals to Help Regulate Your Blood Sugar

Feeling a little tired and sluggish, perhaps even a little lethargic? Do you find that you have to urinate more often than usual and that you’re almost constantly thirsty? If you have any of these signs, you should see your healthcare provider to have your blood sugar level tested. You may have type 2 diabetes. If you do, you’re not alone. Sixteen million Americans have this disease.

Although the crux of dealing with diabetes still centers around dietary changes and exercise, adding a program of natural supplements can often control diabetes — even in cases of people who are on prescription medicines. But it’s important not to take just any supplement — it should be a balanced supplement with the proper amounts of various vitamins and minerals, herbs and fibers.

Let’s take a look at vitamins and minerals. The key ingredients in this category that have the ability to lower your blood sugar level are the minerals chromium, vanadium, magnesium and zinc. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you need higher levels of these nutrients.

Eighty percent of Americans are deficient in chromium. Chromium increases the effectiveness of insulin. It increases the ability of sugar, or glucose, to get into body cells. Without chromium, insulin will not work properly. Most diets supply only 30 micrograms of chromium. A person who is diabetic, or fighting a blood sugar problem, needs 700 micrograms per day.

Vanadium is a little different in its activity. Studies consistently show that it has an insulin-like effect. In other words, vanadium functions very much like insulin by helping to drive glucose into the cells. It also helps your insulin work better.

Magnesium is another one of those very common substances that’s deficient in our diet. In fact, one study shows that 60 percent of the population does not get sufficient quantities of magnesium. Magnesium increases insulin sensitivity, making receptor sites better able to absorb insulin into the cells and utilizing it throughout your body.

Finally, Zinc is another amazing mineral that is very effective in helping to control blood sugar levels. Most Americans have a 75 percent deficiency of zinc in their diets.

Isn’t it amazing when you look at the percentage of the population that is not getting enough of these key nutrients? Unfortunately, we just don’t get enough of the raw materials — the fruits, the vegetables, the fish and so on — that have these nutrients in them. This is one of the reasons that I think we’re seeing such an epidemic of diabetes. Supplementing your diet with these nutrients, especially if you have type 2 diabetes, is crucial in order to manage your blood sugar levels or prevent a problem from developing.