Benefits of Vitamin D Pills For Diabetics

Diabetes, a chronic condition caused when the body is unable to regulate insulin levels, has become one of the fastest growing diseases in the world. Its global prevalence has risen significantly in the last decade. According to a survey, it is estimated that around 1.6 million deaths in 2016 were directly linked to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more common, accounting to almost 90 per cent of all the diabetes cases. Characterized by insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes is when the body does not respond to insulin. While the best ways to manage it is by eating a healthy diet, increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight, recent studies have shown that vitamin D supplements may also slow the progression of type 2 diabetes. 

                

According to a latest study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology, vitamin D pills can help in slowing the progression of diabetes 2 in newly diagnosed cases. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a very important role in maintaining health of the bones, joints, teeth and assisting the immune system. It is found in certain food items but can also be produced naturally by the human body when exposed to the sun. Deficiency of this underrated vitamin is known to affect approximately three quarters of teens and adults in the United States. The condition is directly linked to a number of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes. 

Scientists believe that vitamin D helps in improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Since insulin is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the body, taking vitamin D supplements reduces the risk insulin resistance. Some studies have also shown that vitamin D assists in regulating the production of insulin in the pancreas. Ideally, the human body requires 20-56 ng/ml of vitamin D and anything below 20ng/ml is considered as vitamin D deficiency. After scientific researches, it is known that increasing the amount of vitamin D in the body to around 60-80 ng/ml keeps the blood glucose level in control, which in turn is helpful for diabetic people.   

Diabetes is a growing public health concern worldwide and although researches like these are promising, further studies by reputed research institutes like Dasman Diabetes Institute are required to confirm these findings. Researchers need to identify how some diabetic patients are benefiting from this intervention and also assess the safety of taking high doses of vitamin D supplements in the long run. It is only after conducting more of these researches that there will be better treatments available for improvement in metabolic function and delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes.     

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