Diabetes and Dietary Supplements

woman pricking her finger to test her blood glucose

November is American Diabetes Month – a good time to take a look at what the science says about dietary supplements for type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Many dietary supplements have been investigated for diabetes, but only a few have evidence of a possible benefit, and that evidence is weak. For example, chromium might help with blood sugar control, and alpha-lipoic acid might be helpful for diabetic neuropathy (nerve problems). For most other supplements, there isn’t evidence to support a beneficial effect.

Some dietary supplements may have side effects, and some of these side effects, such as kidney damage, can be serious. It can also be harmful to take dietary supplements in place of proven treatments for diabetes. If you have diabetes and you’re considering a dietary supplement, talk with your health care provider to find out whether it’s safe for you to take it.