Dietary Supplements in the Management of Diabetes: Risks and Benefits
A wide range of products claiming to lower blood sugar are marketed to the public. Individuals with diabetes are 1.6 times more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine than those without diabetes according to a recent study published in the April, 2008 supplement to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA). Reasons for using alternative medicine have been reported to include:
• Troublesome side-effects from conventional drug therapy
• A need for more personal control over one’s care plan
• The increasing cost of prescription drugs
• Dissatisfaction with conventional health care providers
• The ability to spend quality time with alternative practitioners, i.e. doctors do not spend enough time educating and talking to their patients so patients choose to go to those who will spend the time.
Several problematic areas may come up with the use of alternative therapies and pharmacists and Registered Dietitians are uniquely poised to address issues such as potential side-effects, drug interactions, lack of product standardization and the need for evidence-based information on the supplements being used.
This study looked at the most popular supplements used for blood sugar control including bitter melon, cinnamon, chromium, aloe vera, fenugreek, gymnema, ginseng, and nopal. The conclusion was that there are ingredients in these supplements that are pharmacologically active and supplements are not required to undergo the same stringent approval process that is required for medications. Patients should be made aware that these products may contain contaminants or inappropriate amounts of active ingredients and dosage standardization may not be available. A full evidence grade for each of the products discussed in this study is available in table format in the original article.
Reference: Geil, P, Shane-McWhorter, L. Dietary Supplements in the Management of Diabetes: Potential Risks and Benefits. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2008;108 (4), S59-S65.
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
