Let us look at the effects of two nutrients, and see how they may affect the blood sugar level of a diabetic. The two nutrients we will be looking at at vanadyl sulfate and chromium picolinate.

omium and vanadyl seemed worth checking out.

I first, read about these items in weight lifting and bodybuilding magazines. The athletes were using these supplemental items to burn fat,gain energy, and lose weight and gain muscle. As a matter of fact bodybuilders were risking their lives, by injecting insulin into their bodies to gain muscle. Now the insulin seemed totally crazy to me. Chr

Now it seems that athletes have been using these two supplements for quite some time. They believed they worked in gaining energy, burning fat, and gaining lean tissue mass (muscle ). This is the athletic point of view. I wanted to see the medical testing , if there was any.

There is medical testing and data available. It seemed the same way for people with diabetes as it did for athletes.

Let's look at vanadyl sulfate first. The mineral vandium is found naturally in pepper, radishes, eggs, buckwheat, oats, and vegetable oils. Now in tablet form, it must be manufactured in the sulfate form for better absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. It does not really act like insulin, rather it it enhances insulin activity. Studies show, that there are increases of glucose into muscular tissue, rather than into fatty cells. There was an increase of absorption of proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, and glucose into th muscles. It is thought to work by changing the effectiveness of enzymes that breakdown amino acids and glucose.

The results of the eight studies, I went over, were varied. But the results were all positive. They all showed some positive impact on lowering blood sugar levels. Some showed a small drop, others showed a significant drop. The side effects were some gastrointestinal upset in a small percentage of diabetics tested.

In a 1968 study,by Schroeder, it was demonstrated that when animals do not receive adequate levels of chromium, insulin was not optimally effective. Damage to insulin dependent systems can occur. After this study, the FDA recommended a minimum daily requirement of 130mcg. per day per individual.

Chromium can be found naturally in meats, poultry, fish, and whole grain bread products. Again in eight different studies, results varied. And again, they all showed positive data regarding the lowering of blood sugar. It has been shown that, chromium alone, can help borderline diabetic cases. With a 400mcg. dose daily, individuals were able to keep from crossing the line to be afflicted with diabetes. This was without changing the rest of their lifestyle.

Chromium works by increasing the metabolism of fats, protein, and carbohydrates. It helps increase the efficiency of insulin to optimal levels. People taking it, have reported Weight loss, increased energy levels, and better blood sugar readings.

Neither of these supplements are a replacement for insulin, nor are they a cure. But they show positive results in a person with diabetes. Chromium picolinate and vanadyl sulfate are the forms of these nutrients that are best absorbed.