According to US Department of Health data, diabetes affects 24 million Americans and costs health systems about $174 billion annually.
Good blood sugar control is key to preventing complications and preserving quality of life. Fortunately, there are natural ways to help maintain normal blood sugar: supplements based on chromium picolinate, cinnamon, magnesium, alpha-lipoic acid, fenugreek, gymnema, olive leaves and others, as well as foods such as walnuts, which contain essential fatty acids and benefit blood pressure.
A new study found that selenium, an important antioxidant, may help regulate blood sugar in men. It included 1162 patients aged 59–71. Blood samples and fasting glucose measurements were taken at baseline and after two, four and nine years.
At the end of year nine, mean selenium levels in women and men were 1.08 and 1.10 μmol/L, respectively. No correlation between blood selenium and blood sugar was found in women; in men there was an inverse relationship between blood selenium and fasting glucose. Men with the highest selenium levels (1.19–1.97 μmol/L) had a 52% lower risk of diabetes than men with the lowest levels.
The researchers concluded that this prospective study suggests a protective effect of higher blood selenium on blood sugar control in men.
Akbaraly TN. Plasma selenium and risk of dysglycemia in an elderly French population: Results from the prospective Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing Study. Nutrition & Metabolism, 2010