[CutePuppy]

Additional information on the subject is from Medical News Today article

Benefit Of Vitamin D In Diabetes And Other Chronic Diseases

13 Jan 2009   

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "it" nutrient with health benefits for diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease and now diabetes.

A recent review article published by researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed. These findings appeared in the latest issue of Diabetes Educator.

"Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular," said Sue Penckofer, Ph.D., R.N., study co-author and professor, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. "This article further substantiates the role of this nutrient in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes."

Many of the 23 million Americans with diabetes have low vitamin D levels. Evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion. Vitamin D deficiency results in part from poor nutrition, which is one of the most challenging issues for people with diabetes. Another culprit is reduced exposure to sunlight, which is common during cold weather months when days are shorter and more time is spent indoors.

One study examined for this review article evaluated 3,000 people with type 1 diabetes and found a decreased risk in disease for people who took vitamin D supplements. Observational studies of people with type 2 diabetes also revealed that supplementation may be important in the prevention of this disease.

"Management of vitamin D deficiency may be a simple and cost-effective method to improve blood sugar control and prevent the serious complications associated with diabetes," said Joanne Kouba, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.N., study co-author and clinical assistant professor of dietetics, Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.

Diet alone may not be sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. A combination of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, exposure to sunlight, and treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements can decrease the risk of diabetes and related health concerns. The preferred range in the body is 30 - 60 ng/mL of 25(OH) vitamin D.

"People at risk for diabetes should be screened for low vitamin D levels," said Mary Ann Emanuele, M.D., F.A.C.P., study co-author and professor of medicine, division of endocrinology and metabolism, Loyola University Health System. "This will allow health care professionals to identify a nutrient deficiency early on and intervene to improve the long term health of these individuals."

Vitamin D deficiency also may be associated with hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and heart disease. In fact, Penckofer recently published another study in Circulation that reported on the role of chronic vitamin D deficiency in heart disease. The Circulation study authors included Glen W. Sizemore, MD, emeritus professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and Diane E. Wallis, MD, Midwest Heart Specialists, Downers Grove, Ill.

[I_Like_Spam]

Could be coincidental.

Diabetes type 2 is related to a sedentary lifestyle.

Vitamin D is largely obtained by getting up and going outside in the sunlight.

[Former Fetus]

No wonder! My husband is diabetic and cannot drink milk, because the lactose is converted to glucose. So I am not surprised that most diabetics are deficient in vitamin D.

[Exit148]

What do increased levels of D do for diabetics, I wonder. Alleviate the severity — or no changes once diabetes has set in?

[Daisyjane69]

Thanks!

I forwarded it to someone who has a 79 year old parent with diabetes, heart disease, etc. They were out of town when this was published, so I’m sure they missed it.

Thanks again. :)

[chris_bdba]

They have done studies with children just diagnoised with type 1 and found that by giving them massive doses of Vitiman D can reverse it in it’s early stages and those children who are borderline they can keep it from happening by giving them large doses of Vitimin D. Lifestyle has nothing to do with it some people who are very light skinned can not get enough vitimin D from the sun because they can’t process it properly. I take a prescription vitmin D that is 50,000iu once a week I am a 40 year type 1.

[Cicero]

I’ve been taking vitamin D3 supplements for several years now. I was taking some earlier, but now taking more.

It seems as if every day a new story comes out about the importance of getting enough vitamin D—especially in cloudy weather or in the winter or if you don’t get enough sun for one reason or another.

I was a couple of years ahead of my doctor, who has been prescribing massive doses for some of my grownup children, to bring them up to snuff. I told all the kids to start taking this stuff, but I guess not all of them were listening. My wife, too.

If you are older, and taking calcium to prevent deterioration of your bones, you need it to help process the calcium, too. It appears to be very basic, and deficient in an awful lot of people.

[sissyjane]

I have osteoporosis, Vit D deficiency, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and have had skin cancer. I don’t think time in the sun is going to help this Irish American. My skin is very pale, my bones are bad...and I’m dong the best I can.

[swatbuznik]

Okay, that does it. Less time on FR, more time outside... :)

[blam]

I take 4,000 IU of vitamin-D a day in the winter time and 2,000 IU a day in the summer time.

[upchuck]

Vit D is readily available as a supplement. Cheap, too.

I take 5000 IU of D3-5 each day.

Better safe than sorry.

[diamond6]

Vitamin D ping!

[Glenn]

I am on my second round of 50,000 units of Vitamin D, 3 times a week.

The last round was five months ago and I was on 2,000 units a day of supplemental Vitamin D after that. I travel an hour to and from work during daylight hours every week.

And I'm diabetic. Usually 6 shots a day.

The one thing I notice is that my fingernails get very brittle when I am D depleted.

Better living through modern chemistry.

[Maelstorm]

I take extra Vitamin D and it definently makes a difference especially in my mood and I notice I maintain my weight easier. You can’t really overdose on it unlike Vitamin A which is fat soluable and can build up to toxic levels and cause higher blood pressure irritability and headaches. I’ve experienced it myself by accident when taking extra doses of Vit A.

I’ve tried a lot of things but Vit D is the one vitamin I would reccomend. Also if you are stressed, depressed, etc try it you can take double or triple the recommended dose safely. I take 4000ius of D3 twice a day.

Next two things I take are Alpha lipoic Acid 1000mg 3 times a day and Acetyl L-Carinitine 1000mg 3 times a day. I’ve not had a cold for more than a year and I heal faster and feel overall just better.

I also take a Calcium Magnesium Zinc combination sometimes but Im careful because while zinc can help your immune system too much will suppress it. None of this is magic or a cure all but the D, ALA, and ALCAR will make you feel much better if you take it regularly.
They are also inexpensive and safe.

I’d avoid multivitamins personally especially if you are taking them as a catch all. Take

[kalee]

ping

[kalee]

ping

[wildbill]

I often wonder if these studies are funded by vitamin supplement companies.

Because I am 70 yo. and pre-diabetic I read the article and then went to google for info on Vitamin D.

First, best, and cheapest source of Vitamin D appears to be lying out in the sun naked for a couple of hours per week. It probably means that older people have to stay in the sun longer however since one study shows that absorbtion rates dwindle with age. Of course I may die from skin cancers.

Very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. The flesh of fish (such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel) and fish liver oils are among the best sources [4]. Small amounts of vitamin D are found in beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks

I like and drink a lot of milk and almost all our milk is fortified with Vitamin D. —but I have to change from my average of a gallon per week to a gallon per day.

Or I can eat 3 oz. of fresh sockeye salmon every day which is unlikely on my budget.

Or I can take a tbs of cod liver oil daily.

Or I can reflect on a relatively long and fun life and say to hell with it, everything is a trade off, and I’m not going to ruin my remaining years by living in fear and trying to forestall the inevitable.

[bmwcyle]

ping

[mad_as_he$$]

ping