Natural Supplements for Diabetes

Omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s, for short) are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential to human health. Omega-3s have been of interest for diabetes disease primarily because having diabetes disease increases the risk of a person getting heart disease and stroke. Omega-3 oils tend to keep the blood from clotting. Omega-6 oils tend to help the blood clot. We need both to live healthy lives – to help our cuts stop bleeding: Omega-6; to avoid serious clots that cause heart attacks: Omega-3.Salmon - good source of omega - 3 Some food sources containing polyunsaturated fatty acids include fish, fish oil, some vegetable oils (primarily canola and soybean), walnuts, wheat germ and certain dietary supplements. As supplements, omega-3s are marketed as capsules or oils, often as fish oil.

Magnesium is a mineral. Foods high in magnesium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some whole grains. Various supplemental forms of magnesium are marketed as tablets, capsules, or liquids.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an herb used to flavor food. Garlic can also be processed and made into dietary supplements. In some cultures, garlic is used for medicinal purposes. The chemical in garlic of most interest for health purposes is allicin, which gives garlic its strong taste and odor. One of the claims for garlic is that the rates of certain diseases are lower in countries where lots of garlic is consumed. However, it has not been proven that garlic (and not some other factor such as lifestyle) is the reason.

Coenzyme Q10, often referred to as CoQ10 (sometimes written as CoQ10; other names include ubiquinone and ubiquinol) is a vitamin-like substance. CoQ10 helps cells make energy and acts as an antioxidant. Meats and seafood contain small amounts of CoQ10. Supplements are marketed as tablets and capsules.

Chromium is a metal and an essential trace mineral. Chromium is found in some foods, such as meats, animal fats, fish, brown sugar, coffee, tea, some spices, whole-wheat and rye breads, and brewer's yeast. It is marketed in supplement form (capsules and tablets) as chromium picolinate, chromium chloride, and chromium nicotinate.

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is a chemical that is similar to a vitamin. It is an antioxidant--a substance that prevents cell damage caused by substances called free radicals in a process called oxidative stress.