Glucosamine Safe for Diabetics

[Guest guest]

Glucosamine Safe for Diabetics

http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/759/

http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/therapeu/faq_pdf/glucosamine.pdf

 

Taking glucosamine does not adversely affect blood sugar control in

diabetics, according to a report in Archives of Internal Medicine

(2003;163:1587–90). This study confirms the results of a previous

report and should allay the concern voiced by some scientists that

glucosamine has the potential to increase blood sugar levels.

 

Glucosamine, a compound that occurs naturally in the body, is

available as a nutritional supplement and usually taken in the form

of glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine serves as a building block in

the production of a type of cartilage present in joints. Studies

have shown that glucosamine can promote the repair of damaged or

degenerating joint cartilage. Numerous double-blind studies of

people with osteoarthritis have demonstrated that glucosamine is

significantly more effective than a placebo and at least as

effective as commonly used anti-inflammatory medicines at relieving

pain and improving joint function. Moreover, glucosamine is one of

only a few substances that have been shown to slow the progression

of osteoarthritis. In contrast, anti-inflammatory drugs may actually

accelerate the disease process, even though they may temporarily

improve symptoms.

 

While glucosamine is generally considered to be safe and has not

been associated with any serious side effects, preliminary studies

in animals suggest that it could cause insulin resistance and other

abnormalities of blood sugar metabolism. The relevance of these

studies to humans has been questioned, however, since glucosamine

was administered in the animal studies in relatively large amounts

by continuous intravenous infusion.

 

In the new study, a group of elderly people with type 2 (adult

onset) diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo

or the combination of glucosamine hydrochloride (1,500 mg per day)

and chondroitin sulfate (1,200 mg per day) for 90 days. Chondroitin

sulfate is another natural substance that is sometimes used in

combination with glucosamine to treat osteoarthritis. Chondroitin

sulfate has not been found to affect blood sugar levels. A

laboratory test that assesses long-term blood-glucose control

(hemoglobin A1c) was performed at the beginning and the end of the

study. Compared with the placebo, glucosamine-chondroitin treatment

had no significant effect on hemoglobin A1c levels. None of the

participants required a change in their diabetes medication during

the study.

 

The absence of any effect on blood sugar control is consistent with

the results of a previous study of nondiabetics. In that study,

supplementing with 1,500 mg of glucosamine sulfate per day for three

years was associated with a slight decrease in blood sugar levels.

Taken together, these studies strongly suggest that people with

diabetes can safely take glucosamine, and that supplementing with

this natural osteoarthritis remedy does not increase the risk of

developing diabetes.

 

Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to

the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr.

Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National

Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the

author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and

co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima,

1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes,

Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes,

2000), and The Patient's Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A

former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in

Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition,

Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.

[Guest guest]

I took glucosamine sulfate for years, and I think (this is just a

personal opinion from what my body felt like) that it did have an

effect on my blood sugar somehow, I switched to N-Aceytl Glucosamin,

and it feels a lot better in regards to my blood sugar. (can't give

you any scientific reference, but I do listen to my body a lot, and I

can tell what different foods and supplements do, what makes me feel

good, what doesn't).

Nagla

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo wrote:

>

> Glucosamine Safe for Diabetics

> http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/759/

> http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/therapeu/faq_pdf/glucosamine.pdf

>

> Taking glucosamine does not adversely affect blood sugar control in

> diabetics, according to a report in Archives of Internal Medicine

> (2003;163:1587–90). This study confirms the results of a previous

> report and should allay the concern voiced by some scientists that

> glucosamine has the potential to increase blood sugar levels.