Vitamin D Helped Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

According to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, people with prediabetes may be able to prevent type 2 diabetes by taking more vitamin D. The scientists did a "systematic review and meta-analysis" of previously published research and found that supplementing their diets with vitamin D might reduce the chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes by 15% in adults with prediabetes.


What exactly is Prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a serious health condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than usual but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes affects around 96 million American people, or more than one-third of all adults. More than 80% of persons with prediabetes are unaware of their condition. Prediabetes increases the chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.


Research Study on Vitamin D for Prediabetes:

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that taking a vitamin D supplement may assist persons with prediabetes avoid developing type 2 diabetes. The researchers examined three clinical studies that investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the risk of type 2 diabetes. During a three-year follow-up, 22.7% of people who took vitamin D acquired type 2 diabetes, whereas 25% of those who took a placebo developed the condition.

The researchers then applied those figures to the 374 million prediabetic adults worldwide and discovered that taking the supplement may prevent the onset of diabetes in more than 10 million people. Their conclusion was straightforward: "In adults with prediabetes, vitamin D was effective in decreasing the risk of diabetes."

The evaluation that the researchers did was based on studies that examined the impact of oral vitamin D administration in people with prediabetes in comparison to placebo. They ultimately discovered three appropriate randomized studies with a total of 4,190 participants. The average age of these was 61, and 51% of the individuals were white and 44% were female. Their primary focus was on how long it took for patients to acquire type 2 diabetes, but they also evaluated safety and looked at whether any of the participants were able to regulate their blood sugar in a "normal" manner after treatment.


Type 2 diabetes risk is lowered by vitamin D intake/ (Study follow up)

Over a three-year median follow-up, the researchers discovered that one-quarter of the participants in the placebo groups had new instances of type 2 diabetes, whereas the percentage of new cases in the vitamin D groups was lower (22.7%). After making modifications, the scientists found that vitamin D reduced diabetes risk by 15%. 

Furthermore, they discovered that approximately one-third (30%) of participants in the vitamin D groups regressed to normal glucose regulation. In terms of safety, they found no change in "adverse events," which included kidney stones, unusually high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), and excessively high calcium levels in the urine (hypercalciuria).


Why may vitamin D reduce the possibility of getting prediabetes?

Vitamin D has an effect on glycemic management, which is the goal of keeping your blood sugar levels within a set range.  Vitamin D is also referred to as a "prohormone," a chemical that the body turns into a hormone. Hormones are linked to endocrine function and diabetes, and having enough amounts of the prohormone vitamin D can aid in the regulation of other hormones in the body, facilitating the effective function of normal physiological functions.


How to Reduce Your Chances of Type 2 Diabetes If You Have Prediabetes

Although vitamin D supplements are beneficial, they cannot substitute the higher benefits of exercise and diet adjustment. That is why it is critical to make a variety of lifestyle adjustments to reduce your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. 

These are some examples:

Exercise on a regular basis. 

Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity movement each week, such as brisk walking. 


Control your stress. 

Stress may impact your body in unexpected ways, such as increased heart rate, excessive perspiration, weariness, and stomach problems. When stress levels raise over time, the secretion of certain hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol increases, thereby increasing your risk of health problems such as prediabetes.

When you are stressed, your brain responds by sending hormone signals to your adrenal glands, which then produce a flood of hormones. These hormones help your body prepare for danger, but if they are always present in your system, they might cause insulin resistance.


Weight reduction

Consult your doctor about shedding a few pounds. The CDC advises "modest" weight reduction, which is defined as losing 5% to 7% of your body weight. However, you should discuss this with your doctor.


Well-balanced diet

A healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for those with prediabetes and high cholesterol. Although individual recommendations differ, dietitians generally advocate the Mediterranean and DASH diets.

Whole foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and lean cuts of meat, are particularly advantageous to those with prediabetes and high cholesterol.

The DASH and Mediterranean diets have been shown to be useful in lowering insulin resistance and cholesterol. As a result, they are ideal for persons who are attempting to control both their blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

In addition to eating more whole foods, persons with prediabetes and high cholesterol should strive to restrict their use of alcohol and meals high in saturated fat and sugar.