People who lack vitamin D are more likely to develop diabetes. Research shows that 60 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have vitamin D deficiency. Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia and chronic pain have all been linked to low vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, but also for preventing and easing diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Vitamin D is made by the body when exposed to sunshine. It is also available in some foods like fortified dairy products, fortified cereals, salmon, cheese and butter. Very little Vitamin D can be synthesized from the sun at latitudes above 37 degrees in winter. This means most Americans who live in states north of Texas are making little to no vitamin D from November to February.
Life-style factors that contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes include poor diet, obesity and physical inactivity. All of these factors can also cause vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is important for normal glucose metabolism. There is a connection between vitamin D deficiency and the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin D directly acts on insulin making cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin. Vitamin D acts on the muscle and fat cells to reduce insulin resistance. Vitamin D reduces inflammation which is commonly found with Type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D indirectly improves insulin making from the pancreas by improving the level of calcium inside the cells.
In a study from Finland, researchers collected health data in men and women from the ages of 40 to 74. None of these people had Type 2 diabetes at the start of the study. Researchers followed these people for 22 years to see which people in the study developed Type 2 diabetes. The results determined that people with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
In another study from the U.S., researchers found that vitamin D and calcium supplementation were able to reduce progress from pre-diabetes to diabetes. The shielding effect of vitamin D was similar in extent to other methods which have been shown to reduce the development from pre-diabetes to diabetes, such as a weight loss, exercise and use of the drug, Metformin.
Vitamin D levels can be tested with a simple blood test. Vitamin D3 supplements are readily available, but checking your vitamin D level with a blood test is highly recommended. If you are critically low in vitamin D, your doctor can prescribe the correct dose to bring your vitamin D level back to the normal range. I suggest to all my diabetes education patients to ask their primary care provider to check their vitamin D levels at their next A1C blood draw. I have met many patients with low levels of vitamin D and several who were critically low. Vitamin D levels should be part of regular screening for all patients, especially those who live at higher latitudes.
Christine Mealey RN, MSN, CDE
Vitamin D is made by the body when exposed to sunshine. It is also available in some foods like fortified dairy products, fortified cereals, salmon, cheese and butter. Very little Vitamin D can be synthesized from the sun at latitudes above 37 degrees in winter. This means most Americans who live in states north of Texas are making little to no vitamin D from November to February.
Life-style factors that contribute to developing Type 2 diabetes include poor diet, obesity and physical inactivity. All of these factors can also cause vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is important for normal glucose metabolism. There is a connection between vitamin D deficiency and the development of Type 2 diabetes.
Vitamin D directly acts on insulin making cells in the pancreas to produce more insulin. Vitamin D acts on the muscle and fat cells to reduce insulin resistance. Vitamin D reduces inflammation which is commonly found with Type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D indirectly improves insulin making from the pancreas by improving the level of calcium inside the cells.
In a study from Finland, researchers collected health data in men and women from the ages of 40 to 74. None of these people had Type 2 diabetes at the start of the study. Researchers followed these people for 22 years to see which people in the study developed Type 2 diabetes. The results determined that people with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.
In another study from the U.S., researchers found that vitamin D and calcium supplementation were able to reduce progress from pre-diabetes to diabetes. The shielding effect of vitamin D was similar in extent to other methods which have been shown to reduce the development from pre-diabetes to diabetes, such as a weight loss, exercise and use of the drug, Metformin.
Vitamin D levels can be tested with a simple blood test. Vitamin D3 supplements are readily available, but checking your vitamin D level with a blood test is highly recommended. If you are critically low in vitamin D, your doctor can prescribe the correct dose to bring your vitamin D level back to the normal range. I suggest to all my diabetes education patients to ask their primary care provider to check their vitamin D levels at their next A1C blood draw. I have met many patients with low levels of vitamin D and several who were critically low. Vitamin D levels should be part of regular screening for all patients, especially those who live at higher latitudes.
Christine Mealey RN, MSN, CDE
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