As you may have noticed, there are countless numbers of  blood glucose supplements lining supermarket and drug store shelves.  They will claim to lower blood sugar levels, but many of them will not live up to these claims.  This may be due to a variety of reasons, such as not having the right ingredients, not having high enough dosages of the ingredients to lead to a sustained effect, or just poor quality.

How do you know which is the right blood glucose supplement for you?

The best supplements for healthy blood glucose levels will ideally target many of the underlying defects related to diabetes. Some of the most striking abnormalities related to diabetes and pre diabetes include: Abnormal blood sugar metabolism Insulin resistance Inflammation

What causes these underlying abnormalities?

Eating foods high in sugar or refined carbohydrates for long periods of time can predispose one to develop insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when the body can not utilize insulin effectively. This leads to high blood sugar levels and diabetes. People with diabetes make increased amounts of inflammatory chemicals in the fatty tissue. These inflammatory molecules also contribute to the abnormalities in the action of insulin and worsen diabetes. This is one of the reasons why weight loss and improving the diet are so important in controlling the disease process.

What to look for in a diabetes supplement

There are many supplements that can affect blood sugar metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammation. When choosing a supplement, it is important to look at the supplements that have the most clinical research supporting them. These supplements also need to be manufactured in a facility  that adheres to FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations, which helps ensure the quality and strength of the supplement. Also, you need to take into account the absorption of the ingredients of supplement. For example, curcumin is a well- researched supplement with strong anti-inflammatory qualities, but it has very poor absorption. The form of curcumin used in Glucology is Meriva, which has been found to have very high absorption. Please see our Ingredients for more information on Glucology Blood Sugar Support.

Photo Credit: Flickr User Steven Depolo