In recent years, researchers have been looking into the role of environmental factors as a risk factor for diabetes. Vitamin deficiency has been getting a lot of attention and publicity lately. Vitamin D deficiency and diabetes seem to have a surprisingly high correlation. We’ll take a look at a couple of the diabetes vitamin deficiency relationships that have been uncovered recently.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Diabetes
Maybe all the hysteria in the media over the “harmful effects” of sunlight exposure has had a negative impact on the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes. Vitamin deficiency studies at John Hopkins University School of Medicine have shown that over 90% of their study participants with type 2 diabetes also had a vitamin D deficiency. Diabetes patients in the study with the lowest levels of vitamin D also seemed to have the highest levels of blood sugar.
Another study in Amsterdam took a look at the diabetes vitamin deficiency relationship in people over the age of 65. They found that over 50% of their participants were deficient in Vitamin D.
Although vitamin D can be introduced into the body with supplements, the best source of Vitamin D is natural sunlight. Perhaps too much avoidance of unblocked sun exposure is contributing to the increasing rate of type 2 diabetes. Vitamin deficiency, at least Vitamin D, can be addressed easily and for free by ensuring at least 10 -15 minutes of unblocked sun exposure 3 times a week. Vitamin D can also be increased by eating more wild-caught salmon, sardines, egg yolks, shrimp, and beef liver. And if you can handle the taste, cod liver oil is an excellent source of vitamin D.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Diabetes
Another study looking at the diabetes vitamin deficiency relationship was conducted by the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. This study looked at 203 outpatients at a primary care clinic for military personnel that were being treated for type 2 diabetes. Vitamin B12 deficiency was confirmed in 22% of that population. Use of metformin, a drug used to lower cholesterol, seemed to play a significant role in this deficiency, and can be corrected with a vitamin supplement.
It isn’t clear that vitamin B12 deficiency is a risk factor for diabetes. Vitamin deficiency may be a result having type 2 diabetes instead. But Vitamin B12 deficiency has been identified as a cause of some of the neuropathies. Diabetic patients often suffer with this painful condition, and being deficient in vitamin B12 probably increases the likelihood of a diabetic patient having a problem with neuropathy.
