The Good Changes in diet, supplements, and exercise can have a dramatic effect on blood sugar and insulin metabolism. *

The Not-So-Good While moderate blood sugar is fairly easy to correct through diet, supplements, and exercise, severe or progressed cases, including full-blown diabetes, are less so. But at a minium, one can achieve  less dependency on insulin or drugs.

Issues Generally, slow-burning foods, judicious use of nutrients like chromium and biotin (research), and regular, moderate exercise will tend to improve blood sugar readings. For mildly-elevated blood sugar (and as the research shows, even a fair percentage of progressed diabetes cases), such a regime can be enough.  Body weight needs to be controlled (see Weight Loss). It is worth noting that low blood sugar is an anti-aging factor (and inversely, high blood sugar seems to accelerate aging).

Useful Nutrients Many supplements and herbs seem to affect blood sugar, but the top few are
chromium w/ biotin, r-lipoic acid, and cinnamon extract. 
Item Notes Research Item Link
diet and exercise The importance of slow-burning foods and regular exercise cannot be understated. Research demonstrates strong benefits  in people diagnosed with Type II diabetes after only three weeks! - diet and exercise
- high-blood sugar overview
chromium Best combined with synergistic elements like cinnamon and especially biotin. - chromium + biotin study GTF chromium + herb complex
Now GTF chromium
biotin Combine with chromium per the research.  (see chromium) biotin
r-lipoic acid The most active component of "alpha lipoic acid", in most research. Get stabilized r-lipoic instead of the more dubious alpha-lipoic. Can compete with biotin, so supplement with biotin if taking more than 50 mg per day. - lipoic acid vs. aging and diabetes stabilized r-lipoic acid
cinnamon extract Cinnamon is an insulin mimic, and has shown positive results in research.The Life Extension formula at the right includes coffee berry, chromium, and other synergists. - cinnamon and coffee berry Enhanced Cinnulin PF
coffee berry  (see cinnamon above)       
magnesium Magnesium is involved in carbohydrate and insulin metabolism. Deficiency can be a factor in diabetics, and likely people with pre-diabetic conditions. - magnesium survey
- diabetic study 		magnesium capsules
lemon 'Calm' Mg powder
rasp/lemon Calm packets
maitake SX-fraction Good results lowering blood sugar in limited studies.   maitake SX-fraction
milk thistle (silymarin) Limited research showed a 15% reduction in blood glucose. Also improves cholesterol profile  Reseach suggests that silymarin is poorly absorbed, so use an absorption-enhanced version like Siliphos.
- Iranian study 		siliphos
LE Mega-Silymarin
benfotiamine Not a direct blood-sugar modulator, but this form of thiamine improves cellular use of glucose, and reserch suggests it can moderate the damage of diabetes. - benfotiamine vs. diabetes damage
- Pubmed: diabetic neuropathy & benfotiamine
survey 		benfotiamine
* Please note that this information is for educational purposes only and does not represent any form of medical advice. Statements made here have not been evaluated by the FDA. Product discussion here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Users are encouraged to work with a nutritionally-oriented doctor before embracing a nutritional or herbal regime
Blood Sugar/Diabetes

Testing Regular blood tests are a good idea, and critical if you are anywhere beyond moderately elevated. Most drug stores carry blood sugar testers, and some of the popular cholesterol test kits can also do blood glucose testing with the proper test strinps.
Nutrient Table The table below summarizes the current research for nutritional and lifestyle
effects on blood sugar. As always, this table should be taken only as a general guideline. Anyone embarking on a nutritional/exercise regimen should work with a sympathetic doctor, particular if medications are also being taken.
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