How Magnesium Can Help Blood Sugar Levels

big belly of a fat man isolated on whiteMagnesium is a very important mineral directly involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels by regulating the action of insulin, a hormone that lowers your blood sugar. Eating too many sugary foods increases the body’s insulin as it tries to control the levels of sugar entering the blood.

Insulin resistance is a condition where there is a decrease in the sensitivity of the body’s cells to the action of Insulin. This lack of sensitivity results in the ever-increasing production of insulin, to the extent that dangerously high levels of insulin can occur.

Why too much insulin is a problem

In the short term, high insulin can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels. However, chronically elevated insulin levels may increase our hunger hormones and also lock fat into our cells; with high insulin levels our fat becomes trapped inside the cells making it virtually impossible to lose weight; in short keeping us ‘hungry and fat’. Chronically elevated insulin causes our cells to become less sensitive, resulting in ‘insulin resistance’ a health condition which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Magnesium helps control insulin

Research indicates that Magnesium supplementation can help to improve insulin sensitivity because it plays a role in activating insulin-sensing proteins, improving the cells receptor sensitivity to insulin. When the cells have a healthy sensitivity to the hormone insulin, they are less likely to trigger increases in its production.

In addition, clinical evidence clearly shows that Magnesium supplementation can lower fasting insulin levels and that Magnesium deficiency is associated with higher insulin levels and insulin resistance.

Not all Magnesium supplements are the same and choosing the right form of Magnesium with clinically proven bioavailability is important. Your healthcare professional can assess your Magnesium Status to prescribe the correct therapeutic dose of Magnesium.

Check your Magnesium levels online using the Magnesium Minute Survey.

References:

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Huerta  M G et al.  Magnesium deficiency is associated with insulin resistance in obese children.  Diabetes Care.  28(5):1175-1181, 2005.
Kirii K et al.  Magnesium intake and risk of self-reported type 2 diabetes among Japanese.  J Am Coll Nutr.  29(2):99-106, 2010.
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Rodriguez-Moran M et al.  Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.  Diabetes Care.  26(4):1147-1152, 2003.
Song Y et al.  Effects of oral magnesium supplementation on glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind controlled trials.  Diabet Med.  23(10):1050-1056, 2006.