There is evidence that all diabetics should get their Vitamin D level checked and ensure adequate levels of vitamin d throughout the year, especially in the winter months. Here is an incredible resource that keeps up to date with all of the Vitamin D studies that relate to Diabetes, both type 1 and type 2.

Vitamin D Council’s Diabetes Page

I would suggest to beg your doctor for a Vitamin D test or to simply order one endorsed by the Vitamin D Council’s website- Vitamin D Home Test Kit.

I have an extensive review of the research surrounding Chromium, but I have not done any research on Magnesium yet. It appears that studies are associating low levels of Magnesium with insulin utilization problems and Type 2 Diabetes. Read the study – Serum zinc, chromium and magnesium levels in Type 2 diabetes, published in 2006.

The complete article I found is here.

Magnesium appears to be an important mineral and I am going to do more research into this mineral for Diabetes.

It has been found that the poly oxovanadium complex exhibits potent antidiabetic activity in diabetes type I and type 2 in mice. (Ref 2)

Studies indicate that the oral vanadyl acetyl acetonate is well tolerated and benefits diabetic osteopathy of rats and improves diabetes related bone disorders particularly by improving the diabetic state. (Ref 3)

Vanadium is a well known anti-diabetic agent which mimics most of the actions of insulin on mature adipocytes.  Studies (Ref 4) show a new dimension in vanadium treatment for diabetes due to its novel role in adipogenensis.

Bis oxovanadium (IV) is a new orally active anti-diabetic organic vanadium complex and it has anti-diabetic and insulin-sensitizing effects in diabetic rats, exhibiting the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes. (Ref 5)  

Bis oxovanadium (IV) is a safe and potent agent for diabetes treatment because it is able to improve carbohydrate metabolism and to reduce oxidative stress. (Ref 6)

Vanadyl sulfate and taurine are two promising agents in the treatment of diabetes related to their antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipemic, and hyperinsulinemic effects.  (Ref 7)

An oxovanadium complex has been tested for bioactivity as an insulin enhancing agent and results showed that the complex at specific doses could lower the blood glucose level in STZ-diabetic rats and improve the response to an oral glucose challenge. (Ref

Oxovanadium is proposed to be an orally active complex for treating type I diabetes and type 2 diabetes in animals. (Ref 9)

A review has been done regarding vanadium’s glucose-enhancing potential, its biodistribution, and biomolecular transformation and its mechanism of action in diabetes treatment. (Ref 10)

The diabetes-associated biochemical and morphological alterations in Golgi complexes were investigated and results showed that sodium metavandate affected diabetic rat liver Golgi complexes. (Ref 11)

Insulin-mimetic vanadyl-poly complex is proposed as a novel drug delivery system for treating type 1 diabetic animals and results showed improvement in diabetes as seen by results on oral glucose tolerance test, HbA(1c) levels, and blood pressure. (Ref 13, 14)

Research data indicate immense hypoglycemic activity and reduced toxicity of oxovanadium complex. (Ref 15)

Treatment with Vanadium, a representative of class of anti-diabetic compounds alleviates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.  Oral administration of vanadium compounds in animal models and humans does not cause clinical symptoms of hypoglycemia, a common problem for diabetic patients with insulin treatment. (Ref 16)

Studies have showed that vanadyl sulfate trihydrate can inhibit c AMP dependent protein kinase. (Ref 17) 

Among several metals, Vanadium has emerged as an extremely potent agent with insulin-like properties.  These insulin-like properties have been demonstrated in isolated cells, tissues, different animal models of type 1 an dtype2 diabetes as well as on a limited number of human subjects.  Insulin signal mimicry is suggested as a mechanism for the insulin-like effects of Vanadium.

1. Effect of vanadate on gene expression of the insulin signaling pathway in skeletal muscle of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2007 Nov; 12(8):1265-73. Epub 2007 Sep 14.
   

2. Amelioration of Hyperglycemia and Metabolic Syndromes in Type 2 Diabetic KKA(y) Mice by Poly (gamma-glutamic acid) oxovanadium (IV) Complex. ChemMedChem. 2007 Nov;2(11):1607-12.
   

3. Effects on the bones of vanadyl acetylacetonate by oral administration: a comparison study in diabetic rats. J Bone Miner Metab. 2007; 25(5):293-301. Epub 2007 Aug 25.
   

4. Adipogenic action of vanadium: a new dimension in treating diabetes. Biometals. 2007 Aug 2; [Epub ahead of print]
   

5. Effects of bis(alpha-furancarboxylato)oxovanadium(IV) on glucose metabolism in fat-fed/streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 2007 Oct 31; 572(2-3):213-9. Epub 2007 Jun 19.
   

6. Bis (quercetinato) oxovanadium IV Reverses Metabolic Changes in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice. Rev Diabet Stud. 2007 Spring;4(1):33-43. Epub 2007 May 10.
   

7. Vanadyl sulfate, taurine, and combined vanadyl sulfate and taurine treatments in diabetic rats: effects on the oxidative and antioxidative systems. Arch Med Res. 2007 Apr; 38(3):276-83. Epub 2007 Jan 22.
   

8. In vivo insulin-mimetic activity of [N, N’-1, 3-propyl-bis (salicyladimine)]oxovanadium(IV). Eur J Med Chem. 2007 Jun; 42(6):817-22. Epub 2007 Jan 12.
   

9. Improvement of hyperglycaemia and metabolic syndromes in type 2 diabetic KKAy mice by oral treatment with [meso-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato] oxovanadium (IV) (4- ) complex. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2007 Mar; 59(3):437-44. 
   

10. Vanadium in diabetes: 100 years from Phase 0 to Phase I. J Inorg Biochem. 2006 Dec; 100(12):1925-35. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
    

11. Sodium metavanadate affected control and streptozotocin-diabetic rat liver golgi complexes. Pol J Pathol. 2006; 57(2):91-7. 
    

12. Follow-up studies on glycosylated flavonoids and their complexes with vanadium: their anti-hyperglycemic potential role in diabetes. Chem Biol Interact. 2006 Nov 7; 163(3):177-91. Epub 2006 Aug 12.
    

13. A novel drug delivery system for type 1 diabetes: insulin-mimetic vanadyl-poly (gamma-glutamic acid) complex. J Inorg Biochem. 2006 Sep; 100(9):1535-46. Epub 2006 May 24.
    

14. Bis (allixinato) oxovanadium (IV) complex is a potent antidiabetic agent: studies on structure-activity relationship for a series of hydroxypyrone-vanadium complexes. J Med Chem. 2006 Jun 1; 49(11):3251-6.
    

15. Reduction of oxidative stress induced vanadium toxicity by complexing with a flavonoid, quercetin: a pragmatic therapeutic approach for diabetes. Biometals. 2006 Dec; 19(6):685-93. Epub 2006 May 16.
    

16. Diabetes-altered gene expression in rat skeletal muscle corrected by oral administration of vanadyl sulfate. Physiol Genomics. 2006 Aug 16; 26(3):192-201. Epub 2006 May 9.
    

17. Inhibition of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase by vanadyl sulfate. J Biol Inorg Chem. 2006 Apr; 11(3):379-88. Epub 2006 Feb 28.
    

18. Insulin signal mimicry as a mechanism for the insulin-like effects of vanadium. Cell Biochem Biophys. 2006; 44(1):73-81.

The research study in reference 2 suggests that chromium supplementation can lower the risk of vascular inflammation in diabetes. Results indicated that metabolic disorders such as type2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity are associated with variations in serum levels and poor delivery of certain mineral elements like magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium and nickel. (Ref 3)

Research study showed that chromium picolinate has marked beneficial effects against macrovascular complications and its potential role in diabetes management. (Ref 4)

Dyslipidemia, often found in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, plays an important role in the process of cardiometabolic syndrome. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done to evaluate the effect of chromium picolinate and biotin on lipid and lipoprotein levels. Data suggests that intervention with chromium picolinate biotin improves cardiometabolic risk factors. (Ref 5, 9)

Chromium yeast supplementation can be considered to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism amongst human patients featuring type 2 diabetes mellitus. (Ref 6)

Another research suggests that chromium niacinate supplementation may be useful in reducing vascular inflammation and the risk of CVD in diabetes. (Ref 7)

Chromium supplementation significantly improved glycemia in diabetic patients as per a systemic review of the effect of chromium supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipid levels. (Ref 8)

Glucose intolerance (type 2 diabetes mellitus) is an important factor that disturbs Chromium metabolism. (Ref 10)

Data supports the safety and therapeutic value of Chromium picolinate for the management of cholesterolemia and hyperglycemia in subjects with diabetes. (Ref 12)

According to a pilot study in diabetes type 2 patients chromium/biotin supplementation may represent an effective adjunctive nutritional therapy to people with poorly controlled diabetes with the potential for improving lipid metabolism. (Ref 13)

Results of study in reference 14 indicated that the effect of decreasing blood sugar by chromium complexes of D-glucosaminic acid was comparable to that of chromium complex currently used worldwide. (Ref 14)

Chromium picolinate supplementation in subjects with type2 diabetes who are taking sulfonylurea agents significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control, and chromium picolinate supplementation significantly attenuated body weight and visceral fat accumulation compared with placebo group. (Ref 15)

Intake of milk powder containing 40 mcg/d of chromium for 16 weeks in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus resulted in lowering of FPG, fasting insulin, and improvement of metabolic insulin control in male patients. (Ref 16)

Chromium included early in the complex therapy is beneficial in the reduction of the degree of insulin resistance. (Ref 17)

Data from research study suggest that supplementation of well-controlled type 2 diabetes with chromium enriched yeast is safe and can result in improvements in blood glucose variables and oxidative stress. (Ref 18)

1. Chromium in metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Horm Metab Res. 2007 Oct; 39(10):743-51.

1. Effect of chromium niacinate and chromium picolinate supplementation on lipid peroxidation, TNF-alpha, IL-6, CRP, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in blood of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Free Radic Biol Med. 2007 Oct 15; 43(8):1124-31. Epub 2007 May 18.

1. Plasma mineral content in type-2 diabetic patients and their association with the metabolic syndrome. Ann Nutr Metab. 2007; 51(5):402-6. Epub 2007 Sep 11.

1. Effect of chromium on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the fat-fed, streptozotocin-treated rat. Metabolism. 2007 Sep; 56(9):1233-40.

1. Combination of chromium and biotin improves coronary risk factors in hypercholesterolemic type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trial. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2007 Spring; 2(2):91-7.

1. Chromium yeast supplementation improves fasting plasma glucose and LDL-cholesterol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2006 Nov; 76(6):391-7.

1. High glucose and ketosis (acetoacetate) increases, and chromium niacinate decreases, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion and oxidative stress in U937 monocytes. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2007 Oct;9(10):1581-90.

1. Effect of chromium supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipids: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Care. 2007 Aug; 30(8):2154-63. Epub 2007 May 22.

1. Chromium picolinate and biotin combination improves glucose metabolism in treated, uncontrolled overweight to obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2007 May 16; 24(1):41-51 [Epub ahead of print]

1. Longitudinal hair chromium profiles of elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2007 Jan; 56(1):94-104.

1. Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes: response to Martin et al. Diabetes Care. 2006 Dec; 29(12):2764; author reply 2764-5.

1. Clinical studies on chromium picolinate supplementation in diabetes mellitus–a review. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 Dec;8(6):677-87.

1. The effect of chromium picolinate and biotin supplementation on glycemic control in poorly controlled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized trial. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2006 Dec;8(6):636-43.

1. Chromium (III) complexes of D-glucosaminic acid and their effect on decreasing blood sugar in vivo. Arch Pharm (Weinheim). 2006 Sep; 339(9):527-30.

1. Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006 Aug; 29(8):1826-32.

1. The influence of chromium chloride-containing milk to glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Metabolism. 2006 Jul; 55(7):923-7.

1. Effect of chromium on the insulin resistance in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Folia Med (Plovdiv). 2005; 47(3-4):59-62.

1. Influence of chromium-enriched yeast on blood glucose and insulin variables, blood lipids, and markers of oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2006 Mar; 109(3):215-30.

The study followed over 4,000 individuals for 17 years and people with low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were much more likely to develop the disease. Maintaining adequete Vitamin D levels reduces the chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes by about %40 which is significant.

Vitamin D is perhaps the most beneficial supplement available. So many studies have shown how it can reduce diseases, it really is a miracle supplement. I invite you to read all about Vitamin D over at the Vitamin D Council website which was established to disseminate health information about this potent vitamin.

Medical News Today is reporting a 50% decrease in heart attacks for people that have the HP 2-2 gene who supplement with Vitamin E. The actual research in the journal is here- Vitamin E Supplementation Reduces Cardiovascular Events in a Subgroup of Middle-Aged Individuals With Both Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype. A Prospective Double-Blinded Clinical Trial.

About %40 of Type 2 Diabetics have the HP 2-2 gene and there is about a %50 reduction in heart attacks with that marker and with 400 IUs of Vitamin E a day. I would like to know specifically what kind of Vitamin E they used for the study, as there are several forms available on the market today. The Vitamin E family has several members- the Life Extension Foundation has a great article on Vitamin E in their report- Whats Wrong with Vitamin E. Remember that most supplements contain a narrow portion of the Vitamin E family which is not always accounted for in some studies.

The final outcome of the study was that there was a definite decreased risk of getting Type 1 Diabetes with proper Omega 3 supplementation. This was a dietary study and so other factors were controlled for including Vitamin D. Originally I suspected Vitamin D caused the decreased risk due to this study about Vitamin D. But Vitamin D was controlled for in this mot resent study which simply analyzed dietary intake.