Magnesium and Diabetes

[MJM]

I read somewhere that Magnesium tends to be low in diabetics. Has anyone any information on this? Should diabetics take magnesium tabs to help? Any help on this would be gratefully received.

[DCaplinger]

I take magnesium, but not because my numbers were low. I take it because I suffer from some of the worst cramping that I have ever encountered. My doc has me taking extra potassium and magnesium to help reduce the cramps. It has definitely helped. Helped, but not totally eliminated. Thankfully, I haven't had a fit in a few weeks. It's just a matter of time.

Looking at my past labs, my magnesium was right where it was supposed to be the whole time through.

Regards,

[kgm0612]

My neurologist wants me taking 400mg of Magnesium a day to help with the migraines that I get.

Also........here's a link with some info regarding Magnesium & Diabetes.
Diabetes and Magnesium: The Emerging Role of Oral Magnesium Supplementation (http://www.mgwater.com/diabetes.shtml)

Karen

[foxl]

OMG I have NEVER read this before and it is all over the interwebs!

Thanks for posting -- off to research it further!

[foxl]

bumping to get off page 2 ...

AND, I looked around and beans and nuts, and our old friend FLAX SEEDS, as well as my recent crush, PUMPKIN seeds, are good Magnesium sources -- hooray!

Might still consider supplementing too ... interesting info.

[Health Advocate]

Dr. Carolyn Dean, Medical Director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association (NMA) has this to say about magnesium and diabetes which I hope you find helpful:

"1.Magnesium plays a pivotal role in the secretion and function of insulin; without it, diabetes is inevitable. Measurable magnesium deficiency is common in diabetes and in
many of its complications, including heart disease, eye damage, high blood pressure, and obesity. When the treatment of diabetes includes magnesium, these problems are prevented or minimized.

2. The proper diet for the prevention and treatment of diabetes includes frequent small meals of protein (fish—especially wild salmon, to avoid mercury—and free-range chicken and meat) and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, and vegetables), as well as the avoidance of simple sugars and white flour.

3. Stevia, from the leaves of a plant that grows in South America, is the best sweetener to use. You can find it in health food stores. Don’t use the sugar substitute aspartame, which can worsen blood sugar control and cause weight gain, headaches, nerve damage, and eye damage, because it is made partly from wood alcohol, which breaks down to formaldehyde.

4. Fiber from oat bran, flaxseed, and apples has a positive effect on keeping blood sugar balanced.

5. The connection between stress, obesity and diabetes cannot be overlooked. The stress chemical cortisol signals a metabolic shutdown that makes losing weight almost impossible. Magnesium can neutralize the effects of stress and is known as the anti-stress mineral.

6. Obesity, syndrome X, and diabetes are part of a continuum of illness that may progress to heart disease if not headed off by good diet, supplements, exercise, and stress reduction. They are not really separate diseases, as we may think, and underlying all this misery we find magnesium deficiency.

7. There has been a recent addition to our medical vocabulary—it’s diabesity, a recognition that if someone is about thirty pounds overweight for more than a decade, diabetes will likely occur.

8. People with syndrome X are obese, are on the road to diabetes with insulin resistance, and also have hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides.

9. Magnesium helps the body digest, absorb, and utilize proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

10. Magnesium is necessary for insulin to open cell membranes for glucose.

11. Magnesium helps prevent obesity genes from expressing themselves. Not all forms of magnesium are absorbable by the body. One of the most absorbable forms of magnesium that is safe is magnesium citrate in powder form that can be mixed with hot or cold water and can be found in most health food stores or vitamin shops."

The information in this post is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Dean. Dr. Dean encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Here is a 2008 study you may find interesting:

New research sheds light on the ways that magnesium deficiency impacts individuals with diabetes- and those at risk for this condition. A trial involving 122 adults with Type 2 diabetes finds that low magnesium levels are correlated with high total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, suggesting that magnesium may support healthy kidney
function. "Our finding further supports the importance of magnesium supplementation in diabetes mellitus patients," report researchers.

In a retrospective analysis of more than 7,500 adults, individuals with high fasting glucose levels (a marker of increased Type 2 diabetes risk) were more likely to be deficient in magnesium than people with healthy blood
sugar levels. Authors of this analysis conclude that magnesium metabolism may play a role in balancing blood sugar, especially in people with prediabetes.

"Lipids in Association with Serum magnesium in Diabetes Mellitus Patients" by H. Nasri and H.R. Baradaran, Brotisl Lek Listy, 2008. "Relationship Between Hypomagnesemia and Glucose Homeostasis" by M. Montagnana et al., Cin
Lab, 2008.

Cheers,

Health Advocate
NMA

[ghostb]

interesting stuff about magnesium

[DeusXM]

Dr. Carolyn Dean, Medical Director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association (NMA) has this to say about magnesium and diabetes which I hope you find helpful:

May I suggest she is perhaps not an entirely impartial source?

[foxl]

May I suggest she is perhaps not an entirely impartial source?


Probably not ... but there is quite a bit of research on Mg in D.

[Kat L.]

I am going to try some magnesium citrate and see if that helps. Thanks. Dr. Carolyn Dean, Medical Director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association (NMA) has this to say about magnesium and diabetes which I hope you find helpful:

"1.Magnesium plays a pivotal role in the secretion and function of insulin; without it, diabetes is inevitable. Measurable magnesium deficiency is common in diabetes and in
many of its complications, including heart disease, eye damage, high blood pressure, and obesity. When the treatment of diabetes includes magnesium, these problems are prevented or minimized.

2. The proper diet for the prevention and treatment of diabetes includes frequent small meals of protein (fish—especially wild salmon, to avoid mercury—and free-range chicken and meat) and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, and vegetables), as well as the avoidance of simple sugars and white flour.

3. Stevia, from the leaves of a plant that grows in South America, is the best sweetener to use. You can find it in health food stores. Don’t use the sugar substitute aspartame, which can worsen blood sugar control and cause weight gain, headaches, nerve damage, and eye damage, because it is made partly from wood alcohol, which breaks down to formaldehyde.

4. Fiber from oat bran, flaxseed, and apples has a positive effect on keeping blood sugar balanced.

5. The connection between stress, obesity and diabetes cannot be overlooked. The stress chemical cortisol signals a metabolic shutdown that makes losing weight almost impossible. Magnesium can neutralize the effects of stress and is known as the anti-stress mineral.

6. Obesity, syndrome X, and diabetes are part of a continuum of illness that may progress to heart disease if not headed off by good diet, supplements, exercise, and stress reduction. They are not really separate diseases, as we may think, and underlying all this misery we find magnesium deficiency.

7. There has been a recent addition to our medical vocabulary—it’s diabesity, a recognition that if someone is about thirty pounds overweight for more than a decade, diabetes will likely occur.

8. People with syndrome X are obese, are on the road to diabetes with insulin resistance, and also have hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides.

9. Magnesium helps the body digest, absorb, and utilize proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

10. Magnesium is necessary for insulin to open cell membranes for glucose.

11. Magnesium helps prevent obesity genes from expressing themselves. Not all forms of magnesium are absorbable by the body. One of the most absorbable forms of magnesium that is safe is magnesium citrate in powder form that can be mixed with hot or cold water and can be found in most health food stores or vitamin shops."

The information in this post is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Dean. Dr. Dean encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Here is a 2008 study you may find interesting:

New research sheds light on the ways that magnesium deficiency impacts individuals with diabetes- and those at risk for this condition. A trial involving 122 adults with Type 2 diabetes finds that low magnesium levels are correlated with high total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, suggesting that magnesium may support healthy kidney
function. "Our finding further supports the importance of magnesium supplementation in diabetes mellitus patients," report researchers.

In a retrospective analysis of more than 7,500 adults, individuals with high fasting glucose levels (a marker of increased Type 2 diabetes risk) were more likely to be deficient in magnesium than people with healthy blood
sugar levels. Authors of this analysis conclude that magnesium metabolism may play a role in balancing blood sugar, especially in people with prediabetes.

"Lipids in Association with Serum magnesium in Diabetes Mellitus Patients" by H. Nasri and H.R. Baradaran, Brotisl Lek Listy, 2008. "Relationship Between Hypomagnesemia and Glucose Homeostasis" by M. Montagnana et al., Cin
Lab, 2008.

Cheers,

Health Advocate
NMA

[sedita]

I read somewhere that Magnesium tends to be low in diabetics. Has anyone any information on this? Should diabetics take magnesium tabs to help? Any help on this would be gratefully received.


I would also say that this "info", is tough to take at face value. If you are interested in finding out about a mag/DM connection then go to pubmed and read. Dont' read 1 article, read several, and from good journals.

There is tons on garbage out there, and many poorly run studies. Sometimes the populations studied aren't relavent to us.

If you think that mag is low in diabetics, then ask your Dr to test for it. I wouldn't recommend going out and taking doses of the stuff just because a study says its low. Is it low in YOU?


Some of the random suppliment taking scares me. As an example, I used to competively ride horses. For those that aren't familiar with horses, you actually need to have a dentist file down their teeth so the bit will fit and work effectively. Its not painful to them, but required for barn kept horses as they don't wear down their teeth as they would in the wild.

Anyways, the dentist tells us the horses teeth are soft and that we should begin supplimenting with calcium to prevent any issues. Believing the words of our trusted dentist, we begin giving the recommended dose of calcium.

Within a few weeks, I notice that my horse isn't sweating and I mean no sweat. Which is very concerning given the level of exertion for the horse, especially considering this happened in the dead of summer in florida.

So we go to the vet, they check his blood and his Ca levels are through the roof, which is causing him not to sweat. Luckily, no harm was done, but this could have easily resulted in very serious medical issues.

So long story short, talk to a good Dr first, get your levels checked, and then think about it. Don't start downing vitamins/minerals etc, just because you see that diabetics are lacking in "insert favorite suppliment".

[foxl]

sedita, there is tons of (maybe higher-value) garbage in PubMed too. And a fair chunk on Mg.

Calcium and D supplements are starting to include Mg. My generic calcium citrate now includes a small amount.

[sedita]

Not saying that journals on PubMed are the ultimate source, there are plenty of garbage journals on there. As I noted look for good publications AND articles. Just because something is on there doesn't mean its good.

I cringe at things like the website that was linked in the thread. Unfortunately, some people will take that as being the truth and start taking suppliments without any understanding of what they are doing.

I will admit I'm not up to speed on the Mg issue. Looking at the list of claims posted by Health Advocate, some of these claims look reasonable. But, what many fail to consider, is if they are relavent.

Just as an example, take #1, 9, 10, and 11, and the statement that diabetics are deficient in Mg. I could look at these and say, "oh Mg is critical to my diabetes and may help my condition, so i should take Mg".

The questions many people may not be asking are: how were these studies done (in vitro, cellular, in vivo), are these data from humans or animals, are they based on selection of certain populations, what % of diabetics are actually Mg deficient, at what level does Mg actually affect diabetes.

I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong here. And I'm all for discussing the topic.

But what concerns me is that you have someone like Kat L., saying she is going to start taking Mg (on what appears to be the basis of the limited dicussion here)

The point is, some people will make the conclusion that, diabetics are Mg deficient, Mg is important for regulation of BG, I am a diabetic - therefore I am deficient in Mg and taking it will help my diabetes.

Mg is toxic in excessive amounts but if you don't know your level of serum Mg how can you properly suppliment.

Hypermagnesemia is a plasma Mg concentration > 2.1 mEq/L (> 1.05 mmol/L). The major cause is renal failure. Symptoms include hypotension, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest. Diagnosis is by serum Mg levels. Treatment includes IV administration of Ca gluconate and possibly furosemide; hemodialysis can be helpful in severe cases.
Disorders of Magnesium Concentration: Fluid and Electrolyte Metabolism: Merck Manual Professional (http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec12/ch156/ch156i.html#sec12-ch156-ch156i-956)

For a type 1 diabetic it's like trying to take a correction dose if you have no clue what your BG is.

After a very quick glance at a few articles you are right there is lots of reasearch.

Just hope people make an educated decision before randomly taking suppliments.

[It Ain't Over]

I had the Mg and Potasium levels checked at the lab. Both were good, but I still was having leg cramps at night. They got a lot worse. I asked the MD if mg would help? He said to take some, but put me on a schedule to watch for any signs of excess. Said mg is hard for the body to take in, so should not be a problem, just don't over do the dose.
Had relief immediately. Then I ran out and didn't get more. A few months later the leg cramps started in again, mild at first then some bad ones. After a real bad night I remembered to get another bottle of Mg. Worked like a charm.
Md. advised against taking any Potasium, said can quickly build up and cause some real problems.

[sweetlife]

Nice information indeed,I very much remember that the day my daughter diagnosed with T1,she used to complain a lot about cramps in her legs and she used to wake up in the night and calling her mom to apply some pressure on her legs to reduce pain.