Vitamin D?

[poodlebone]

Over the past few months I've seen Vitamin D mentioned on various forums, blogs, newsletters, web sites etc. and its relationship with diabetes. I have to say I ignored all of them. Usually whenever there's a flurry of activity about some vitamin, mineral or other supplement it relates to Type 2. Cinnamon, for example. So, I didn't read anything I saw in passing.

I saw my CDE last month and she gave me a lab form to have blood drawn. I noticed that she ticked the box for a Vitamin D test. A couple of weeks later I sent her an e-mail asking for the results (A1c = 5.8, cholesterol and everything else good, thyroid fine on my current dose yada yada yada). She also wrote to start a 1000IU vitamin D supplement, that 400 was not enough. When I remember I take a multivitamin that contains 400IU, but I don't remember to take it every day.

So, I just now remembered what she wrote and I did a very quick search online about it. The first few things I glanced at mentioned Type 2. One page mentioned a study somewhere (Finland?) that showed children with Type 1 had lower levels of Vit D than those who didn't. So, I guess it won't do any harm to start taking it but I wonder if it's my CDE just jumping onto some new study bandwagon.

Oh, and one thing I read (from a Type 2 on insulin) said that Vit D can lower insulin resistance and she was having some unexpected lows. I don't have insulin resistance and so I'm a little worried about that, but again I wonder if it's just something that applies to Type 2s.

[notme]

Hey poodlebone,

I saw my doctor about two months ago and she also started me on 1000 mg of vitamin D. She said that it was the biggest growing vitamin deficiancy in the world right now, because of the growing population that hides from the sun and the use of sunscreen.

I am type one, but she highly recommended it for me. My complaints were "bone pain". I know that is an odd symptom, but my bones hurt almost like growing pains. She added the vitamin D test to my blood panel.

I don't think your doctor is jumping on the bandwagon. I think you and I just jumped on the "low on D" bandwagon.

[foxl]

If you go to PubMed Home (http://www.pubmed.gov) you can find many articles on Vitamin D and diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2! Yes it affects insulin resistance, but it also plays a role in preventing autoimmune diseases like Type 1.

[poodlebone]

I saw my doctor about two months ago and she also started me on 1000 mg of vitamin D. She said that it was the biggest growing vitamin deficiancy in the world right now, because of the growing population that hides from the sun and the use of sunscreen.


I'm really pale and dislike the sun so I do try to avoid it, but it's not easy. When I go for a walk after lunch at work I'm in the sun for much of it because often there is no shade at all where I decide to go. I will cross streets to get to the shady side to walk for just one block even if it means I have to cross right back at the corner.

If you go to PubMed Home (http://www.pubmed.gov) you can find many articles on Vitamin D and diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2! Yes it affects insulin resistance, but it also plays a role in preventing autoimmune diseases like Type 1.

I should have started taking vitamin D 22+ years ago. Maybe I wouldn't be here now! :D

I don't have to take many pills. Levoxyl is the only actual medication I take in pill form and I leave my 7 day pill case + water on the nightstand by my bed. I usually wake up before my alarm so I take the Levoxyl, then go back to sleep. When I get out of bed it's been an hour or more since I took the pill so I can eat breakfast. I've read it's not good to take it with anything else, including supplements and especially not calcium. Once I wake up I don't seem to remember to take any vitamins so I end up taking them 2-3 times a week at most. My iron is also low (I take an iron tablet + vitamin C) so I really should try to take these things every day.

[AngelKitty]

I saw my doctor about two months ago and she also started me on 1000 mg of vitamin D.
I think you and I just jumped on the "low on D" bandwagon.

Hey girls,

When I was first dx my blood panel also showed I was vitamin D deficient (which really surprised me) I took a vitamin D 1000 IU tab every day for a few months and then stopped / kept forgetting.

My July blood work showed low vitamin D again- so I'm back on the tabs again.

Strange how they are starting to find more and more links to / associated with D.

[fgummett]

There is a certain logic to the importance of Vitamin D: I understand that it was one of the main driving forces behind our skin colour variation/adaptation as we moved out of Africa... and now especially in Northern latitudes we spend so little time in the sun and even then cover up...

I'm not aware of any pitfalls of too much Vitamin D so I take a daily 1000 IU and give it to my teenage son as well.

[fgummett]

Just for completeness: Too much vitamin D can be harmful (http://www.cancer.ca/canada-wide/prevention/use%20sunsense/vitamin%20d/too%20much%20vitamin%20d%20can%20be%20harmful.aspx ?sc_lang=en)

[MCS]

I am currently taking 20,000 iu of D3 daily 2 weeks on V D3 and then several days off. Pretty hard to over do the V d3. Wife was also told she had Vit D def. Doc put her on 20,000 IU daily.

My opinion is that there is a precussor to Vit D in the body. When you are exposed to the sun your body doesn't automaticaly make Vit D, one of the precussors is responsible for reducing insulin resistance. Noticed this effect while being in the sun at the beach. Did some reading in this matter, but haven't found anything conclusive. Even though I am taking a massive dose of Vit D3, I do not get the same effect as being exposed to the sun for 4-5 hrs.

[moorejames]

Twice now, I've taken 50,000 IUs of Vit D, twice a week for 8 weeks. My levels are finally up into the normal range.

The only thing I've really noticed is that I now seem to be able to tan. Before the vit d, I would, at best, burn and peel after a day in the sun. This summer I've been out in the sun all day for days on end, and I've never been more tan...and haven't burned once.

Haven't really noticed much of a change in my BS numbers though...

My endos happy, she's been testing all her patients.

[foxl]

Just for completeness: Too much vitamin D can be harmful (http://www.cancer.ca/canada-wide/prevention/use%20sunsense/vitamin%20d/too%20much%20vitamin%20d%20can%20be%20harmful.aspx ?sc_lang=en)

Frank, Hypercalcemia is typically a problem in people with renal issues. Ask your MD if you are not certain ...


But, Frank, especially after your surgery, and living so far north, be sure to ask for testing, too!

[fgummett]

...especially after your surgery, and living so far north, be sure to ask for testing, too!Should have mentioned that Vit D levels is included in my regular tests :) and so is renal function.

[foxl]

Should have mentioned that Vit D levels is included in my regular tests :) and so is renal function.

Glad to hear it!!!

[orange81bird]

I have been on 50,000IU once a week since January. My doc said to take for 3 months and then start 2,000IU everyday with 50,000IU once a month. My appointment in April showed my levels didn't move much. So I went on another 3 months taking 50,000IU once a week. July appointment showed my levels are slowly coming back up but nowhere close to a normal range. Since adding this to my routine, I haven't noticed a bit of difference in numbers but I don't need as much insulin...maybe I'm just an odd one.

[It Ain't Over]

Had a blood panel done a couple of weeks ago. Said all was looking good, except the vit D was showing in the low range with 42. Said the normal is closer to 100. MD said at the equator an average reading would be 200.
MD told me to take at least 10,000 units/day and that it can be hard to get the levels up.
I didn't ask, but is vit D water soluable? It that why D's have lower levels. Most water soluable vitamins get flushed out of our system too quickly.

[fgummett]

Vitamin D is fat soluble... "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" ...is there any chance that some of us have low levels because we have been told that Fat is bad for us :eek:
Natural sources of vitamin D include:

* Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 mL) provides 1,360 IU (one IU equals 25 ng)
* Fatty fish species, such as:
o Herring, 85 g (3 ounces (oz)) provides 1383 IU
o Catfish, 85 g (3 oz) provides 425 IU
o Salmon, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz]) provides 360 IU
o Mackerel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz]), 345 IU
o Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 50 g (1.75 oz), 250 IU
o Tuna, canned in oil, 85 g (3 oz), 200 IU
o Eel, cooked, 100 g (3.5 oz), 200 IU
* A whole egg, provides 20 IU

[foxl]

Well, between that and the PARANOIA about fat-soluble vitamins, (because Vit A IS toxic in large doses) .... could be!!! w00t!

[notme]

I doubt it has much to do with how much fat we eat. I asked my doctor that very question as I eat a LOT of salmon, tuna, swiss cheese and eggs. I get a lot of sun as I live in California and I am a kayaker and a summer outside fan.

When you are deficient in vitamin D, foods are not enough to compensate. Dark skinned people fair worse than light skinned people as the sun's rays do not penetrate the skin as well. I found that interesting. Black skinned people suffer more vitamin D definciency that fair skinned people who get some sun.

[RobinP]

My type 1 son also has Vitiligo, the skin pigment disorder. He developed this the same year as his DB, within a few months of each other. I wonder if his Vit D has ever been checked?