Question for a Doctor or someone versed in vitamins

[Rita]

Hey, my father got me this supplement called cinsulin.  Since diabetes runs in the family and while I have not been diagnosed my sugar levels have been higher than normal he thinks I should take it.

It has, Vitamin D3, Chromium ( from Chronum Picolinate), and Cinnamon Bark Extract. 

Other ingredients not in supplement fact:  Gelatin, cellulose usp/nf, magnesum stearate NF/FCC, silicon dioxide  FCC, titanium dixoide USP, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1.

Anyone know about any reactions with estrogen or testosterone with any of these ingredients?  Obviously this is not a doctors forum, but someone might be a bit knowledgeable.

[LivingInGrey]

my sugar levels have been higher than normal

Has this been tested or is this just something he thinks?

I wouldn't put much stock in supplements. Nothing beats a good diet with a healthy lifestyle especially for people with diabetes in the family.

Can't help you with anything else I'm afraid.

[A]

Call any pharmacy, and the pharmacist will be able to help you.

[Asfsd4214]

Hey, my father got me this supplement called cinsulin.  Since diabetes runs in the family and while I have not been diagnosed my sugar levels have been higher than normal he thinks I should take it.

It has, Vitamin D3, Chromium ( from Chronum Picolinate), and Cinnamon Bark Extract. 

Other ingredients not in supplement fact:  Gelatin, cellulose usp/nf, magnesum stearate NF/FCC, silicon dioxide  FCC, titanium dixoide USP, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1.

Anyone know about any reactions with estrogen or testosterone with any of these ingredients?  Obviously this is not a doctors forum, but someone might be a bit knowledgeable.

Ok well, from a scientific perspective...

None of those are scientifically indicated to do anything that would interfere with your HRT medications.

As for taking them at all, try not to be brainwashed by the vitamin lobby. Chromium is not known for any biological role at all. Cinnamon has some minor positive indications but you wouldn't have to take an expensive supplicant and it's so negligible as to be likely pointless.

And finally, Vit D3, does have biological roles and if you want to take it by all means do it, but it's much cheaper to just get D3 by itself. And I can't find any indication that it has any significant impact in diabetics.

Your best bet to prevent diabetes is all the stuff you already know, be healthy, eat well, stay at a healthy weight, etc.

[Jamie D]

Agreed ^

[niamh]

Get yourself tested and know that a plant-strong diet will protect you against T2 diabetes.

[Rita]

I need to seriously fix my diet, its just hard time wise.

I contacted the manufacturer and he said chromium might have an effect with estrogen.  To all extents, I dont feel comfy taking anything, so I have decided to not use it.

[Julie Wilson]

Hey, my father got me this supplement called cinsulin.  Since diabetes runs in the family and while I have not been diagnosed my sugar levels have been higher than normal he thinks I should take it.

It has, Vitamin D3, Chromium ( from Chronum Picolinate), and Cinnamon Bark Extract. 

Other ingredients not in supplement fact:  Gelatin, cellulose usp/nf, magnesum stearate NF/FCC, silicon dioxide  FCC, titanium dixoide USP, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1.

Anyone know about any reactions with estrogen or testosterone with any of these ingredients?  Obviously this is not a doctors forum, but someone might be a bit knowledgeable.

Sounds about as dangerous as a piece of cinnamon toast eaten in direct sunlight and like it would have the same effect on your hormones whether they are hormones you took or hormones produced by your body.

[Asfsd4214]

Sounds about as dangerous as a piece of cinnamon toast eaten in direct sunlight and like it would have the same effect on your hormones whether they are hormones you took or hormones produced by your body.

Pretty much. Chromium on the other hand is not indicated as having any biological role whatsoever.

[Cindy]

There is, I believe, no credible scientific evidence that Vitamin supplements have any beneficial effects over a balanced diet in healthy people.

Many Australians, about 70% of pregnant woman are Vit D deficient, it is hypothesised from low exposure to sunlight. The anti-melanoma campaign has been successful to that extent. Not a big problem unless pregnant. The clinical advice is to sit in the sun, not full blast burn the skin of,  for 15 min a day rather than take supplements, unless directed by your Dr.

I would always be cautious in mixing herbal medications with prescribed drugs. There are many interactions that can be quite severe and very difficult to get to the bottom of. I have colleagues who have taken months to find the root cause of something because a patient didn't think taking  X was worth reporting, and even then an expert was needed to define the problem.

I don't wish to be anti-health food herbs, but be cautious rather than brave.

A healthy diet and lifestyle saves money and gives good help.

[A]

Hmm, but 15 minutes in the sun (especially the Australian sun, ouch!) is more than enough to get a nice burn and damage the skin in the long term, no? Well, at least, for me, it is. Of course, there's sunscreen, but spreading that thing for 15 minutes, letting it stand for 30 minutes before exposure, all for just a short while in the sun, and to end up with clogged pores and stuff... I'd rather eat foods that contain vitamin D... There's also luminotherapy that would probably work.

[Jeneva]

There is research that sunscreen block D production somewhat.

My endo prescribed a weekly 50,000 unit D supplement and then 2000 daily from then on b

[luna nyan]

To me, taking a supplement to attempt to prevent type 2 (late onset/non insulin) diabetes is like closing the gate after the horse has bolted.

The cheaper, and better way to prevent it, and to also minimise your chances of HRT complication is to do as Asdf suggested:

• Keep a healthy weight - you are more likely to develop T2 if you're outside of the healthy weight ranges for your height
• Moderate levels of activity (light regular exercise)
• Healthy balanced diet, avoiding high sucrose content foodstuffs

As these are quite well known, there is plenty of free advice out there to help you.  Diet wise - there are plenty of quick healthy recipes out there on the net - you just need to spend a bit of time looking for things that you think you will be able to enjoy.  If you're short on time, consider buying a slow cooker - they are fantastic for time poor people.  MRH, please consider fixing your diet now, or else in a few years, you won't have a choice, and your doctor or nutritionist will have to fix it for you.

Diabetes is a nasty ailiment to have.  The long term possible complications (eye, dental, kidneys, neural) are all unpleasant, and managing the disease once you have it is no bed of roses either.

[Cindy]

Hmm, but 15 minutes in the sun (especially the Australian sun, ouch!) is more than enough to get a nice burn and damage the skin in the long term, no? Well, at least, for me, it is. Of course, there's sunscreen, but spreading that thing for 15 minutes, letting it stand for 30 minutes before exposure, all for just a short while in the sun, and to end up with clogged pores and stuff... I'd rather eat foods that contain vitamin D... There's also luminotherapy that would probably work.

?not full blast burn the skin of,  for 15 min a day ?

I totally agree, ' filtered' sunlight I think it is called (?).  I did suggest not full blast Aussie sun.

Thanks

CJ