Are antioxidant supplements like vitamin C, vitamin E, and lipoic acid helpful in managing diabetes?
A. Oxidative stress is associated with diabetes. Lipoic acid has been used to treat diabetic neuropathy, which results from impaired capillary blood flow to the neurons. Lipoic acid also plays a role in energy and protein metabolism. I think that diet and exercise are most important. Q. Is zinc useful in treating diabetes? A. I tested zinc. Zinc is an antioxidant, but it also dampens the activity of the immune system, and too much may be toxic. If your baby has a diaper rash you put on zinc oxide to help. But zinc oxide doesn’t cure diaper rash; it prevents the damage of the infection. Q. What about chromium? A. It’s important to maintain a good chromium status and prevent deficiency, but I’m not sure that supplementation helps much in diabetes. Q. Are there any specific foods or beverages that seem to be linked with an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes? A. Don’t drink soda pop with sugar. It’s better to eat fruit than drink fruit juice. Tomato juice is a better choice low calorie, mo
