Has anyone heard of taking chromium or an herb for gestational diabetes?

Question

I hear all these remedies for type 2 diabetes but none for gestational diabetes. I tried asking this question in the pregnancy section but no one answered. Any information would be helpful and appreciated. I'm seeing a dr and dietician and doing all i can to keep blood sugar down but it's not working as well as i'd like.

Answer 1

'Judge Judy' Thats the most nonsense I have ever heard, even SkepDoc has his limit of talking nonsense. Chromium is in fact an essential mineral, which is exactly that 'essential', and can only be obtained from diet.

It is absolutely paramount that you control your blood sugar levels, by following the reccommendations below, but before you read those, you need to have an understanding of why they are reccommended.

If there is too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream that is not immediately being utilised as energy by cells, it will not only acidify the bloodstream, microorganisms will have a picnic and proliferate. This is the reason why diabetics are prone to so many infections {like Candidiasis}, sometimes to th point whereby their limbs must be amputated due to fermentation and decay of flesh, by harmful microorgansisms.

The brain is the only part of the body that cannot adapt well to- or compensate for - erratic changes in blood glucose{a type of sugar} levels. This is the reason why symptoms of blood sugar disorders are as varied as the many functions of the brain, which is invovlved in every sensory, motor, perceptual, cognitive and emotional function in the system. If he brain is not 'fed' properly , it is easy for it to become emotionally, physiologically, biologically and physically unstable, leading to mental illness like 'the common cold' of psychiatry, or clinical depression to be exact.

Diabetics usually have nutritional dificiencies, most notably 'Vitamin B-3 and the minerals Chromium and Vanadium' {Source 1}. Whether or not these nutritional dificiencies contributed to causing diabetes or is a result of diabetes, this is the common medical dillema of the cause and effect debate. Anyhow, leave that to the debaters, in either case, what needs to be done is to supplement a good high-strength multivitamin and multi-mineral {preferably in a amin acid chelated form, as it is more bioavailable {in english...easier for the body to absorb and use}}, 'Mineral' is a good brand, which can be purchased cheap on ebay or organicpharmacy.org, and 'Higher Nautre - Advanced Nutrition Complex' brand for the multi-vitamin.

Optimal Diet for Diabetics

High in Animal Protein - which will nourish them without straining the pancreas.

Herbs like Neem, Stevia, Licorice, have been shown to balance blood-sugar levels.

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Suggestions

The following reccommendations will help:

- Replace table sugar with Xylitol, this has a Gylceamic Index value of 8, whereas Sugar has a GI of 64!

- Cinnamon - this spice has been shown to reduce blood-sugar levels, consume a spoonful with meals.

- Bitter Melon, this is officially used in the Phillipines Health Care System, and is prescribed by doctors there, to regulate blood-sugar levels. You can make a delicious indian dish from this, by boiling and stuffing with mince meat.

- Eat lots of Oats - they contain beta-glucan which is a powerful anti-diabetic nutrient

- Chromium - this works with insulin to help it bind to hormone receptor sites on the plasma membranes of cells. Chromium also helps prevent the shape of insulin being deformed, and chromium also is in the make-up of the insulin receptors on cell membranes. 400-600mcg of Chromium per day

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, I've heard of it but never used it. My husband is type 2 and he was advised by his doctor to go low carb, his numbers are fantastic on that so he doesn't see the need. Gestational is, as you know, so much more complicated I wouldn't dare try any thing without strict medical supervision. Maybe, if you could stand low carb, you could try that to bring your numbers into line. Good luck whatever you decide diabetes is a nasty thing to have to deal with.

Answer 3

There is no (credible) evidence I can find that chromium piccolate has any beneficial health effects of any sort.  

There are only testimonials on websites trying to sell it.

Gestational diabetes is a complex thing as there are two patients, the mother and baby.  You should really not be messing around with your unborn childs life by looking to non evidence based treatments of GD.

Follow your doctors recommendations.  You are NOT eating for two, watch your carbs and your weight.  Get exercise.

Answer 4

Here's a little info about chromium that may help:  http://www.cncahealth.com/health-notes.h...

Be well!

Answer 5

You can treat gestational diabetes like T2. Please feel free to visit www.diabetesdaily.com. It's tremendous web forum and there is a section for GD. Most of the time you can control your GD with diet and exercise. I would suggest you seek a certified medical route to treat your GD though because you do not want to cause harm to your baby .

Congrats on the baby boy!

Answer 6

chromium piccolinate changes your cells structure and can lead to cancer