Insulin resistance is preventable and reversible through lifestyle changes, proper nutrition, supplements, exercise and stress management. Weight loss and exercise are the best treatments for restoring the body’s ability to respond to insulin.

Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance are a significant health care problem in the United States. Type 2 diabetes affects more than 300 million people. Up to 15% of patients cannot take metformin because of kidney damage risks.

There are many different cofactors that can improve dysglycemia such as zinc, alpha lipoic acid, chromium, and vanadium.

According to an observational study published last week in BMC Endocrine Disorders, researchers investigated the association between magnesium supplementation post bariatric surgery and serum magnesium levels with diabetes status after bariatric surgery.

This observational study included 403 patients with type II diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery. At baseline, 43% of the patients had a magnesium deficiency and prior to surgery these patients had poorer glycemic control (HbA1c), higher fasting glucose levels, and were taking a greater number of anti-diabetic drugs.

At the first-year post-surgery, 58% of the patients had total remission of their diabetes and 4% had partial remission. Patients that did not have a magnesium deficiency at the year mark had higher rates of total and partial remission.

Higher serum magnesium levels at baseline are an independent predictor of type II diabetes remission. The optimal cut-off level of magnesium to predict diabetes remission was 1.50 mg/dL with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 58%.

As a result, patients that taking magnesium supplementation post-surgery had higher magnesium levels, better glycemic control, and higher rates of diabetes remission. The patients in the supplementation group were taking between 100 mg and 450 mg of elemental magnesium daily.

Since patients with diabetes have increased metabolic demands, they have additional micronutrient requirements for proper control of oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis.

Inositol is another nutrient that should also be considered for patients with diabetes.

Inositol acts as second messenger which regulates several hormones such as thyroid stimulating hormone and insulin.

Studies have shown that an inositol deficiency is common in patients with insulin resistance. There appears to be a reduced ability to process, metabolize, and effectively use inositol from foods which is a distinctive characteristic feature of insulin resistance. As a result, the nutritional requirements of these patients may not be met by a simple change in the diet and that inositol should be viewed as a conditionally essential nutrient in these individuals.

By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CNS

Source: Silva Mm, Neves, et al. Higher magnesium levels are associated with better glycaemic control and diabetes remission post-bariatric surgery. BMC Endocr Disord. 2022 Dec 6;22(1):303.

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