Diabetes Mellitus, a widely spreading disease across the world, well known for its high blood glucose levels, followed by many serious complications that may or may not be avoided.
Diabetes is a disease of a lot of oxidative damage to both the cells and the DNA, such damage is caused by molecules known as free radicals.
The relationship between Vitamin C and Diabetes may still require much research and studies, however some aspects of that relationship has been revealed to show a certain connection and a number of benefits to diabetics taking vitamin C supplements.
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| Vitamin C and Diabetes |
How Vitamin C helps Diabetics:
1. Vitamin C and Sorbitol:
Sorbitol is the molecule resulting from the metabolism of glucose by the enzyme aldose reductase, accumulation of sorbitol is responsible for many of the harmful chronic complications of diabetes including retinopathy, kidney damage and neuropathy.
Studies have shown the significant effect of vitamin C on the reduction of sorbitol levels in the blood.
It is believed that vitamin C when given to IDDM (Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes mellitus type 1) patients as a daily supplement, it normalizes the levels of sorbitol in blood within 30 days of intake.
2. Vitamin C and blood pressure:
As a common complication of diabetes, hypertension usually develops.
Vitamin C, along side the normal blood pressure medication is believed to lower the systolic blood pressure and decrease arterial stiffness.
3. Vitamin C and heart disease:
Heart diseases are common complications of diabetes, they develop as a result of both high blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
Studies have shown that the risk of such disease is lowered by the intake of vitamin C supplements.
4. Vitamin C and oxidation:
As a disease of oxidative damage, many of the complication of diabetes are caused by the release and accumulation of free radicals, which makes antioxidants such as vitamin C a logical answer to either the relief of the complications or the prevention of the disease all together.
Some studies have shown a relationship between the intake of vitamin C supplements and a lowered risk of developing diabetes, especially in individuals growing up with a family history of the disease.
5. Vitamin C and Cell damage:
Studies have shown that our cells, much like our brains, have memories.
These memories cause the damage of high glucose levels to continue even when the sugar levels are normalized, the use of an antioxidant like vitamin C has shown to both improve the function of the cells and relief the oxidative damage.
In overall, many of the complications of diabetes including damage of the eye, nerve damage and hypertension can be somewhat relieved or overcome by the regular intake of vitamin C.
For people suffering from diabetes, the needed dietary intake of vitamin C is somewhat higher than that needed for a healthy person.
