Diabetes and low magnesium go hand in hand

4 years ago | Diabetes

By pH health care professionals

Diabetes and low magnesium levels: Two common health problems affecting millions of people. But did you know that they are related?

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the CDC. And most people, in general, aren’t getting enough magnesium on a daily basis. It turns out, low magnesium may make you worse off for developing diabetes, and having diabetes may in turn deplete your existing magnesium levels. Magnesium depletion affects at least 30 percent of diabetics. It’s a cycle that needs to be broken, and it starts with education.

Let’s take a look at the relationship between this mineral and diabetes.

A strong association between magnesium and diabetes

Magnesium may be a factor in predicting and catching diabetes. According to the book The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, low magnesium levels can serve as an early marker for diabetes. Doctors can test the magnesium levels in your red blood cells.

Three major studies (Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, and Iowa Women’s Health Study) all noted that people with the highest magnesium in their diets had the lowest risk for developing diabetes, Dr. Dean noted. The University of Maryland Medical Center also confirms that several clinical studies have strongly associated low magnesium levels in the blood with Type 2 diabetes.

So how exactly does magnesium affect diabetes?

Insulin requires magnesium to do its job and to be properly secreted from the pancreas. Magnesium is also needed to allow blood sugar to enter the cells, instead of staying in the bloodstream. Dr. Dean indicates that lack of magnesium increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, eye symptoms and nerve damage in diabetics.

Can magnesium supplementation help prevent Type 2 diabetes?

Research shows magnesium may indeed be a useful prevention tool, as studies on rats who were predisposed to Type 2 diabetes yielded promising results. Studies have also examined people on magnesium-rich diets and found that their risk for diabetes was decreased.

Research is also showing that magnesium may help people who already have diabetes reduce or prevent complications, including retinopathy, hypertension, and vascular diseases.

So what can you do?

Ask a qualified doctor for an RBC magnesium blood test and prediabetes screening.
Determine how much magnesium you need (click here) and look for ways to incorporate it into your diet.
Talk to a doctor about using a quality supplement. Be sure to mention any medications you are currently taking or any health conditions you have. Magnesium supplementation may not be a good idea for everyone.

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.