Vitamin D deficiency linked to pre-diabetes
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EmailThought of as the “sunshine” vitamin, vitamin D has been shown to play an important role in diabetes prevention and management.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be found naturally in a few foods, including salmon and yogurt, but also through sunshine. Just eight to ten minutes of sun exposure at noon will result in the recommended amount of vitamin D for the day. It plays many roles within the body including reducing inflammation, neuromuscular function and glucose metabolism.
Many studies have looked at the association of low vitamin D intake with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and the complications that come with the disease. One study from the National Institutes of Health indicates that a person’s low vitamin D levels may contribute to impaired glycemic control which is the management of blood sugar (glucose) levels within a healthy range that is right for you. Lower vitamin D levels have been linked with inflammation which can raise the risk for insulin resistance where the cells become less sensitive to the hormone, insulin, needed to allow glucose to enter the cells for energy.
The American Diabetes Association has shared research that adults with prediabetes who were given vitamin D supplementation showed a reduction in the risk for type 2 diabetes (although more research and data is needed to fully confirm these findings).
As explained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pre-diabetes is a condition in which a person’s blood glucose level is higher than it should be but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes increases a person’s risk for developing type 2 diabetes. It is a disease that should be taken seriously.
For more information about being tested for vitamin D deficiency and prediabetes, check with your professional healthcare team. For more information about diabetes, visit Michigan State University Extension's website.
