Learn more about your health: Find out what is the role of Vitamin D in Diabetes and how it affects you.
Recent medical research and studies have identified the important role of vitamin D in diabetes disease, and how it can be a positive factor in a diabetes prevention plan. These studies show how a vitamin D deficiency could potentially turn into a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
The link between vitamin D and diabetes type 2, comes from the close relationship between a deficiency of this important vitamin and our body’s resistance to insulin, as it is believed that the absence of the vitamin can cause issues related to insulin.
Ideally, it would be good to know the factual role of vitamin D in diabetes as many reports consider these recent findings as circumstantial and indefinite. While this is true, medical experts warn that these findings should be considered when trying to develop a prevention plan.
Vitamin D and diabetes prevention should be factors discussed as closely related if, as speculated, the deficiency or absence of this vitamin affects the way our bodies respond to insulin, and as a contrast, having good levels of it could actually improve the way the hormone regulates blood sugar levels.
If this proves to be the case, then vitamin D and diabetes type 2 could be considered related and addressed as part of a prevention plan.
As a way to understand the highly positive role of vitamin D and diabetes prevention or as part of a diabetes management plan, we can look at the benefits that come from healthy levels of it:
It can regulate our appetite:
Leptin is the hormone in charge of regulating our body’s fat storage methodology and also controls the feelings of hunger and satiety. This super hormone is affected by the presence of Vitamin D in our body.
Contributes to healthy, steady weight-loss:
Good levels of this vitamin helps to reduce the levels of the hormone known as parathyroid, which contributes to reducing the risk of obesity. Being overweight or considered obese is one of the top risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Reduces the accumulation of fat in the stomach area:
Good levels of vitamin D significantly reduces the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) produced in the adrenal glands. It has been proven that when cortisol lives are high, our body’s tendency is to accumulate fat in the abdominal area.
With this information about the role of vitamin D in diabetes, what would Doctors recommend as a good amount for the stability of our health? It is estimated that for an adult, being between the ranges of 20-56 ng/ml is deal to promote a healthy regulation of the production of insulin in the pancreas.
As always, this is an estimated range that will vary from person to person, and depending on their current health state. For this reason it is highly important to discuss with your Doctor the possibility of increasing your Vitamin D levels in case it is considered necessary.
Naturally, we could all find ways to increase these levels in a healthy and steady way. Catching some warm rays of sunlight is the most common way to absorb some Vitamin D through our skin, and one of the easiest methods as it only requires to be outside for a little time every day.
For colder months, those who prefer to stay indoors or simply don’t have the time to spend 20 to 30 min. a day being outside to catch the sunlight, there are many natural supplements of this vitamin that can be added as part of a balanced and healthy diet.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20150223/low-levels-of-vitamin-d-linked-to-type-2-diabetes-risk
http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2011/dec/the-role-of-vitamin-d-in-type-2-diabetes.html
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/6/1284