Experts Three vitamins that diabetics can not do without

Nutrition: Diabetics must under no circumstances renounce these three vitamins
More and more people are suffering from diabetes. Those affected are usually recommended to have a healthier lifestyle. Diet plays a special role. What diabetics need to know: Three vitamins are of paramount importance to them.

Bad diet can have dire consequences
The number of diabetes patients is increasing worldwide. One of the reasons for this is the increasing frequency of overweight and obesity. People who suffer from diabetes are generally advised to eat healthily, lose weight if necessary, and exercise regularly to lower their blood sugar. A wrong diet can lead to additional health problems such as sensory disturbances or brittle bones in diabetics. Especially three vitamins play a special role.

Diabetics must pay particular attention to their diet. Especially the vitamins D, B12 and folic acid play a special role here. The latter can be found in vegetables, among other things. (Image: M.studio/fotolia.com)

Sufficient supply of vitamins
Nutrition is of paramount importance in the prevention and treatment of diabetes. For example, a diet high in whole grains may protect you from the disease.

A gluten-free diet, however, increases the risk of diabetes, reported US scientists.

Important for diabetics is the adequate supply of certain vitamins. A deficiency could possibly have painful consequences.

Folic acid and vitamin B12
The President of the German Diabetes Association (DDG), Dirk Müller-Wieland, said in a message from the news agency dpa: "Especially important are the vitamin folic acid and vitamin B12."

Folic acid is included in vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, cabbage and legumes. Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods such as meat, eggs and milk.

However, diabetics should not overdo it, especially with meat. According to Müller-Wieland, the daily requirement for vitamin B12 is very low. The waiver for a long time, however, was harmful.

If these vitamins are missing, patients may experience sensory disturbances such as blurred vision, numb hands or even loss of sensory perception.

As Müller-Wieland explained in the dpa report, patients with diabetes mellitus should consult a doctor for such symptoms because these sensory disturbances are a first symptom of damage to the nerves.

The physician can check this with a blood sample.

Vitamin D against bone loss
The German Society of Internal Medicine (DGIM) also pointed out that diabetics should have their vitamin D levels checked.

Not only does this vitamin counteract bone resorption, which progresses faster in diabetic patients than in healthy people, but can also affect the production of insulin and thus act directly on the blood sugar level.

Among other things, vitamin D is absorbed through the diet. High-fat fish from the sea is a good supplier. Alternative vitamin D sources for vegetarians and vegans include avocados and mushrooms.

The vitamin is also formed under the influence of UV radiation. Therefore, sunbathing can also help prevent bone fractures.

"In addition to food intake, most of the daily vitamin D needs are produced by the body through the skin. Vitamin D is now considered to be the basic therapy for osteoporosis because of its proven effects on bone metabolism, "states a statement by the DDG. (Ad)