Low Magnesium Levels Tied to Diabetes

Are you concerned you might get diabetes?  Even if you are thin, if there is diabetes in your family, you may be at risk.  We hear a lot about diabetes nowadays and for good reason.  According to current statistics, almost 25% of the American population is either diabetic or “pre-diabetic”.   Pre-diabetic  is a condition where a person becomes “insulin resistant”.

What Is Insulin Resistance?

Most people do not really understand what insulin resistant means other than a poor ability to process sugar.  Here is a simple explanation:

From your food your body needs to get glucose (a simple sugar that is used for fuel) into your cells.  In order for this to happen your body makes a hormone called “insulin” which is excreted from your pancreas.  Insulin attaches to the surface of your cells allowing glucose to enter.  Insulin resistant means the cells do not respond well to insulin.  If your glucose cannot get into your cells, your body responds by producing more insulin.  If enough insulin is produced, eventually some glucose will get into your cells.  Over time, this extra  production of insulin may no longer be effective and the glucose does not get into your cells at all.  Not only will you be tired but the glucose building up in your blood now has a harmful affect on your blood vessels,  eyes, kidneys and heart. This is called Type 2 Diabetes.

 How Magnesium Can Help Prevent Diabetes

Studies show that low magnesium levels are tied to rising blood sugar levels. Magnesium is one of the most crucial nutrients for your body.  Insulin and magnesium are closely tied together.  Insulin does much more than control blood sugar.  Insulin stores excess nutrients for future use.  Magnesium needs insulin to transport it into the cells. If our cells become resistant to insulin, or if we do not produce enough insulin, magnesium does not get stored properly in the cells. Magnesium is important for the effectiveness of insulin. You can see how closely related insulin and magnesium are.

The good news?  Magnesium improves insulin sensitivity.  If a person has adequate magnesium, this considerably reduces the possibility of the person becoming insulin resistant and later, diabetic.

Magnesium Levels Are Declining

A large percentage of the population is deficient in magnesium.  Why?  There are many reasons for this.  The lack of minerals in our soils is a key one.  Magnesium also gets depleted with stress, drugs, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, food additives and other toxins.  It is no coincidence that more and more people are becoming diabetic while at the same time magnesium levels are declining.

There are many symptoms of a magnesium deficiency.   Some depletion symptoms include blood pressure problems, sleeping difficulties, tight muscles, hormonal problems, irritability and blood sugar imbalances.  Magnesium is absolutely vital to the health of your body.

To your Health!

Peter Gillham