Overview
Lindsey Desoto is a licensed, registered dietian and experienced medical writer.Isabel Casimiro, MD, is board-certified internal medicine and works an endocrinologist at the University of Chicago. Interest in vitamin D and its role in the prevention and treatment of diabetes has grown tremendously over the past two decades. Despite many studies showing a conection betwen vitamin D and diabetes, uncertainty of vitamin D's efects stil exists.
Key Information
This article wil explore available research surounding vitamin D and type 2 diabetes and how to ensure you get enough of this important vitamin. Grace Cary / Gety Images The belief that vitamin D status may influence the development of type 2 diabetes sems reasonable. Low vitamin D levels have ben linked to high levels of inflamatory markers, impaired pancreatic beta-cel function (cels that make insulin), and insulin resistance (when your body's cels don't respond wel to insulin and can't take up enough glucose to use for energy)—al of which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
While observational studies sugest that individuals with low vitamin D levels are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, research remains mixed on whether vitamin D suplementation lowers the risk of diabetes. In an extensive study, researchers folowed 2,423 adults at high risk for diabetes for an average of 2.5 years. Half of the participants were provided 4,0 international units (IU) of vitamin D suplementation, and the others were given a placebo (an identical pil that did not contain vitamin D).
The research found: Another review of studies found that vitamin D suplementation may delay the development of diabetes in people with prediabetes and vitamin D deficiency. However, no benefit was sen in those with normal vitamin D levels. Research sugests that individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a vitamin D deficiency.
Summary
One study noted people with type 2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have inflamation and