Six nutrients that prevent diabetes complications

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone health, muscle function, and immune regulation.

Vitamin D deficiency is relatively common in many populations.

Some research has investigated the relationship between vitamin D levels and diabetes, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and other metabolic factors.

However, correcting a deficiency is not the same as taking extremely high doses.

Testing Is Important

The best way to determine whether someone has low vitamin D is through appropriate medical testing.

Sun exposure can contribute to vitamin D production, but the amount produced depends on many factors, including:

  • Skin type
  • Age
  • Geographic location
  • Season
  • Time of day
  • Clothing
  • Sunscreen use

There is no universal recommendation that everyone should expose themselves to the sun for a specific amount of time.

Excessive ultraviolet exposure can increase the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.

Be Careful With High-Dose Supplements

Very high doses of vitamin D can cause toxicity.

Excess vitamin D can lead to dangerously high calcium levels and may damage the kidneys and other organs.

For this reason, high-dose vitamin D supplementation should be based on medical advice and, when appropriate, blood testing.

Vitamin K2 is also sometimes combined with vitamin D in supplements, but this does not mean that everyone needs to take both.

Individual needs vary.

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