If you have diabetes, getting enough thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, can help you control your blood sugar better and reduce your risk for diabetes-related organ damage.
Thiamine helps keep blood sugar from sticking to proteins and fats, a harmful process that creates molecules called advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These molecules literally gunk up your body. They can damage your blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and nerves. They can cause kidney failure, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy. They are produced any time your blood sugar is higher than normal. Research has shown that AGEs cause more cell damage when blood levels of thiamine are low. Conversely, supplementing with thiamin reduces AGEs damage. In one study, adding thiamine to a cell culture reduced sugar-related damage by 80%. (Pomero, F et al. Acta Diabetol. 2001;38(3):135-8.)
Thiamine is important for normal glucose metabolism. It blocks some of the pathways by which high blood sugar promotes tissue damage.
Even if you eat foods high in thiamine, such as pork, it’s impossible to get the large amounts you need to get protection from high blood sugar.
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: If you have diabetes, there are natural ways you can prevent some of the associated health complications. Taking at least 25 mg a day of supplemental thiamine can reduce your risk of kindey failure, loss of vision and other issues. Many other vitamins and minerals are also important for diabetics and the only sure way to get what you need is with a good multi. Chromium, magnesium, vitamin E, biotin, B12 and B6 all help to manage diabetes.
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