What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble organic compound that helps maintain healthy bones and teeth. It also supports the immune system and boosts other bodily functions. It regulates inflammation and prevents the onset of autoimmune diseases.
This type of vitamin is commonly found in particular food varieties. However, it is also essential to note that the human body is capable of producing vitamin D. How? When the sun’s UV B radiation hits the skin, the body reduces its levels of cholesterol and makes more vitamin D. This explains the compounds’ name as the sunshine vitamin.
How does vitamin D help people with type 2 diabetes?
According to Diabetes UK, people living in the UK and other Western nations are lacking in vitamin D. In particular, this is common in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes UK identified limited exposure to sunlight, which is due to shorter sunny days, being home for most of the time, and using sunscreen during summer as common reasons for lack of Vitamin D in the body.
How does the sunshine vitamin help people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition?
Scientists believe that vitamin D has special properties that stimulate insulin production in the pancreas. This makes diabetes management so much easier, as insulin becomes adequate to move blood sugar into cells for energy use and storage. This process prevents recurrent blood sugar spikes.
Vitamin D’s relationship with insulin
Scientists believe that vitamin D helps beta cells survive and cling longer to prevent type 2 diabetes from progressing.
Another role of vitamin D is how it interacts with several receptors and stimulates the insulin gene to increase the hormone’s production. Additionally, the vitamin’s function in optimizing calcium may help in the secretion of insulin. More vitamin D the body means better management of calcium levels. This supports the production of more insulin. We cannot deny the importance of Vitamin D in diabetes management. However, research is still necessary to identify the best source of vitamin D for efficient diabetes management. Is it sun exposure, vitamin D-rich foods, or supplementations in the form of pills, injectable, or IVs? It is yet to be answered
