Published on April 4, 2019
In February 2019, a study was published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice titled “Does high-dose vitamin D supplementation impact insulin resistance and risk of development of diabetes in patients with pre-diabetes? A double-blind randomized clinical trial.” The objective of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D on insulin sensitivity and the rate of progression to diabetes among adults with pre-diabetes and vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/ml. In this clinical trial, 162 participants were randomly assigned to either weekly doses of 50,000 IU of vitamin D for 3 months and then monthly doses of 50,000 IU for 3 months or placebo. Researchers measured HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance to assess progression or regression of diabetes.
What did the study discover?
Among participants who completed the six month study (N=83), the average vitamin D level in the vitamin D group was 36 ng/ml compared to 16 ng/ml in the placebo group. The research team found that the vitamin D group had lower HOMA-IR scores compared to the placebo group (2.6 vs. 3.1, P=0.04). Also, the chart below shows that the rate of diabetes progression was significantly lower among those in the vitamin D group compared to those in the placebo group (3% vs. 28%, P=0.002).
How can I find out if I’m at risk for diabetes?
GrassrootsHealth offers a Hemoglobin A1c dried blood spot test, which provides information about the average blood glucose levels over the prior few months. Generally levels below 5.7% are considered normal, 5.7% to 6.4% are considered prediabetic, and levels of 6.5% or higher are considered diabetic. This test can be used by a healthcare professional, along with other tests and a physical exam, to help diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes and for diabetes management. Knowing your Hemoglobin A1c levels can enable you to focus your health efforts on lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, and improving vitamin D and omega-3 status, which can help prevent or even reverse prediabetes. Be sure to consult your physician if you think you are at risk for diabetes and for specific recommendations for your health.
The Inflammation Panel test kit from GrassrootsHealth provides blood spot tests for vitamin D, omega-3, and HbA1c, as well as hsCRP (an inflammatory marker).
Order your kit today with coupon code ProtectWithD for 10% off!
How can I track my Vitamin D and Hemoglobin A1c levels?
To help you track your Vitamin D and Hemoglobin A1c levels, GrassrootsHealth has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. You can also track your omega-3 levels as well as your diet, weight and exercise to see how they impact your Hemoglobin A1c levels. Check it out now!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
