Vitamin D sourcesVitamin D benefits are sky-rocketing. It is believed to be beneficial for health in even diseases like cancers, heart diseases, and even osteoporosis. Recently even diabetes has been added to this list.

Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing researchers are responsible for the inclusion of diabetes in the list of diseases that can benefit from Vitamin D. Their latest review article states that sufficient vitamin D intake can possibly curb or delay the development of diabetes. It can possibly lower the rate of complication in diabetic patients as well.

Study co-author Sue Penckofer, PhD, RN, professor in Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nurisng, says that, “Vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health and certain chronic diseases in particular. This article further substantiates the role of this nutrient in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes.”

It is stated that a high number of diabetic patients have low vitamin D levels. It has been hinted that vitamin D may play a crucial role in insulin sensitivity and secretion. Vitamin D deficiency mainly occurs due to poor diet, and also due to less sunlight exposure.

Study authors say, “Management of vitamin D deficiency may be a simple and cost-effective method to improve blood sugar control and prevent the serious complications associated with diabetes.” They further state that, “People at risk for diabetes should be screened for low vitamin D levels. This will allow health care professionals to identify a nutrient deficiency early on and intervene to improve the long term health of these individuals.”

Around 3000 type 1 diabetic patients were studied for this review article. It was noticed that people taking vitamin D supplements had a lower risk of developing disease, as compared to others. The results of observational studies of type 2 diabetic patients revealed that maybe the intake of vitamin D supplements were mandatory for the prevention of diseases.

It is said that vitamin D nutrients may not be solely derived from an enriched diet. A combination of adequate sunlight exposure, vitamin D enriched diet, and also treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements may reduce diabetes risk in a person.

Their findings are published in the Diabetes Educator issue.