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Does glucosamine and chondrotin supress insulin absorption?

Sent to Health Experts October 05 11:41 AM

I am diabetic. My A1C reading just shot skyhigh after staying at the high normal reading. It went from 7.0 to 11.0.
I heard a program on TV that said tha gluco/chon repressed the absorption of insulin, which if true could have been the result of my A1C reading. I take the gluco/chon pills daily for my bad knees but the control of diabetes is more important, health-wise.
So, this is why I want to know if what I heard is true.

 

Optional Information:
Male , Age: 63

Already Tried:
I take Actos, Glucophage and 15 units daily of insulin, as prescribed by my doctor.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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October 5 11:57 AM (15 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
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How long have you been taking the gluco/chon?

Let me know, and I'll get right back to you.

Dr. Fay

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Jonathan Fay, M.D. -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 534 Health Accepts
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October 5 1:00 PM (1 hour and 3 minutes and 33 seconds later)
         
Reply to Jonathan Fay, M.D.'s Post: I cannot say exactly, but more than 3 months.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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October 5 1:08 PM (8 minutes and 3 seconds later)
         
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O.K. I did a little research since your last post, and a study was done a few years ago that evaluated the effect of glucosamine/chondroitin on the HbA1C levels of group of diabetics, and it found that it has no effect whatsoever. The study had been predated by theories that glucosamine and chondroitin might have an effect on insulin resistance (this was based on some animal studies and other hypotheses), and so rumors had been circulating that it might be a problem for diabetics. But this study illustrated that it had no effect whatsoever. It was published in:

The Effect of Glucosamine-Chondroitin Supplementation on Glycosylated Hemoglobin...
Scroggie et al.
Arch Intern Med.2003; 163: 1587-1590.

For your HbA1C to jump so substantially is surprising, however. If you have been monitoring your blood sugars even moderately routinely, then you would have seen elevations far prior to this HbA1C reading (since HbA1C readings are a better measure of long-term glucose control, rather than short-term).

You should contact your physician to reassess your dose of actos/glucophage and insulin - these may need to be adjusted. But the glucosamine and chondroitin should be having no effect whatsoever, so you can safely continue them. I hope they help with the arthritis.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions - I'm more than happy to help.

Take care - Dr. Fay

If I have helped, then please click the ACCEPT button and leave positive feedback - Thank you, and take care
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Jonathan Fay, M.D. -- Doctor (MD) -- 100% Positive Feedback on 534 Health Accepts
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