As a key constituent of the 'glucose tolerance factor', chromium is a critical nutrient in diabetes. Double-blind research shows that chromium supplements improve glucose tolerance in people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, apparently by increasing sensitivity to insulin. Chromium improves the processing of glucose in people with pre-diabetic glucose intolerance and in women with diabetes associated with pregnancy. The typical amount of chromium used in research trials is 200 mcg per day. Some doctors recommend up to 1,000 mcg per day of Chromium for diabetics.
Exercise increases tissue chromium concentrations.
Manganese Manganese is an important cofactor in the key enzymes of glucose metabolism. A deficiency of manganese was found to result in diabetes in guinea pigs. It also resulted in the frequent birth of offspring who develop pancreatic abnormalities or no pancreas at all. Diabetics have been shown to have only one-half the manganese of normal individuals. Magnesium Magnesium levels are significantly lowered in diabetics, and lowest in those with severe retinopathy.