Supplements: Helpful or Hype for Prediabetes?

Navigating prediabetes can be confusing, especially with the abundance of supplements marketed for blood sugar control. One individual, identified as **E.G.**, sought advice on their supplement regimen and its effectiveness in managing their condition after a 30-year diagnosis.

Doctor’s Perspective on Supplements

According to a health expert, while **E.G.** hasn’t developed diabetes, it’s hard to say if the supplements are the reason why. Among the supplements mentioned, vitamin D stands out with the most substantial evidence for potentially aiding people to stave off diabetes. The Endocrine Society has even released guidelines that suggest this vitamin for this very reason.

Although some may claim that these supplements offer benefits, clinical trials often reveal a different story. Initial small studies might indicate a significant positive effect, but subsequent, larger studies often demonstrate a smaller benefit, or no benefit at all. These supplements aren’t considered dangerous in recommended doses, but they might not be worth the expense.

Lifestyle’s Impact

The health expert emphasized the importance of diet and exercise as key components in diabetes prevention. Consulting a diabetes educator or registered dietician might be a worthwhile step.

According to the CDC, about 96 million U.S. adults—over a third of the population—have prediabetes (CDC.gov), highlighting the widespread need for effective prevention strategies.

Statins and Memory Concerns

Another individual, **D.M.**, raised concerns about statin use and memory loss after reading a column on the subject. **D.M.** takes 5 mg of atorvastatin daily and consulted with a medical provider and pharmacist.

The pharmacist said that while lipophilic statins, like atorvastatin, theoretically, might have a greater chance of causing memory loss, it can happen with any statin. The expert agreed that memory loss is rare with any statin, but it is more likely with lipophilic statins. Because of this, the expert often starts patients on rosuvastatin.

That being said, if a patient is doing well on their current statin, there is no need to switch.