Fish Oils and Diabetes:
Can This Oil Improve Your Health and Reduce Diabetes Complications?
Is it safe to combine fish oils and diabetes treatment?
Can you benefit from this healthy oil without affecting your blood glucose and insulin levels?
The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent-diabetes (NIDD). This is a chronic condition that affects how your body metabolizes sugar (glucose).
When you have Type 2 diabetes, your body is either unaffected or resistant to insulin (a hormone that controls how your body cells absorb sugar) or it doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight play a large part in controlling and even preventing diabetes.
Insulin therapy or diabetic medications may be needed if diet and exercise aren't enough.
One of the concerns with having diabetes is the increased risk for heart and blood vessel disease. The Mayo Clinic warns about possible complications of Type 2 diabetes such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis.
Did you know the risk for stroke more than doubles within the first 5 years of being treated for Type 2 diabetes? And according to the American Heart Association, 75% of people with diabetes will die of heart or blood vessel disease.
No one wants to die of a heart attack or stroke. Eating healthy and exercising can play a large part in optimizing your health and vitality. The American Heart Association recommends eating more fish or taking fish oil supplements to increase your intake of heart-friendly omega 3 fatty acids and reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.
But what if you have diabetes? Is it safe to combine fish oils and diabetes treatment? Will fish oils negatively affect your blood sugar levels and your sensitivity to insulin?
What does the research show on fish oils and diabetes?
Research Proves Health Connection Between Fish Oils and Diabetes
Naples, Italy - Researchers from the Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases in Naples, Italy studied the long term effects of fish oils and diabetes and looked for possible changes in insulin resistance in patients with Non-Insulin-Dependent-Diabetic-Mellitus (NIDDM).
16 patients with NIDDM were randomly assigned to take either 2.7 grams/day of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for 2 months, then 1.7 grams/day for 4 more months.
Their diet and hypoglycemic drugs remained unchanged throughout the study.
Researchers found fish oils reduced the patients' triglyceride levels and increased their omega 3 levels without any negative effects on blood glucose control.
Scientists at the Department of Diabetes in Paris found similar results when giving Type 2 diabetic patients 6 grams of fish oils per day for 2 months.
Fish oils lowered these patients' triglyceride levels and there was no negative effects on insulin-sensitivity or glycemic control.
Norwegian Scientists Discover Fish Oils Safely Lower High Blood Pressure in Diabetic Patients
Norway - Researchers at the Department of Internal Medicine at Tromsø University Hospital discover fish oils reduce high blood pressure without affecting insulin sensitivity and blood glucose metabolism.
78 patients with untreated high blood pressure were randomly assigned to receive either 4 grams/day of EPA and DHA or corn oil for 16 weeks.
Researchers measured insulin sensitivity, blood glucose levels, lipid levels and blood pressure and found no significant differences in insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels for both the fish oil and corn oil groups.
However, the patients taking fish oils reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressures by 3.8 mmHg and 2.0 mmHg and saw a decrease in triglyceride levels.
The group taking corn oil saw no positive changes in this parameters.
Other studies have found fish oils help reduce high triglyceride levels, lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.
Some studies have shown a slight, but non-significant, trend toward decreased insulin sensitivity. In general, though, it appears fish oils don't negatively affect glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity.
In summary, research on fish oils and diabetes has found:
- Taking fish oils helps lower high triglyceride levels.
- Fish oils help reduce high blood pressure - both systolic and diastolic.
- Diabetics taking fish oils don't see any negative effects on insulin sensitivity or blood glucose levels.
Looking at the available research on fish oils and diabetes, it appears this healthy oil can help reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease without complications to your diabetes treatment.
Remember to consult your doctor before using fish oils to ensure you're both working together to manage your conditon safely and effectively.
Research References:
A controlled study on the effects of n-3 fatty acids on lipid and glucose metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Annuzzi G, Rivellese A, Capaldo B, Di Marino L, Iovine C, Marotta G, Riccardi G. Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. Atherosclerosis. 1991 Mar;87(1):65-73.
Moderate intake of n-3 fatty acids for 2 months has no detrimental effect on glucose metabolism and could ameliorate the lipid profile in type 2 diabetic men. Results of a controlled study. Luo J, Rizkalla SW, Vidal H, Oppert JM, Colas C, Boussairi A, Guerre-Millo M, Chapuis AS, Chevalier A, Durand G, Slama G. Department of Diabetes, INSERM U341, Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France. Diabetes Care. 1998 May;21(5):717-24
Long-term effects of fish oil on insulin resistance and plasma lipoproteins in NIDDM patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Rivellese AA, Maffettone A, Iovine C, Di Marino L, Annuzzi G, Mancini M, Riccardi G. Institute of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. Diabetes Care. 1996 Nov;19(11):1207-13
Effects of fish oil supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in NIDDM. Borkman M, Chisholm DJ, Furler SM, Storlien LH, Kraegen EW, Simons LA, Chesterman CN. Garvan Institute of Medical Research St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney New South Wales, Australia. Diabetes. 1989 Oct;38(10):1314-9.
A comparison of the effects of n-3 fatty acids from linseed oil and fish oil in well-controlled type II diabetes. McManus RM, Jumpson J, Finegood DT, Clandinin MT, Ryan EA. Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Diabetes Care. 1996 May;19(5):463-7.
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