By Adam Garcia
Before we begin we must stress that we at Diabetic Cookbook Blog are not professionals. You must always discuss your ideas and other information found on this site with your medical team. With that said, we have found a vitamin that may be helpful in a diabetic’s repertoire of therapies. It is vitamin Bh.
Vitamin Bh or Inositol has been found to be helpful to diabetics and may be a good vitamin to have in your corner. The common name of vitamin Bh is known as myoinositol and is utilized by the body as a nutrient. Inositol is a type of sugar related to glucose. It occurs naturally in the body and is present in many foods; it is found widely in cereals and legumes and is associated with dietary fiber. Natural sources of inositol include wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and bananas. It is also found in liver, brown rice, oak flakes, nuts, unrefined molasses, vegetables, and raisins.
Inositol is a fundamental ingredient of cell membranes and is necessary for proper function of nerves, brain, and muscles in the body. It is essential for helping the cells in the body communicate with one another, a process known as cell signaling. Inositol exists as the fiber component phytic acid, which has been investigated for its anti-cancer properties and it is involved in cellular responses to the actions of certain body hormones and chemicals that are released from nerves, called neurotransmitters. Used with choline, inositol helps to metabolize fats and cholesterol in the arteries and liver. It also helps to promote the body’s production of lecithin. People who are depressed have much lower-than-normal levels of inositol in their spinal fluid. In addition, inositol participates in the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter known to be a factor in depression.
Inositol is primarily used in the treatment of liver problems, depression, panic disorder, and diabetes. It also aids in the breakdown of fats, helps in the reduction of blood cholesterol, and helps to prevent thinning hair. It promotes the export of fat from the liver. Inositol is required for the proper function of several brain neurotransmitters and it may improve nerve conduction velocities in diabetics with peripheral neuropathy. Inositol may help protect against atherosclerosis and hair loss. There has also been the suggestion that it may help to reverse some nerve damage caused by diabetes. It has also been tried for other psychological and nerve-related conditions. Myoinositol has been used in the treatment of liver disease, depression, panic disorder, diabetic neuropathy, respiratory distress syndrome, and to treat the side effects of the medicine lithium. Inositol also has a prominent calming effect on the central nervous system, so it is sometimes helpful to those with insomnia.
It would be a good idea for diabetics to talk with their medical teams and find out if they are capable of taking this vitamin in accordance with their current therapies. If you have any questions or comments feel free to email us or post a reply below.
