Diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions are of concern to many Canadians. Heredity, weight and lifestyle issues can contribute to blood glucose problems. The good news is that many people can manage their blood sugar with simple diet and lifestyle changes. Chromium and Vanadium are two minerals that have been shown to support normal blood glucose level as both minerals have the ability to assist in glucose metabolism.
 
Chromium is a component of a molecule called Glucose Tolerance Factor that regulates blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for both high and low blood sugar problems. The hormone insulin will not work without chromium. When a person consumes enough chromium, sensitivity to insulin is improved and blood sugar levels may become normalized, whereas insufficient chromium may contribute to hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, glycosuria and insulin resistance.
 
Chromium is the main mineral needed for insulin production. According to The Doctor's Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals,¹ “Chromium works with insulin to drive sugar from your blood into the tissues of your body for use or storage. This mineral is so important in sugar tolerance that severe deficiencies of it cause a diabetes-like illness to develop.”
 
Chromium GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor) is a very easily absorbed form of chromium, derived from yeast and naturally bound to glycine, glutamic acid, cysteine and niacin.
 
Vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral found in our body and in a variety of foods. Vanadium seems able to help improve blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Often as people age, their cell receptors sites are not as responsive to their own production of insulin, causing a dangerous rise in blood sugar. Studies show that vanadium may improve glucose tolerance in persons with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

References:

1. Eades, Mary Dan, 1994, The Philip Lief Group, Inc.