Glucosamine and Glucose Levels

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Glucosamine and Glucose Levels

Q: For the past several years I have taken 1,500 mg of glucosamine daily,

which has helped my OA. Recently, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I have

heard

that glucosamine can affect blood sugar levels. Do I have to stop taking

glucosamine now?

A: Glucosamine, the most widely recognized nutritional supplement for

degenerative arthritis, is an amino sugar and can theoretically lead to

increased

blood sugar in people with diabetes. Animal research has raised the

possibility

that glucosamine could contribute to insulin resistance (a condition in

which

the body's insulin becomes less effective at fueling the body's cells with

sugar). Some doctors speculate this might result from glucosamine's ability

to

interfere with an enzyme needed to regulate blood sugar levels.

One doctor, who wrote an editorial in a 1999 issue of The Lancet, suggested

that glucosamine might increase insulin resistance, which may develop into

diabetes.

Some studies have shown glucosamine raises blood sugar; others have not. A

recent study of people with type 2 diabetes showed no significant

differences in

the pre- and post-study hemoglobin A1c concentrations (measure of glucose

control) of those who took glucosaine-chondroitin and those who took placebo

for

90 days.

If you are concerned about the effect glucosamine might have on your blood

glucose level, consult the doctor who treats your diabetes. He may advise

you to

monitor your blood sugar levels on a regular basis so you can track whether

your fasting blood glucose level is higher than normal.

JAMES McKOY, MD

Rheumatologist

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2004_archives/2004_03_04_O

nCall_p3.asp