Select Vitamins and Minerals in the Management of Diabetes

Abstract

In Brief The use of vitamin, mineral, and other complementary nutrition-based therapies has increased dramatically in the United States. Many health care providers are also beginning to explore the use of these therapies in their practices. For those of us who work in conventional health care settings, this is a new venture. But for many of our patients who have been self-medicating with supplements, it is not. This article reviews how micronutrient requirements are determined and summarizes current recommendations for supplementation and the most pertinent research on the use of key vitamins and minerals in diabetes management.