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Alpha-Lipoic acid and Diabetes: Benefits, Dosage, Effects

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Diabetes can be dangerous if ignored, so it is crucial to treat it properly. Most people who have Diabetes do not know how to handle it efficiently, leading to the worst condition.

According to the research, Alpha Lipoic Acid is proven very effective in the process of treatment of Diabetes due to its excellent antioxidant properties.

Alpha-lipoic acid can act as an antioxidant that can fight against any free radicals attacking human cells.

However, you can get Alpha Lipoic Acid from several foods such as liver, red meat, broccoli, carrots, beets, spinach, and potatoes.

But, it is also available in supplements for those who require a higher dosage or are prescribed by doctors.

Moreover, Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements are safe to consume in most cases because it is composed of natural ingredients that are excellent in giving the results.

But, you must consult with your doctor about the dosage to ensure that it is safe for your body.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Benefits for Diabetes

Lowers sugar levels and Reduces Insulin Resistance

Alpha Lipoic Acid helps in lowering sugar levels in diabetes patients. If it reduces the sugar levels well, Diabetes will not be a big problem for you anymore.

In this case, Docter will advise you to consume the supplement regularly to keep glucose levels normal.

As per research studies, Alpha Lipoic Acid can improve insulin sensitivity and impaired glucose tolerance. Insulin resistance is excellent for your body because it prevents you from getting the worst illness caused by the complication of Diabetes.

Reduce pain in Diabetes Neuropathy

Nerve damage or Neuropathy is one of the complications of Diabetes. Many research has proven that Alpha Lipoic Acid can reduce pain or help recover from the pain associated with nerve damage or Neuropathy.

Meanwhile, Neuropathy, or Peripheral Neuropathy, is a condition of numbness and pain in the hands and feet caused by diabetes, liver or kidney disease, vitamin deficiency, nerve pressure, and alcoholism.

With this capability, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) can help reduce burning, pain, tingling, itching, and numbness due to the nerve damage caused by Diabetes.

Moreover, you can observe the effectiveness of Alpha Lipoic Acid on Neuropathy pain after 3-5 weeks of the recommended dosage.

Relief from Peripheral Neuropathy in diabetic patients

Alpha-lipoic acid is very beneficial for diabetes patients suffering from peripheral Neuropathy.

It can help them survive longer. You will notice that about 6% to 51% of patients who have diabetes also suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy.

In a severe case, peripheral Neuropathy can cause a lower limb amputation, as per research studies. Yet, with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), patients can experience relief.

Based on a clinical trial, diabetic patients with peripheral Neuropathy were given 200 mg lipoic acid for 21 days could gain pain reduction.

Another clinical trial showed that diabetic patients who took 600 mg of lipoic acid for three weeks and oral supplements for 12 weeks could gain relief.

Beneficial in Autonomic Neuropathy

In addition to peripheral Neuropathy, research has proven that alpha-lipoic acid is also beneficial in treating other diseases related to Diabetes, such as autonomic Neuropathy.

Autonomic Neuropathy attacks nerves that control involuntary bodily functions.

Based on a study on patients suffering from autonomic Neuropathy, they gained a significant improvement after taking 800 mg ALA.

It is much more effective than a placebo (actual medical treatment).

However, you have to obey the dosage prescribed by your physician. It is imperative to make sure that you can take the most benefit from it.

Effective in Type 2 Diabetes

Taking Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) supplements can help those with Type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that it enables the body to take up glucose while also preventing sugar from being able to attach to protein (glycosylation).

According to clinical trials, it was observed that Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), when taken orally for four weeks, could help improve insulin sensitivity by 25% for those patients who have type 2 diabetes.

All patients taking the ALA supplement have lower glucose levels at different levels. At the same time, those who were taking the sugar pill (placebo), of course, saw no changes in their glucose levels.

Recommended Dosage and Side Effects for Diabetes

When it comes to taking a supplement of ALA to help with Neuropathy, the recommended dosage to be taken daily is between 300 and 600mg.

However, if diabetic patients don’t suffer from Neuropathy, their doctor may prescribe lower dosages of ALA supplements.

Doctors will often prescribe Alpha-lipoic acid and other supplements such as bitter melon, fenugreek, chromium, Gymnema, or Vanadium as they can help control blood sugar levels better.

Also, taking it in correlation with such other items can help prevent and may well reverse the condition of Neuropathy in a diabetic person.

Once taken, it helps to speed up the removal of glucose from the bloodstream as it helps to enhance insulin function while reducing insulin resistance.

However, an Alpha-lipoic acid supplement helps control blood sugar levels.

But, diabetics patients need to track their blood sugar levels to prevent them from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

The doctor can prevent such possible alpha lipoic acid side effects in diabetics patients taking an ALA supplement. They may decide to reduce the insulin dosage or make them take a drug orally to help lower blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

Alpha-lipoic acid can be a great and most effective alternative in treating Diabetes and other medical problems, such as fatigue, cancer, and other diseases related to the immune system.

Always take the Alpha Lipoic Acid supplement dosage for Diabetes under the supervision of your doctors.

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DISCLAIMER: This article is for educational purposes only, always check with your medical doctor before stopping any prescription medications or when implementing any dietary and lifestyle changes.
References

Healthlyious has strict sourcing guidelines, believes in trustworthy and reliable sources, and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, medical journal publications, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

  • Diabetes and Alpha Lipoic Acid: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3221300/
  • Alpha-lipoic acid as a pleiotropic compound with potential therapeutic use in diabetes and other chronic diseases: https://dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1758-5996-6-80
  • Alpha‐lipoic acid for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6491199/
  • Epidemiology of Peripheral Neuropathy and Lower Extremity Disease in Diabetes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6755905/
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid for Symptomatic Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Diabetes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3272801/
  • Alpha-lipoic acid attenuates insulin resistance and improves glucose metabolism in high fat diet-fed mice: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4186984
  • Alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of autonomic diabetic neuropathy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15529636/
  • Effects of treatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in NIDDM patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9051389/
  • Efficacy of Alpha-lipoic Acid in The Management of Diabetes Mellitus: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9051389/
  • Lipoic acid improves glucose utilization and prevents protein glycation and AGE formation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7508121_Lipoic_acid_improves_glucose_utilisation_and_prevents_protein_glycation_and_AGE_formation

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