Understanding the Connection Between Diabetes and Vitamin D

Vitamin D plays a vital role in the functioning of your body, it helps in maintaining your bone health, etc. You can get it through certain foods and is also produced by your body in response to the sun.

So, are you getting enough sunlight? Maybe yes, but despite adequate sunlight throughout the year, Vitamin D deficiency has become a common problem. You might be surprised to know that a deficiency in Vitamin D can be a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes.

The relation between Vitamin D and diabetes

Vitamin D helps in improving the body's sensitivity to insulin, which is a hormone meant for regulating blood sugar levels. Thus, this vitamin can reduce the risk of insulin resistance which is often considered a warning sign for type 2 diabetes.

Some experts believe that Vitamin D can regulate the production of insulin in the pancreas. Moreover, it has other health benefits too that can have an impact on the regulation of blood sugar levels. Some of the benefits include:

• Helps in weight loss- One of the major risk factors for diabetes is obesity. Many studies indicate that having adequate levels of Vitamin D can help in reducing the parathyroid hormone levels, which can promote weight loss and reduce the risk of obesity.

• Regulating appetite- Vitamin D can raise the level of hormone Leptin, which is responsible for controlling the fat storage in the body. It helps in triggering the sensation of satiety which would make you eat less hence, lowering your hunger levels.

• Reducing fat around the visceral organs- When there are adequate levels of Vitamin D, it can help in lowering the levels of cortisol which is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for performing many important functions including regulating blood pressure. When the cortisol level is under control, it helps in reducing the abdominal or visceral fat which is detrimental to health and has an adverse effect on type 2 diabetes.

Where can you get vitamin D from?

Vitamin D is found in some food items such as healthy fats and sea fish. It is also produced by the body when our skin comes in contact with the UV-B rays of the sun as the cholesterol derivative is converted into Vitamin D. Every cell and tissue present in the body acts as a Vitamin D protein receptor.

There are two forms of Vitamin D- Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. D3 is synthesized by the human body when the sun rays fall on the skin. This form is 300% more powerful than D2, which is the plant-synthesized form that is available as supplements.

So, if you think you are at a risk of vitamin D deficiency, then soak yourself in the sun for 10 - 15 minutes every day, or start taking supplements only after consulting your healthcare provider.