Supplements
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is one of the 8 Vitamin Bs. Let’s look at why it is an essential vitamin for diabetics.
Vitamin B6 helps the body in making neurotransmitters or chemicals which transfer signals between nerve cells, making it an important vitamin for the normal functioning of the brain. Since Vitamin B6 supports nerve health, it helps in managing diabetic neuropathy, a complication in which nerves are damaged because of uncontrolled diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition of increased blood sugar levels during pregnancy. The condition goes away after the baby is born. In a study, Vitamin B6 has shown to significantly lower blood glucose levels in women with late pregnancy gestational diabetes. It does so by lowering Xanthurenic acid, a chemical which is high during gestational diabetes.
Glycation is a harmful process, which comes naturally with ageing. It is a result of a reaction between sugars, such as glucose, and proteins in the body. Since diabetics have elevated levels of glucose in the blood, they are more vulnerable to glycation. Glycation reactions can lead to cataract, kidney failure, and even Alzheimer’s. A unique form of Vitamin B6 called pyridoxamine, is known to interfere with toxic glycation reactions. Fish, chicken, walnuts, and eggs are some natural sources of pyridoxamine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9777946
http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/14/1/329/htm