Diabetes and the D FACTOR

The links between vitamin D deficiency and diabetes have scientists questioning whether topping up your levels could not only improve diabetes control, but might actually prevent some people from developing it. Here’s some food for thought…

FOCUS ON TYPE 2

On top of research suggesting a link between lower levels of vitamin D and less consistent blood glucose management in people with type 2 diabetes, a 2018 Australian study also found an association between vitamin D status and the risk of developing type 2 in the first place. In the study, as vitamin D levels rose, diabetes risk did the opposite. Similarly, research published just last year found that people with lower vitamin D levels were more likely to have prediabetes.

One explanation may be the fact that vitamin D is believed to help improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that’s responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. So, by maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D, the risk of insulin resistance, which is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes, may fall.

Putting that theory to the test, the results of some recent studies suggest that for people at a high risk of developing type 2, taking a vitamin D supplement may help to improve insulin resistance. Similarly, an overseas study published in 2019 found that when people already living with type 2 diabetes took a vitamin D supplement, their HbA1c and their insulin resistance improved.

FOCUS ON TYPE 1

As the rate of type 1 continues to increase around the globe, scientists have had low vitamin D levels in their sights as a possible cause for some time. So, what do we know? The short story is, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. While a study published at the beginning of 2021 seems to suggest that vitamin D deficiency doesn’t increase the risk of type 1 diabetes, other research shows that vitamin D levels are often significantly lower in children with type 1. But whether that’s as a result of diabetes rather than contributing to its cause, isn’t completely clear yet.

Still, bearing in mind that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, low vitamin D levels have been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of several other types of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. And recently, UK researchers delved a bit deeper into why and discovered it’s due to how vitamin D directly affects key cells of the immune system.

As the rate of type 1 continues to increase around the globe, scientists have low vitamin D levels in their sights as a possible cause.