Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Lack of vitamin D impairs a person’s immunity and ability
to produce insulin and respond to insulin. A study from Bulgaria
shows that giving vitamin D supplements to diabetics during the
winter markedly improved control of their blood sugar levels
(International Journal of Clinical Practice, Volume 57, Issue 4,
2003).
Most people require sunlight to meet their needs for
vitamin D because it is very difficult to get enough from food. This
means that many people in the northern latitudes are deficient in
vitamin D by the end of winter, particularly people with dark skin.
This study shows that giving vitamin D pills to Type 2 diabetics
during the winter improved control of blood sugar levels by
increasing the first response of insulin from the pancreas to a rise
in blood sugar, and by improving cell response to insulin. If this
study can be confirmed, doctors will recommend that diabetics
take vitamin D supplements whenever they cannot get adequate
exposure to sunshine. More on controlling diabetes
May 1, 2006