Is Taking Vitamin D Early After Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis a Game Changer?

For a brief time following the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, your body still produces some insulin. Prolonging this period can lead to better long-term health outcomes. And vitamin D might help you do that.

In type 1 diabetes, the beta-cells in the pancreas produce little or no insulin. But for months or years after diagnosis, approximately 30%-50% of residual beta-cell function may remain. Prolonging this period leads to improved glycemic control and decreased long-term complications. Taking vitamin D may help you accomplish that.

This year long, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 48 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics between the ages of 10 and 21 suggested that taking 50,000 IU of vitamin D a week for 2 months, then every other week for 10 months protected beta-cells and improved and extended the period of insulin production.

This study suggests that supplementing vitamin D could be a promising new addition for helping young people with type 1 diabetes.

JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(3):e241155.

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