Hi patina,
That is great news about your FBG!!!
I know for sure that magnesium is involved in glucose metabolism. I have just found this in "The Magnesium Miracle" by Dr Carolyn Dean:
http://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Mir...99058375&sr=1-1
Quote:
"THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAGNESIUM AND DIABETES
1. Magnesium deficiency may be an independent predictor of diabetes.
2. Diabetics need more magnesium and lose more than most people.
3. Magnesium is necessary for the production, function, and transport of insulin."
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As vitamin D3 increases the uptake of magnesium, it could be involved in improving FBG numbers that way. I have just read (in a German book on Vitamin D3) that it increases insulin sensitivity, so that would be another explanation.
At any rate, I am sure you feel very motivated to carry on taking these supplements now!
You write above:
Quote:
About 2 weeks ago I added in D3 at a rate of 5,000 IU in the morning and evening.
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10K a day is actually quite a lot, unless you know for sure that your levels were already very low. I would get them tested in about six months and certainly ramp down the intake when you can get in the summer sun. I don't know what latitude you're at, so I can't say when you'll be getting D3 from the sun in your area.
Usually about 5K per day is enough for most people. After reading a few articles, I now no longer take 5K daily in winter, but just every other day. I got this advice from Stephan Guyenet (Whole Health Blog) and, I think, Chris Kresser or Chris Masterjohn says the same. I know of a few people (Hyperlipid, for one, plus someone on this forum) who got their levels up too high on 10K a day. The Jaminets ("The Perfect Health Diet") also advise taking vitamin K2 (I think, must check!!!) with vitamin D3 as they argue this will stop it from becoming from toxic. As you can see, this is a complex field!!!
You can get K2 in LC foods, so, personally, I haven't used this supplement (yet!!!), but I am going to look into it.
In your shoes, I would stop taking the D3 in the evenings and just take the 5K in the mornings, but, that's just my opinion.
You also wrote this:
Quote:
I have been taking 1,000 mg Metformin morning and night
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I wholeheartedly agree with Nancy on this one and can personally recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Could-Be-B12-...pd_bxgy_b_img_b
I successfully managed to treat my B12 deficiency with this:
http://www.iherb.com/Source-Natural...blets/1466?at=0
All the classic anaemia symptoms which I had are GONE!!! The only remaining symptom is occasional numb patches on my back. However, I am hoping that this will also go soon - the numb patches are no longer as big as they were and the feeling of numbness doesn't last so long any more either.
I started taking this on October 22nd 2010 and feel like a new woman!!! I initially took 2mg per day, 1mg in the a.m. and 1mg in the early p.m. I find that it gives me an energy boost, so I never take it at night like NancyLC, but, that's just a personal experience. Everyone has to see what works best for them. However, it does say on the iherb.com website page that it is involved in the sleep-wake cycle, so I suppose it may make sense to take it at night. I now only take 1mg per day.
As I read (in the book mentioned above) that taking B12 can initially cause your body to make a larger amount of red blood cells, for which it requires extra potassium, I also got myself some potassium. Apparently, very low potassium can be very dangerous, so I got that at huge expense from a rip-off German online supplement retailer. I have this on order from iherb.com:
http://www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Way-P...sules/2000?at=0
In your shoes, I would DEMAND a blood test of your B12 levels and insist on having it prescribed, if you can. If that is not possible, then both the potassium and B12 are pretty cheap and won't make such a big hole in your pocket, I hope!!!
Using this code ~~~~~~ will at least get you a $5 discount on your first order, so that might help!!!
If you do find out that your B12 levels are low (my level was 477 - I forget the units used - which was - ha ha ha - within the "normal range"), which means under 500-600, not whatever the "normal lab reference range" is, then you might even want to consider the 5mg tablets initially. But I really would then insist on getting my potassium levels checked by a doctor, too, (at least that is what is advised in this book). A "good" B12 level is around 1,000-1,200, so I hear.
I'm going to have blood work done again when I reach my 6-month gluten-free mark as I am curious to see whether my iron levels have gone up!!! I shall also then report back on my B12 levels, OK?
OK, that's more than two cents and I need to eat something!!!
Take care,
amanda