Gummy vitamins have become increasingly popular for both children and adults alike. Most vitamins are difficult to swallow and are what I like to call “horse pills.” However, medication in a more appealing vehicle makes it more likely for a person to remember to take them every day. And with all the seriousness of diabetes, a gummy multivitamin may help to provide a nutritional benefit with a little bit of fun.
Slice of Life Diabetic Health is a gummy multivitamin that contains cinnamon extract. It touts that it is sugar, dairy, and gluten-free and contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
Some supplements included in the product include alpha lipoic acid – a fatty acid that helps to better utilize blood sugar; chromium and biotin, which are believed to have effects on lowering blood sugar; and lutein, which is commonly found in eye vitamins to delay the progression of macular degeneration since one of the complications of diabetes and poor blood sugar control are vision problems and possible blindness.
Selenium is also found in Slice of Life, and is an antioxidant that helps to prevent cell damage. There are reports that when taken in high concentrations, selenium could actually cause diabetes. For this reason, less than 200 micrograms is recommended, and this multivitamin is way below that with about 37 micrograms in each gummy.
There are many goals and guidelines when it comes to diabetes but nothing specific as far as what vitamins and minerals diabetics should take. One of the few supplements that is widely accepted for diabetics is cinnamon. This may be because it’s already included in many people’s diet. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar and I’ve always wondered if cinnamon was sprinkled on top of many sugary desserts for that very reason; just a coincidence, I guess.
There isn’t any information online yet regarding this product. The brand Slice of Life has an assortment of vitamin supplements in gummy form including Vitamin D, omega-3-6-9, and Vitamin C with pomegranate, just to name a few. It doesn’t appear to be available at any major pharmacy chains like CVS or Walgreens, but is available at GNC, Whole Foods, and The Vitamin Shoppe. Each bottle contains a 30-day supply and ranges in price between $11-25. I would say these are on the more expensive end compared to other gummy vitamins available.
The biggest concern I have with gummy vitamins and chewables is the risk of overdose by children or pets. We all probably took Flintstone vitamins as children and I know I always wanted to have more than just one. Just remember to keep these – as well as all medications – out of reach from children. It’s possible for children to mistake pills as candy, and gummies can easily fall in that category.
Any parent or pet owner should have their local poison control phone number available in case a medication overdose occurs. I keep all of my medications in my kitchen cabinets. A medicine cabinet is probably one of the worst places to keep medication due to the moisture in the bathroom. Excess heat and moisture would probably have an effect on the gummies as well.
Diabetes is a tough disease to manage. Low and high blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, proper nutrition and preventing complications are just a few of the issues faced everyday. To help manage the nutrition portion, a multivitamin is a good way to ensure you are getting the right amount of nutrients. I think Slice of Life Diabetic Health could be helpful for anyone, not just those with diabetes.
Now the question is, when will all of our prescription medications be in gummy form?
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Type 2 Diabetes in Children on the Rise as Solutions Grow Fewer