Health
Some supplements may pose risks for people with diabetes, experts say
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Some surveys find that about 75% of U.S. adults have used supplements, while federal survey data shows that 58% used one in the past 30 days — but some groups should exercise caution, experts say.
There are many different supplements — including vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and probiotics — designed to fill nutrient gaps and support overall wellness. Some target specific functions, such as immune support, muscle recovery and bone health, according to multiple medical sources.
Unlike prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, supplements usually aren’t FDA-approved before they are marketed, but the FDA does regulate them and can take action against unsafe or misbranded products.
POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS LINKED TO RARE ‘PIRATE DISEASE,’ RESEARCHERS WARN
For people with diabetes, the following supplements could pose serious health risks, as they can affect blood glucose levels or interact with medications, per the National Institutes of Health.
Unlike prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, supplements usually aren’t FDA-approved before marketing. (iStock)
St. John’s Wort
Dawn Menning, a California-based registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with Nutu, a healthy lifestyle app, says people with diabetes should avoid taking St. John’s Wort as a supplement.
Primarily touted as a natural remedy for mild to moderate depression, St. John’s Wort could have additional benefits for anxiety, sleep issues, and menopausal or PMS-related symptoms.
THE ZERO-CALORIE SUGAR SUBSTITUTE YOU’RE USING MAY DO MORE THAN SWEETEN FOOD, STUDY SAYS
“This herbal remedy can interfere with many diabetes medications by affecting the way the body breaks them down,” Menning told Fox News Digital. “This can make medications less effective and blood sugar management more difficult.”
Chromium
This supplement is often marketed for its ability to improve blood sugar regulation in people with type 2 diabetes, Menning noted, but there is limited evidence and the research is “mixed.”
“Taking this supplement with insulin or oral diabetes medications may increase the risk of hypoglycemia,” she cautioned. This condition can increase the risk of dizziness, fatigue and fainting, according to Healthline.
For people with diabetes, some supplements could pose health risks, as they can affect blood glucose levels or interact with medications (iStock)
Bitter melon supplements
These are often taken to help with reducing blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, Menning noted.
GLP-1 WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS LINKED TO IMPROVED CANCER SURVIVAL IN CERTAIN PATIENTS
“It contains compounds such as polypeptide-p, which may act like insulin,” she said. “Taking this with diabetes medications could increase the risk of hypoglycemia.”
Niacin (vitamin B3)
This supplement is sometimes used to help manage cholesterol levels — but in people with diabetes, it may also raise blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
SIMPLE DAILY HABIT COULD HELP PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MANAGE BLOOD SUGAR
“I would caution against using high-dose niacin supplements because it can noticeably raise blood sugar levels and make it harder to keep A1c in an optimal range,” Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com in New York, told Fox News Digital.
Ginseng
Asian ginseng has been linked to a boost in energy, focus and immune system health. It also contains antioxidants, which can provide cellular protection, according to Cleveland Clinic.
While it has also been linked to improved cardiometabolic factors for those with prediabetes and diabetes, some evidence suggests that ginseng could lower blood sugar levels when combined with diabetes medications.
Β-carotene
This supplement is primarily used as an antioxidant and a source of vitamin A to support vision, immune function, and overall eye and skin health.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“The American Diabetes Association recommends against β-carotene supplementation for people with diabetes because of its association with increased lung cancer and cardiovascular mortality risk,” Jordan Hill, a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching in Colorado, told Fox News Digital.
High-dose cinnamon (Cassia cinnamon)
Cinnamon is often promoted as a supplement for diabetes management and weight loss, as some research has shown it can help to reduce blood sugar and lower insulin resistance.
For most supplements, one expert said, “there isn’t evidence to support a beneficial effect on diabetes or its complications.” (iStock)
However, consuming large amounts of cinnamon can enhance the effects of diabetes and cause blood sugar levels to fall too low, which can cause hypoglycemia, Healthline warns.
Cinnamon also includes a compound called coumarin, which can cause liver damage if consumed in large amounts.
Niacin (high-dose vitamin B3)
This supplement can help to promote healthy digestion, skin and nervous system function, according to Mayo Clinic.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
High doses of nicotinic acid (a form of niacin) can raise blood sugar levels and interfere with the effectiveness of diabetes medications, warns the National Institutes of Health.
“These doses can even raise blood sugar levels in people who don’t have diabetes,” the NIH states.
Aloe vera
Oral aloe vera is often promoted for diabetes, weight loss and inflammatory bowel disease.
However, when paired with diabetes medications, it could cause blood sugar levels to dip and increase the risk of hypoglycemia with medications, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can also cause gastrointestinal side effects.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
For most supplements, Menning noted, “there isn’t evidence to support a beneficial effect on diabetes or its complications.”
“The primary concern with most supplements is not direct harm, but rather the lack of regulatory oversight.”
The American Diabetes Standards of Care state: “Without underlying deficiency, there are no benefits from herbal or nonherbal (i.e., vitamin or mineral) supplementation for people with diabetes.”
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology advises caution with all unregulated nutritional supplements due to “inconsistent composition, quality and potential for harm,” Hill said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“The primary concern with most supplements is not direct harm, but rather the lack of regulatory oversight,” he told Fox News Digital.
Experts recommend speaking with a doctor before starting any supplement to understand how it could affect blood sugar levels, medications or overall diabetes management.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
Related Article
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
Related Article
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year
Alabama Baseball Ties Stolen Base Record In Win Over Hornets
Dunleavy, EPA visit UAF to discuss regulations in the arctic environment
Haitian man detained at Arizona ICE facility dies in US custody, brother says
Arkansas to honor Nolan Richardson with statue outside arena
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DHS defends McLaughlin against allegations husband’s company profited millions from ad contracts: ‘Baseless’
Sánchez defies Trump in political gamble as Madrid say no to war
Satellite images show Iran school strike hit more buildings than earlier reported
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
Which oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been attacked?
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Wisconsin3 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Maryland4 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Florida4 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Oregon6 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks