Hi all,
Went to the doctor and got my usual battery of test results back. While I'm very excited that my A1c is now 6.5% and my kidneys are doing great, I was concerned about my Vitamin D level has dropped to 18. My doctor has me now on 2000 IU and will recheck in 3 months. My question, is Vit D deficiency a common problem with diabetics or is it just a problem of adults that work a day job at a desk?
Vit D is a common problem for diabetics. I’ve ended up having to supplement with 8,000 IU/day in order to stay in normal range. Yes, you read that right, 8,000 IUs/day.
Low vitamin D level is common with people in North America . Vitamin D deficncy is a cotributing factor in developing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Hopefully this will improve my energy levels.
My daughter and I both have to take high doses of Vitamin D3 (2000-4000 IU/day) to keep our levels high enough. I am type 1, but she’s not. We are both celiac though so I’ve always equated the low D levels to that, not my diabetes. My husband’s D level is always OK, but he takes 1000 IU a day because we live in the Northern US.
Michelle
Western Washington State
I am up to 5000 IU a day and 50000 IU twice a month…hopefully next time I will be going upo instead of down…was down to 14 on the 2X a month RX and 2000 IU a day…as Pooh would say…bother!
I wonder if a lot of people aren’t Vit D deficient & it’s just that diabetics get tested more for everything because we’re at doctors more.
2000 IU isn’t very much. I take 6000 IU daily. You’re taking Vit D3?
I tested at 25 once. The doctor said that was “normal”, but I started taking 2000 IU / day anyway. I haven’t been re-tested. So I am hesitant to take more.
I take vitamin D3 drops, which are really easy and cost effective. I put a drop in my morning tea. I ordered mine here
I agree I think that many people are Vitamin D deficient, but given that it is a not a common test, people don’t know it.
I wonder if I might have a D deficit as well. Something to remember for my next appointment.
@Kristin: Is vitamin D stable in hot tea? I would fear that it will break down under heat.
Always go with the bloodwork - it tells the story and that’s what you act on. Vit D was on the first short list my doctor put me on - Caltrate + D twice a day. He’s also an osteoporosis guy so I should have known the calcium would be on the list.
Anyway – all good things in the mix and all the right supplements and you do feel more energy.
Good Luck!
Good point! I hadn’t thought of this. I guess I start with a little water then 
I’ve been on 50,000 units weekly since November. Vit D deficiency is very common in diabetics. It has been implicated as a risk factor for developing diabtes and also is very strongly linked with heart disease. I get my level rechecked in 3 weeks - my doctor is aiming to bring it up to 50.
Yes, Vitamin D deficiency is common in many chronic diseases, including diabetes. Like many here, I also tested as “extremely” VitD deficient several months ago and have been taking supplements ever since (2000IU/d now). Most physicians now recommend a level between 32.0 - 100 for optimal health (reference: Hollis BW. J Nutr. 2005 Feb; 135(2):317-22).
Vit D is sort of the new “it” vitamin in medicine. Besides the well known diseases associated with Vit D such as Rickets (which is almost unheard of now in the US), Vit D has now been implicated in everything from diabetes, to cancer, to cardiovascular disease. Using the definition of 30 as an optimal bottom level for Vit D, it is estimated that approximately 1 billion people worldwide are deficient in Vit D.
Since this is a diabetes forum, I’ll briefly mention the research in that area. Several studies have demonstrated that Vit D supplementation in children reduces the incidence of T1D and that increasing Vit D during pregnancy will reduce islet cell autoantibodies in offspring. In one such study done in Finland, 10,366 children were given Vit D supplementation of 2000IU per day during their first year of life. These children were followed for 31 years and the researchers showed that the risk of T1D in this group was reduced by approximately 81%. In the children who were Vit D deficient, on the other hand, risk was increased almost 200%. Studies have also demonstrated that daily calcium and vit D intake can reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes in adults.
Most authorities would agree that it is basically impossible to get the correct amount of Vit D from diet and sunlight alone, while balancing the risks associated with sun exposure. Unless someone is eating a very large amount of fish or fish oil, it is unlikely that they will meet the optimal levels of Vit D from diet alone. With more and more Vit D research emerging, I expect that Vit D will become the new Vit C – a staple in everyone’s medicine cabinet.
References (for those who like that sort of thing):
Chiu KC, Chu A, Go VLW, Saad MF. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and β cell dysfunction. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:820-5.
Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, Jarvelin M-R, Virtanen SM. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet 2001;358:1500-3.
(for anyone who is interested, there is a great (but highly technical) review article on Vitamin D from the NEJM that I would be happy to send to you if you’re so inclined.)
I know it’s a common deficiency with type 1s.
I don’t know what Vitamin D does, tho- can anyone tell me that? haha. Sorry. I know a lot about a little- if that makes sense.
Vit D is primarily involved with calcium absorption and reabsorption. There is a complicated interplay between parathyroid hormone, calcium, Vit D, and phosphorus that keeps an ideal balance of calcium in your system. If the body senses a calcium deficiency, for example, the bone will be stimulated to release or not absorb calcium which can lead to osteoporosis or osteomalacia (Rickets). If Vit D is too low, calcium is not absorbed properly.
There are Vit D receptors in almost every type of tissue. Vit D also promotes muscle strength . The brain, prostate, breast, colon, and immune cells all have Vit D receptors and are thought to be affected by Vit D in some meaningful way.
Good to know! I wonder if my Endo checks for it? I’ll ask him in two weeks at my appt
Like vitamin A and E ; D is an oil soluble vitamin .So you my be better off taking your vitamin D with your meals were you cosumed some fats. I take mine the same time I take omega 3 oil.
What units is 25 once ? Most testing I’ve seen is in ug/ml. And anything under 35ug is is considered low .and many experts believe that people with chronic condition such as diabetes , cancer or heart diease should be at levels of 70 ug to 90ug . 100ug is over dose and 120 ug is toxic.
Same thing, all is well, 6.4 A1C, creatinine, albumin, etc. all in range, but a huge Vitamin D deficiency time and again. Right now I’m at 12. I thought it was just being in Oregon in the winter but now I’m on 'script Vita D 75,000 IU a week! Just something else on the list I guess…