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Omega 3 And Type II Diabetes

Omega 3 and type II diabetes are not commonly linked in the media. Recent trials suggest they really should be though, as estimates show that about 10% of people suffer from diabetes, and it is well known that diabetes medications can cause many side effects that, in some cases, are just as bad as the condition itself. It should therefore come as no surprise that more and more people are turning to natural alternatives with increased frequency.

With that being the case, why is it that people don’t seem to be turning to omega-3 fatty acids to help with their condition then, especially as it can help it in so many ways? The answer is simple: people just aren’t aware of the link between the two. That is why we have decided to write the following article explaining the link in great detail, to ensure everyone is fully informed on exactly how omega-3 fatty acids can help people with type II diabetes.

Table of Contents

What Is Omega 3?

Omega-3 is a type of healthy, essential fatty acid and polyunsaturated fat that scientific trials have repeatedly demonstrated is among the most useful nutrients for the human body, as it benefits it in such a wide range of ways. Unfortunately, the human body is not able to produce omega-3s naturally, so we have to get our omega-3 intake from either supplements or the foods we eat in our diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids come in three different forms, which are ALAs (alpha-linolenic acid), EPAs (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHAs (docosahexaenoic acid). All 3 are very similar but function in slightly different ways, with EPA and DHA omega-3s generally being considered to be the most useful types for humans. They can all be found in slightly different sources as well, but some of the sources do contain more than just one type of omega-3 (1).

The list of health benefits that omega-3 fatty acids can produce is extremely long. However, in this article, we will solely be focusing on how they help people with type II diabetes, both with regards to how they improve their condition and overall health. For anyone who wants to find out more about the other health benefits omega 3s can offer, though, we recently wrote two articles covering all of them in great detail, which can be read here and here.

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Omega 3 And Type II Diabetes: How Do Omega 3s Help You Control Blood Sugar Levels?

Improves Insulin Sensitivity

Many studies suggest omega-3 fatty acids can improve insulin sensitivity, particularly in obese or insulin-resistant individuals. Insulin sensitivity refers to how effectively your body’s cells respond to insulin, which is the hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and into the cells for energy production or storage and controls a person’s blood sugar levels.

With insulin resistance, i.e., poor sensitivity to insulin, being one of the major problems that causes and exacerbates type ii diabetes, improving a person’s insulin sensitivity with omega-3 supplementation is a great way to combat the condition (2).

Boosts Metabolism

Omega-3s can help increase a person’s metabolic rate, which means you will process the foods you eat much faster, even during times of rest. As a result, your body will use the sugar from any foods you eat far quicker than it usually would, preventing any blood sugar spikes and helping to regulate your overall blood sugar levels (3).

Reduces Inflammation & Blood Sugar Levels

Omega-3 fatty acids have potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the body’s inflammation levels. Chronic low-grade inflammation is a key feature of insulin resistance and type ii diabetes, as it can lead to insulin resistance, making it much harder for the body to process glucose.

By reducing systemic inflammation, omega-3s may improve your metabolic health and insulin and glucose sensitivity, helping you enjoy better blood sugar levels, while also offering additional benefits, such as improved weight loss, reduced fat storage, and better energy levels, all of which are extremely useful for diabetics, as they both slow the progression of the condition and improve their overall health (4).

Learn more omega-3 and inflammation

Enhances Lipid Profiles

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce triglyceride levels, which are often elevated in people with diabetes. They also slightly lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels in some individuals, while raising HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.

Poor lipid and cholesterol levels can make type II diabetes worse by accelerating the overall speed of the disease’s progression, increasing insulin resistance and inflammation, and raising the risk of the serious complications that it can cause, especially the cardiovascular ones, such as damaged blood vessels.

Using omega-3 fatty acids will therefore both slow the progression of your condition and also help to repair much of the damage it has already done to your health as possible (5).

Suppresses Appetite

Omega-3 fatty acids aid appetite regulation by affecting the hormones that control hunger, including leptin and ghrelin, while also improving satiety, which is the satisfied feeling that a person experiences after eating. Increasing your sensitivity to leptin means you will feel fuller much sooner, while decreasing your ghrelin levels and improving satiety prevents the feeling of hunger from returning as fast.

This helps you lower your overall calorie and sugar intake by reducing the desire to snack, keeping your blood glucose levels down in the process (6).

Did you know that omega-3 supplementation can help with weight loss? Learn more here

Supports The Heart & Liver

People with type II diabetes have a far higher risk of heart and liver diseases, which both deteriorate their overall health and cause diabetes to progress much faster. Beyond directly improving the condition itself, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids can also help diabetics by lowering triglycerides, reducing blood pressure levels, and helping prevent plaque buildup in arteries and fat buildup in the liver.

This will greatly reduce the likelihood of you developing complications like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (7)(8).