Vitamin K Helps Prevent Diabetes

Fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin K, plays a vital role in blood coagulation; therefore, its dietary intake is essential to prevent diabetes. Diabetes is mainly caused due to blood sugar glucose dysfunction within body. Among other factors of blood dysfunction that cause diabetes are genetic disorders, inadequate nutrition, obesity and lack of physical exercise.

All vitamins have a certain role in prevention or delaying onset of diabetes. Therefore, diet plan for preventing diabetes must contain vegetables and fruits that are considered rich sources of vitamins. These food options also help in reducing severity of diabetes signs and symptoms.

All about Vitamin K

• Vitamin K is known for blood coagulation function.
• K1 and K2 are the two forms of vitamin K.
• Green leafy vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy products along with fruits like kiwifruit and avocado are considered as best sources of vitamin K.
• Vitamin K is also synthesized by the human body.
• The nutritional element is only required in a small quantity
• Health conditions occurring due to Vitamin K deficiency are rare, mostly accompanied by other medical conditions.
• Vitamin K reduces systemic inflammation, which improves body's use of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin.
• The fat-soluble vitamin is also responsible for protecting one against oxidative damage, regulating inflammatory response and supporting nervous system structure.

Vitamin K in Daily Diet

Vitamin K in diet prevents insulin resistance, which is responsible for managing the level of glucose in bloodstream. Increased level of insulin means that the insulin molecule becomes ineffective in its functions. Therefore, diet must have sufficient amount of green leafy vegetables, especially broccoli and spinach. 12 micrograms for men and 90 micrograms for women is recommended vitamin K intake.

Increased Requirement of Vitamin K

• In case of bleeding, you require more vitamin K than usual. Bleeding could be of various kinds, including heavy menstrual bleeding, gum bleeding, bleeding within the digestive tract and nose bleeding. Bleeding is also one of the indicators of vitamin K deficiency.
• Getting a bruise on eye.
• In case of a disorder like calcification of blood vessels or heart valves
• Bone fracture or bone weakening

Vitamin K: Essential for Preventing other Health Conditions

Besides diabetes, vitamin K is also associated with several maladies and health conditions. Among these are anticoagulant therapy, bone fracture, chronic liver disease, cystic fibrosis, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, osteopenia (bone loss), osteoporosis (decreased bone mineral density) and thrombosis.

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