Tell me about Chromium

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

More than one person has suggested it for my blood sugar. It crashes and I become absolutely zonked out. I'm not expecting a miracle cure, and I'm working on eating in more frequent intervals, but it's hard for me to remember to eat. When my glucose levels crash I immediatly crawl into bed because I'm so exhausted. I don't remember that I'm exhausted because I haven't eaten until AFTER I've slept. :rolleyes:

Anyway, what can I expect? I started taking 200mcg this morning and was told that I may need to bump it to 400mcg. How would I know if I need to up the dosage?

[tumblewieds]

More than one person has suggested it for my blood sugar. It crashes and I become absolutely zonked out. I'm not expecting a miracle cure, and I'm working on eating in more frequent intervals, but it's hard for me to remember to eat. When my glucose levels crash I immediatly crawl into bed because I'm so exhausted. I don't remember that I'm exhausted because I haven't eaten until AFTER I've slept. :rolleyes:

Anyway, what can I expect? I started taking 200mcg this morning and was told that I may need to bump it to 400mcg. How would I know if I need to up the dosage?

There's a great lady over here who does it. She'd be able to sniff out your deficiencies and suggest the right supplements and dosages.

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

There's a great lady over here who does it. She'd be able to sniff out your deficiencies and suggest the right supplements and dosages.


You're so cute! Yes, it's a good idea, but I'm not spending ANY money right now. I'm dead set on us buying a house in the next 18months and EVERYTHING is going to that. No more name brand paper towels, no more $7 a lb cheese. (Goodbye dill havarti! You'll be missed) I broke down and went to the dr, and I'm so concerned about the follow up appts, but IMO I need to stay on top of my thyroid hormones and I'm calling that a necessary expense. Since L and I aren't married I qualify for the low income program at Primacare. Office visits are $20 (vs $60) but I'm not sure about all the lab work yet.

[Nicke]

More than one person has suggested it for my blood sugar. It crashes and I become absolutely zonked out. I'm not expecting a miracle cure, and I'm working on eating in more frequent intervals, but it's hard for me to remember to eat. When my glucose levels crash I immediatly crawl into bed because I'm so exhausted. I don't remember that I'm exhausted because I haven't eaten until AFTER I've slept. :rolleyes:


OMG, this is so me. If I'm not zonked, I'm cranky. It's soooo weird how much better I feel after eating.

Anywhoo...I'm hoping Mandi will come by with some dosage info for you.

I used Chromium in addition to the vitamin schedule from Potatoes, Not Prozac. It's specifically for people with sugar sensitivity. Vit. C, Zinc, and B. I felt soooo much better when I was taking them. I need to get back on track!

[Gargoyle]

I'm taking it right now. My naturopath subscribed it along with Vitamin A, Vitamin C and B. I take 200 mcg of it. He said to take 200-400. I do notice it adds to my jitteriness if I don't take it on a full stomach. This is also why I haven't upped it to 400. He's trying to stabilize things for me for weight loss.

For the Chromium, it says (on my paperwork he wrote up for me) that it improves blood sugar via increasing the number of insulin receptors on red blood cells, improving glucose tolerance and lowering insulin levels. That is lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing HDL. Lowers body weight yet increases lean body mass.

[Storymama]

I think 200mcg is pretty low for someone with seriously flaky blood sugar like you describe. I actually take 400 mcg for mild symps, and Amelia takes 400mcg twice a day.

I think it might not be a bad idea to put something like honey sticks by your bed, so you see them when you head for a crashing nap. Go ahead and lie down, but maybe if you see the honey sticks, you can have a little blood sugar boost too, and only need to lie down for 20 minutes or so and then go get some real protein. Put them in plain sight where you don't have to be responsible for remembering them!

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

I think 200mcg is pretty low for someone with seriously flaky blood sugar like you describe. I actually take 400 mcg for mild symps, and Amelia takes 400mcg twice a day.
Do you think 200mcg 3 times a day would be a good starting place? I was thinking 200 was low too.


I think it might not be a bad idea to put something like honey sticks by your bed, so you see them when you head for a crashing nap. Go ahead and lie down, but maybe if you see the honey sticks, you can have a little blood sugar boost too, and only need to lie down for 20 minutes or so and then go get some real protein. Put them in plain sight where you don't have to be responsible for remembering them!

Must remember honey sticks. I'll pick some up this week. I wish I had the ability to lay down for 20 min, but I don't. Every 30 min nap I think I'm going to take turns into a 3 hour siesta :P

[Storymama]

I think 200 x3 would be great, if you can remember a Three Times a Day regimen. I barely get in twice a day, I'm sunk if I have to do more than that.

I was thinking that if you have some honey on board when you lay down, you WILL be able to get back up at 20-30, when your sugar rebounds, in a way you presently can't.

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

I think 200 x3 would be great, if you can remember a Three Times a Day regimen. I barely get in twice a day, I'm sunk if I have to do more than that.

I was thinking that if you have some honey on board when you lay down, you WILL be able to get back up at 20-30, when your sugar rebounds, in a way you presently can't.

Ah ha! I never thought about that LOL.

These people (http://www.chromiumpicolinate.org/DIABETES_chromiumsupplement.htmhttp://) who happen to sell Chromium :jester:, suggest 4-8mcg per kg of body weight.. that puts me taking between 500-1000 mcg a day.

[Amanda_Reyasmom]

OMG, this is so me. If I'm not zonked, I'm cranky. It's soooo weird how much better I feel after eating.

Anywhoo...I'm hoping Mandi will come by with some dosage info for you.

I used Chromium in addition to the vitamin schedule from Potatoes, Not Prozac. It's specifically for people with sugar sensitivity. Vit. C, Zinc, and B. I felt soooo much better when I was taking them. I need to get back on track!

I've started taking a mulitvitamin also :yeah:

[Nicke]

I think 200 x3 would be great, if you can remember a Three Times a Day regimen. I barely get in twice a day, I'm sunk if I have to do more than that.

I have to set my cell phone alarm to remind me to take my second dose of Wellbutrin every day.

[Storymama]

It's my first doses I have trouble with. I take a handful of pills and supplements in the AM, and then again in the PM. I *never* forget my bedtime meds because they help me sleep, LOL! If I am still lying there awake after an hour, I start to wonder why that might be . . . and voila, the pills get taken.

But AM pills - ugh, I am terrible. We set them out on the counter (three of us take AM pills) the night before, and the idea is that we see them on the way out the door. It SOMETIMES works, and sometimes not. I do carry a spare set in my schoolbag, and take those if I remember. These pills are more about longterm care, and so I don't feel worse immediately if I forget for the morning, there's no built in reminder like that. We text each other if we see that AM pills didn't get taken.

I also don't have a good, firm routine for my tincture supplements, which are also daily. Mostly I do it when I am getting ready in the bathroom, because I keep them near there (vs. the kitchen cupboard for the pills/vits) but it's not perfect. I probably only get tincture 5x/week :meh:.