As we age, our body goes through a lot of wear and tear. The internal composition of the body also keeps changing. Many things in the body are codependent and when one thing is affected, it can affect how the whole-body works. The same is true with collagen levels, as we age these levels go down. This can affect many functioning aspects of the body. Collagen and type 2 diabetes have interdependent functioning. Scientists studying the human body have known for a while now that diabetics’ collagen declines more rapidly than for a normal healthier person.

Many diabetics now struggle with the fact that their body is running low on such an important component. So naturally, they have questions like are my collagen levels low? Which are the best collagen supplements for diabetes? Are collagen supplements safe for diabetes? Can collagen supplements raise blood sugar? Can collagen supplements lower blood glucose levels? What form of collagen supplements are the best? And is the best collagen powder for diabetes as effective as experts suggest?

All these questions will now be answered. Read on and understand why every diabetic should be taking a collagen supplement.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the glue in the body. It holds everything together. Collagen provides support and strength to our connective tissues. It is a protein that is made up of long chains of amino acids. Collagen is the most abundant source of proteins in the human body. It is an integral part of the human body like in muscles, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, skin, bones, and even the digestive system.

Humans need collagen for the maintenance of the health of skin, gut and our joints. It even helps with mood stabilization, energy levels, and appetite. As we age the collagen in the human body begins to decrease. Its levels are fine till we are in our twenties, but as soon as we come out of our early twenties the level of collagen begins decreasing at the rate of 1.5 percent a year.

As you must have noticed symptoms like popping joints, aging skin and digestive problems that are actually because of these decreasing levels of collagen and not necessarily because of getting old. But don’t worry; a very easy way to get rid of these things is by supplementing yourself with collagen supplements. The same is true for diabetes; hydrolyzed collagen and diabetes have close links in the body and are a necessary supplementation. To know why diabetics need extra collagen, read on.

Collagen and Type 2 Diabetes

According to studies, diabetics lose collagen faster than an average aging human being. Since collagen is a crucial protein in the human body; its loss can trigger a variety of problems. These problems can then increase the complications of diabetes even more.

The higher rate of loss can be explained by the high blood sugar level and glycation. Glycation is a process in which sugar molecules attach to the collagen in the body and inhibit its function. This can give rise to additional problems like faster aging, stiffening of tissue which may lead to connective tissue disease, and slowed healing of soft tissue injuries and wounds. This can be serious problems with diabetics, where slow healing can lead to complications like amputations and permanent disability.

Collagen supplementation with the specially designed best collagen for diabetes can help regulate blood sugar levels. Diabetics who consume more protein with carbohydrates have been seen to have more stable blood sugar levels than diabetics who only eat carbohydrates. As collagen is a protein, it can help stabilize the blood glucose levels for longer in the human body.

For these benefits, you must choose the best collagen for diabetes. There are different forms of specially designed supplements available in the market nowadays. To choose the best one, you should know its different forms. Choosing the best collagen supplement simply means finding one that works optimally.

Collagen Supplements and Type 2 Diabetes

Collagen supplements and type 2 diabetes are linked at the hip because those with type 2 diabetes benefit from a higher protein to carbohydrate ratio and feeling full longer, as protein will do for you, helps in the fight against overeating. Collagen works best on an empty stomach and so it is often marketed as a bedtime aid to weight loss. Here are some common types of collagen supplements available in the market nowadays, for diabetics:

Collagen Powder

We can’t really say which is the best collagen powder for diabetes. That cannot be quantified or proven. The best form of collagen supplementation for anyone means finding the easiest way to get the amount of collagen protein desired without it being a chore to take. We believe collagen is best in a powder form and the best collagen powder for diabetics, weight loss and sports enthusiasts or even those wanting to just boost their protein intake would sensibly be one that is tasteless and easy to mix into any type of food that you want. Since it does not offend the taste buds, it makes it easier to be consistently used.

Collagen Injections

These are not in the supplement category for diabetics. These are for people looking to improve skin tone and appearance including scars. They are dermal fillers.

Collagen Capsules

Collagen capsules can come in the form of a pill or with a gel coating. They are the best option for people who want to avoid any kind of fuss, don’t mind swallowing a larger number of pills and can take them on an empty stomach. Just a glass of water and you can easily take them just before bed, in between meals , even on the go. Collagen peptides capsules like Lose While You Snooze Gel Caps travel easily but should be kept in a cool, dry place.

Liquid Collagen

Collagen is also available in the form of drinks. These are like shots that you can do easily. Some experts claim that liquids may provide better bioavailability when it comes to collagen uptake by the body. However, that claim has never been proven and most don’t like the texture it adds.

Factors Affecting Collagen Levels

An important factor that affects the concentration of collagen is vitamin C. It is an important part of the collagen production process. The hydrogen and oxygen that amino acids need for producing collagen come from vitamin C. The more vitamin C you have, the more will be the collagen in the body.

If you have no vitamin C or very little of it, it means that the production of collagen will also slow down. Unfortunately, our bodies do not produce Vitamin C, so you should consider taking Vitamin C supplements to increase their quantity in the body. Or you can intake citrus or leafy greens that are a great source of Vitamin C.

Another factor that affects collagen is the amount of sunlight that you are getting. The UVA rays in the sunlight can reach deep into your skin. This can increase the breakdown of collagen and produce free radicals. This in turns decreases the amount of collagen in the body. A good way to steer clear of this damage is to wear sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.

Symptoms of Low Collagen

There is no test to measure out the amount of collagen in the body. So now you are wondering if you should personally take collagen supplements or not. If you are trying to lose weight overnight, looking into collagen supplements for diabetes to slow the blood sugar response, or you are sports minded and looking for more protein for your workouts, you might be considering especially designed collagen peptide supplements. Here is what to look out for that might signal that you are running low on collagen:

• You are above 25
• Aching muscles
• Wrinkling of the skin
• Joint pain
• Leaky gut
• Loss of mobility
• Cellulite
• Flat or thin hair
• Hollowed eyes and face

Benefits of Collagen Supplementation and Significant Scientific Studies

There are multiple benefits of taking collagen from natural sources and in forms of supplements. One key benefit is that it increases skin elasticity. Increased skin elasticity means a visible reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, and rejuvenated skin. Collagen also reduces the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks and makes the skin less prone to collapsing into cellulite.

A key amino acid in collagen called glycine can reduce inflammation in the body, which is the reason for a lot of health issues. Inflammation is especially pronounced in Diabetes. Collagen supplementation is also thought to decrease anxiety and improve the quality of sleep for many people.

More collagen can mean decreased joint pain, as many studies have seen that it can decrease the risk of deterioration of cartilage and has also regenerated cartilage in many cases.

Collagen can also help with appetite. As collagen is a protein, people who take it report that they can feel fuller longer after meals. People who suffer from leaky gut can also benefit from taking collagen. Collagen has been seen to help the gut lining heal. This can improve digestion.

Collagen can also help regulate mood and energy levels, in people suffering from these problems. Many diseases have also been linked to collagen deficiency like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and temporal arteritis. Decreased collagen has also been linked with type 2 diabetes. Increasing collagen supplementation may mean improvement in these conditions as well.

Collagen and high blood pressure have an opposite link. More collagen can mean increased blood pressure. People having high levels of Collagen and high blood pressure should avoid collagen supplements.

Boosting Collagen Naturally

If you want to naturally boost your collagen levels, there are some ways by which you can achieve that. Experts claim that collagen peptides and type 2 diabetes are a better combination. Especially a combination of designed supplements may be more effective. However, additional ways of boosting collagen levels naturally can include:

• Do not go out the sun without sunscreen
• Stop smoking
• Use aloe vera which increases collagen production
• Take ginseng which decreases the damage of UV rays

Are Collagen Supplements Safe for Diabetics?

Collagen supplements like hydrolyzed collagen and diabetes have been studied together multiple times. Collagen supplements are perfectly safe for people with diabetes and no long-term side effects have been observed for diabetics.