Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have Type 2 diabetes and my doctor told me to avoid fish oil, even though everything I read makes me think I could use the omega-3s. The doctor told me it can cause blood sugar spikes. He did tell me I could eat fish if I want to. What do you think?” — Terri G., Minneapolis, MN

A. Dear Terri, I don’t want to go against what your doctor has said, so I encourage you to have a further discussion with him about the importance of omega 3 fatty acids, especially for people with diabetes. Multiple studies have shown how important essential fatty acids from fish are for improving type 2 diabetes and improving heart health. But he is correct that in some sensitive individuals, fish OILS can cause blood sugar spikes. This can be a problem for people with diabetes who are striving to keep their blood sugar in the normal range. I have to say that while this may not be the case for every individual with diabetes, it can be fairly common. The exact mechanism of action by which fish oil causes this increase, or “spike,” in blood glucose has not yet been determined. However, multiple studies have reported observing this phenomenon. Therefore, I recommend that you get your omega 3 fatty acids from a fish EXTRACT, not a fish OIL. The best are omega-3 fatty acids bound to phospholipids for optimal absorption. I prefer one that is derived from salmon, where the omega-3s and phospholipids are extracted using only enzymes and cold water. Unlike standard fish oils, no heat, pressure, or solvents are used. The very process of putting together this form of omega-3s assures extraordinary purity and safety. It also yields a rich extract that is up to 50 times better absorbed than omega-3s in fish oil. Because the EPA and DHA in fish oils are carried by triglycerides, rather than phospholipids, people need very large doses of fish oil just to see a benefit – anywhere from 4 to 6 grams. This may be partly why some people with diabetes have problems when they use them. But with this new process, the recommended daily dose for healthy people is one to two tablets. This one to two tablet a day dosing may allow individuals with diabetes to reap the benefits of omega-3s without upsetting blood sugar levels. I have never seen this form of omega 3s from salmon have any adverse effect on blood sugar levels. I would recommend sharing this with your physician and seek his approval to upgrade using this form of omega-3 fatty acids.

Healthy regards!

Terry . . . Naturally