Blog
Glucosamine and Blood Sugar: What Is Known and Not Known
Glucosamine and blood sugar may be linked. NCCIH says glucosamine may raise blood glucose in some people, and Memorial Sloan Kettering says it may worsen insulin resistance. Nervecept has 500 mg per capsule. People with diabetes should ask their doctor first and keep checking glucose as usual.
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Does glucosamine affect blood sugar?
Glucosamine may affect blood sugar, but the sources are cautious. According to NCCIH, glucosamine may raise blood glucose in some people (NCCIH, Glucosamine and Chondroitin). Memorial Sloan Kettering says it may worsen insulin resistance (MSKCC, Glucosamine).
Insulin resistance means the body answers insulin poorly. Blood sugar then stays higher than it should.
Neither source says how much glucosamine causes this, or how many people are affected. We do not guess. The size of the effect, if any, is unknown from these sources.
Do not stop or change insulin or any diabetes medicine because of a supplement. Your care team sets those doses.
Why does this matter for people with nerve symptoms?
Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy, so many people who look at nerve supplements also manage blood sugar (NINDS, Peripheral Neuropathy). NIDDK reports that about one third to one half of people with diabetes have nerve damage (NIDDK, Diabetic Neuropathy).
NIDDK says staying near your glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol goals can keep nerve damage from getting worse. It also says to check with a doctor before you use supplements (NIDDK, Peripheral Neuropathy).
That is why a possible glucose effect deserves a question, not a shrug. A supplement sold for nerves should never push the main goal in the wrong direction.
Our foot care guide covers daily steps that do have support.
Daily foot check
Steps from the CDC (CDC, Your Feet and Diabetes) and NIDDK (NIDDK, Peripheral Neuropathy). Nothing is saved; the boxes clear when you leave.
How much glucosamine is in Nervecept?
Each Nervecept capsule holds 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate. That is 71.5% of the 699 mg of listed actives. The label says take one capsule daily.
The usual package dose in joint studies is 1,500 mg a day (Cochrane, Glucosamine for OA (2005)). So 500 mg is one third of that. A smaller dose does not prove a smaller effect on glucose, and no study has tested Nervecept itself.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| NCCIH | May raise blood glucose in some people |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering | May worsen insulin resistance |
| Both | No dose or rate of effect given |
The capsule also carries shellfish (crayfish) as an allergen. Read the whole label on the supplement facts page.
What should you ask your doctor before trying it?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any glucosamine product fits your diabetes plan. Bring the bottle, since the label lists exact amounts.
- Could this change my blood sugar readings?
- Should I check my glucose more often at first?
- Does it fit with my other medicines?
If you do start one, keep your usual checks. Write down the start date, so you can see whether readings shift. Call your care team about any unusual numbers.
FAQ01
Nervecept questions people ask
Can glucosamine raise A1C?
The sources we use do not say. They only say glucosamine may raise blood glucose in some people or worsen insulin resistance. Ask your doctor how to track A1C if you try it.
Is glucosamine sulfate safe for people with diabetes?
That is not settled. Safety depends on your medicines, your glucose control and your care plan. Your doctor can weigh it for you.
Should I check my glucose more after starting glucosamine?
Ask your doctor, since extra checks may help you spot a change. The sources give no set schedule. Never change medicine doses on your own.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a Nervecept licensed U.S. outlet, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Nervecept
Nervecept licensed U.S. outlet
Ready to try Nervecept?
Check the shellfish allergen and your medicines first, then pick a pack. Three or six bottles ship free in the US and cost less per bottle, with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Secure checkout on the sales page
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- Ships from the U.S.
