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Creatine and glucose metabolism

Melgar

Melgar

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Type of diabetes
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This maybe of interested for some if you.

I’ve been taking 5mg of creatine per day for a couple of months now. My Dr suggested I take it as I was experiencing some brain fog due to the statins I’m on. He told me he takes creatine and has found it makes a difference on his own cognition. I am also pleased to say that I have had similar results. My fogginess seems to have lifted . I also had aching leg muscles, I’ve had aching leg for a few years, and prior to going on statins. The leg aches have cleared up too. So I’m very pleased.

Furthermore, I have been controlling my blood sugars with exercise and Bupropion. Bupropion is classed as an antidepressant, but it can be used off label for ADHD. It has been found it promotes insulin secretion. So, along with exercise, this has brought my HbA1c ‘s to the low 6’s. Of note I’m not on a low carb diet.

The interesting thing is this, my blood sugars have now dropped further, I’m now experiencing low blood sugars, I’ve had 5 low blood sugar events this past 7 days. I’ve always had fluctuating blood sugars, and have a history of hypos, but I’ve not had this many low blood sugar events in such a short period of time. The only change I’ve made is the use of creatine.

I did a bit of research, and sure enough, creatine has been speculatively associated with improved glucose metabolism.

“Creatine supplementation has the potential to promote changes in glucose metabolism that may favor a healthier metabolic profile. This may be particularly true when exercise training is provided along with this supplement, as creatine seems to enhance the training adaptations.”

If this is true, and my n=1 is suggestive it might be for me, then that is an unexpected positive. Of course, this is my take, and like any health supplement, it is not neutral, it comes with possible side effects depending on one’s own heath profile and other medications. Creatine was my own Dr’s suggestion, and for me it has proved a positive.
This is remains a very speculative n=1 take on creatine from my experience, but thought I would share.

Potential of Creatine in Glucose Management and Diabetes - PMC

Creatine is one of the most popular supplements worldwide, and it is frequently used by both athletic and non-athletic populations to improve power, strength, muscle mass and performance. A growing body of evidence has been identified potential ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Edited spelling plus the addition of one extra study.
 
Last edited:
The possible uptake of glucose from the blood to the muscle is one reason I’m trying creatine….and I want to discourage muscle loss. At 68 I find it very hard to build muscle and keep it! I’m just a little less than a month in so results are pending. I have noticed a lower blood glucose right after and during my morning workouts….but it does rise again later.
I’ve been doing some major stress eating lately and now have that under control….therefore any blood readings have been…well….suspect. All good now, my head is in a good place so the experiment continues.
 
There have been a couple of articles in the New Scientist magazine over the past year about the health benefits of creatine supplements. Positives include better muscle strength and increased brain cognition, especially in “older folks”! The benefits for younger people are not clear.
There have also been some studies that show some protection against Alzheimer’s and others that show a reduction in LDL cholesterol.
Results for glucose control seem to be mixed, so I think that as ever, individual reaction is probably the key.
As an older person myself, I am interested in trying creatine, the dosage in powder form seems to be 5 gms .
 
Melgar said:
This maybe of interested for some if you.

I’ve been taking 5mg of creatine per day for a couple of months now. My Dr suggested I take it as I was experiencing some brain fog due to the statins I’m on. He told me he takes creatine and has found it makes a difference on his own cognition. I am also pleased to say that I have had similar results. My fogginess seems to have lifted . I also had aching leg muscles, I’ve had aching leg for a few years, and prior to going on statins. The leg aches have cleared up too. So I’m very pleased.

Furthermore, I have been controlling my blood sugars with exercise and Bupropion. Bupropion is classed as an antidepressant, but it can be used off label for ADHD. It has been found it promotes insulin secretion. So, along with exercise, this has brought my HbA1c ‘s to the low 6’s. Of note I’m not on a low carb diet.

The interesting thing is this, my blood sugars have now dropped further, I’m now experiencing low blood sugars, I’ve had 5 low blood sugar events this past 7 days. I’ve always had fluctuating blood sugars, and have a history of hypos, but I’ve not had this many low blood sugar events in such a short period of time. The only change I’ve made is the use of creatine.

I did a bit of research, and sure enough, creatine has been speculatively associated with improved glucose metabolism.

“Creatine supplementation has the potential to promote changes in glucose metabolism that may favor a healthier metabolic profile. This may be particularly true when exercise training is provided along with this supplement, as creatine seems to enhance the training adaptations.”

If this is true, and my n=1 is suggestive it might be for me, then that is an unexpected positive. Of course, this is my take, and like any health supplement, it is not neutral, it comes with possible side effects depending on one’s own heath profile and other medications. Creatine was my own Dr’s suggestion, and for me it has proved a positive.
This is remains a very speculative n=1 take on creatine from my experience, but thought I would share.

Potential of Creatine in Glucose Management and Diabetes - PMC

Creatine is one of the most popular supplements worldwide, and it is frequently used by both athletic and non-athletic populations to improve power, strength, muscle mass and performance. A growing body of evidence has been identified potential ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Edited spelling plus the addition of one extra study.
Click to expand...
One day the mysteries of our metabolism and the effects of our hormones will be clearer.
It is out there somewhere. Not enough research is being done.
 
Lamont D said:
One day the mysteries of our metabolism and the effects of our hormones will be clearer.
It is out there somewhere. Not enough research is being done.
Click to expand...

fair few trials are in progress which hopefully with enough signups and time even unlikely solve the mystery in the near future but perhaps may further assist several generations down the line :)
 
Bcgirl said:
The possible uptake of glucose from the blood to the muscle is one reason I’m trying creatine….and I want to discourage muscle loss. At 68 I find it very hard to build muscle and keep it! I’m just a little less than a month in so results are pending. I have noticed a lower blood glucose right after and during my morning workouts….but it does rise again later.
I’ve been doing some major stress eating lately and now have that under control….therefore any blood readings have been…well….suspect. All good now, my head is in a good place so the experiment continues.
Click to expand...
Yes, @Bcgirl I agree, it could be the depleting muscle mass that adds to glucose problems, so as creatine helps build muscle mass, along with exercise , the results may be a greater uptake in blood sugars.
 
Rustytypin said:
There have been a couple of articles in the New Scientist magazine over the past year about the health benefits of creatine supplements. Positives include better muscle strength and increased brain cognition, especially in “older folks”! The benefits for younger people are not clear.
There have also been some studies that show some protection against Alzheimer’s and others that show a reduction in LDL cholesterol.
Results for glucose control seem to be mixed, so I think that as ever, individual reaction is probably the key.
As an older person myself, I am interested in trying creatine, the dosage in powder form seems to be 5 gms .
Click to expand...
@Rustytypin, yes as always, it’s individual. I do a lot of exercise and the results seem to favour creatine along with exercise. I take 5 mg daily which is what my Dr advised.
 
Melgar said:
@Rustytypin, yes as always, it’s individual. I do a lot of exercise and the results seem to favour creatine along with exercise. I take 5 mg daily which is what my Dr advised.
Click to expand...

I’ve recently been adding this to my daily vitamins. I tried the tablets but found them too large to swallow so have gone over to the powder. It readily dissolves

….. Too soon for me to tell if it helps but as I approach my seventy second journey round the sun maintaining muscle is no easy task
 
All the information about Creatine is good apart from the warning about the load on the kidneys.
With a diagnosis of CKD this seems a potential problem.
 
Thanks for posting the link @Melgar . Creatine is a supplement I’ve considered taking for a while now, particularly for the muscle preserving properties. I think I’m the same age as you but my exercise level is less, so hope that it’ll still benefit me. My husband is a personal trainer and has taken this for some years and swears by it. The added benefits to glucose metabolism mentioned in the article, might just tip me over to trying it, especially as I can nick hubby’s for a trial period!

Edit to correct typo, thanks @Duncan Mackay for pointing out my error.
 
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LittleGreyCat said:
All the information about Creatine is good apart from the warning about the load on the kidneys.
With a diagnosis of CKD this seems a potential problem.
Click to expand...
Most health supplements have the potential for negative consequences. Health supplements are not neutral, even so called ‘natural’ supplements are not necessarily healthy for everyone. That’s why, in my view, it is important to discuss taking supplements with your HCP. The warning for creatine, for those with kidney issues, is listed and well documented. My Dr recommended creatine for me. I’m surprised just how much it has improved my cognitive function and aching muscles. I wasn’t expecting it. That said my kidney function is at 97. I’m sure if it was low then he would not have recommended it.
 
Rachox said:
Thanks for posting the link @Melgar . Creatinine is a supplement I’ve considered taking for a while now, particularly for the muscle preserving properties. I think I’m the same age as you but my exercise level is less, so hope that it’ll still benefit me. My husband is a personal trainer and has taken this for some years and swears by it. The added benefits to glucose metabolism mentioned in the article, might just tip me over to trying it, especially as I can nick hubby’s for a trial period!
Click to expand...
@Rachox I was surprised by the difference it made. I’ve been taking it for a few months now. It does work best with exercise, but really that can be just some form of movement where you are using your muscles, a thirty minute walk, or dancing maybe. It probably works at its optimum along side weight training I would think, but any exercise will do. A nurse I know has just started taking it.

I agree we lose muscle mass and tone as we age, not only affecting blood sugars, but our stature, our balance and how prone we are to falling.

As @LittleGreyCat says, it’s important to check kidney function as it increases the load on kidneys. It does increase weight too, but this is due to the increase in muscle density, not fat.
 
Rachox said:
Thanks for posting the link @Melgar . Creatinine is a supplement I’ve considered taking for a while now, particularly for the muscle preserving properties. I think I’m the same age as you but my exercise level is less, so hope that it’ll still benefit me. My husband is a personal trainer and has taken this for some years and swears by it. The added benefits to glucose metabolism mentioned in the article, might just tip me over to trying it, especially as I can nick hubby’s for a trial period!
Click to expand...
Just noting, the supplement is creatine whilst creatinine is the breakdown product of creatine.
 
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