However, if you have type 2 diabetes, it's important to notify your healthcare provider before taking magnesium. This is because magnesium may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, as it may have an additive effect when combined with medication.
In general, studies have found that taking 250–350 mg of magnesium daily appears to benefit people with diabetes. It's best to take magnesium with food to improve absorption ( 1 , 6 ).
High magnesium intake has been shown to improve glucose metabolism in diabetic patients and stabilize insulin levels (22).
Magnesium taurate may be the best form of the mineral for managing high blood sugar, according to Healthline. The manufacturer of these capsules claims that this form is also easier on the stomach, and can help with stress, anxiety, and maintaining a healthy heart rate.
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
High doses of magnesium from supplements or medications can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In addition, the magnesium in supplements can interact with some types of antibiotics and other medicines.
Taking magnesium with these medications might cause blood pressure to go too low. Some of these medications include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and others.
Research shows that people who regularly consume good levels of magnesium through their diet and/or through supplementation are more likely to maintain healthy blood glucose balance. On the other hand, people who do not consume enough magnesium are more likely to develop problems with their blood glucose control.
You can also reduce the burden of prescription medications like metformin by combining it with magnesium.
Oral Mg supplements have been shown to improve fasting and postprandial glucose levels and insulin sensitivity in hypomagnesemic DM2 patients[57], to improve insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance[8], and to decrease C-reactive protein levels in hypomagnesemic patients with prediabetes[69] ...
Nassar says that taking a magnesium supplement every day likely isn't unsafe for most people. Just be sure you're not taking too much magnesium. The maximum dietary allowance for most adults is around 400 mg or less.
However, magnesium supplementation is unnecessary and potentially dangerous if you are not deficient, and magnesium supplements can interact with some blood pressure medication. Your best option is to eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of foods rich in magnesium.
One study of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.
Since magnesium plays a role in neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction, it has been hypothesised that magnesium deficiency may predispose to muscle cramps. Thus magnesium supplements are often recommended to prevent cramps.
Long-term magnesium supplementation improves arterial stiffness, a cardiovascular disease risk marker. Effects on endothelial function may be another mechanism whereby increased magnesium intakes affect cardiovascular risk.
Magnesium supplementation has been used successfully in the treatment of different conditions such as PMS, PCOS, mood disorders, and postmenopausal symptoms and consequent risk factors, particularly in the association with other dietary components with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
Therefore, magnesium supplements can be taken at any time of the day, as long as you're able to take them consistently. For some, taking supplements first thing in the morning may be easiest, while others may find that taking them with dinner or just before bed works well for them.
Magnesium supplements should be taken with meals. Taking magnesium supplements on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea.
Current recommended daily requirements of magnesium for adults 51 and older is 420 milligrams for men and 320 milligrams for women.