Potassium Deficiency Causes Diabetes

Did you know that potassium deficiency could trigger diabetes? Learn more about the importance of potassium for diabetes and high blood pressure. 

DATA:

0:00 Introduction: Potassium and diabetes 
0:15 Blood pressure medications and diabetes 
2:47 Potassium benefits 
3:45 Potassium RDAs
4:02 Foods high in potassium 
5:45 Type 1 diabetes and potassium 
6:33 Learn more about potassium! 

Today we're going to talk about how potassium affects diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Diuretics are commonly used to treat high blood pressure. But, they come with side effects, including an increased risk of developing diabetes. 
 
On the flip side, ace inhibitors, also used to treat high blood pressure, protect against diabetes and lower the risk of diabetes. 

I believe the big difference between these two drugs, when it comes to diabetes risk, is what they do to potassium.

Diuretics deplete potassium, and without enough potassium, insulin can't be released very well. A deficiency of insulin can then lead to diabetes. Ace inhibitors increase potassium by helping to prevent the loss of potassium. 

So why do we even need a drug—why aren't we just consuming more potassium? Many people support healthy blood pressure and healthy blood sugar levels by taking potassium. 

Benefits of potassium: 
• It protects the kidneys
• It protects the heart 
• It helps protect against stroke 
• It helps protect against diabetes 
• It helps power the nervous system in connection with the muscles 
• It helps regulate sodium 

The RDAs for potassium are 4700 mg. It might surprise you, but bananas aren't a good source of potassium. A few of the best sources of potassium are:  
• Leafy greens 
• Potatoes 
• Avocado 
• Electrolyte powder 

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 57, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

#keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketolifestyle

Thanks for watching! I hope this helps increase your awareness of the importance of potassium for diabetes and high blood pressure. I'll see you in the next video.

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44 Comments

  1. CN on February 28, 2023 at 11:14 am

    The electrolyte powder makes great-tasting morning coffee and afternoon tea. 🙂 Thanks again and have a beautiful day Dr. Berg!

    • Holly Sansone on February 28, 2023 at 11:41 am

      LmNT is a good electrolyte drink without sugar

    • Ann Rhodes on February 28, 2023 at 11:51 am

      @lishaIsabella Keto Vitals Electrolyte capsules $9.98 from Walmart. 120 caps.

    • Nan's Global Kitchen on February 28, 2023 at 1:55 pm

      ​@Ann Rhodes So does these keto caps have the required amount of potassium or you have to take more than one?

    • pummy on February 28, 2023 at 2:26 pm

      Dr Berg’s electrolyte

    • Holly Sansone on February 28, 2023 at 2:34 pm

      @Nan’s Global Kitchen no—one capsule has 40 mg—so you’d need to take 100 to get to the 4,000 recommended 😥

  2. Clarity on February 28, 2023 at 11:51 am

    Dr Berg, please talk about the new report on Erythritol causing heart issues!

    • spanish peaches on February 28, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      Really ? I’ve been using it in my tea for the last few years.

    • Mike Shay on February 28, 2023 at 1:58 pm

      Just another study. Use sugar instead. Lol

    • giftedtouch633 on February 28, 2023 at 3:31 pm

      Can you link that that report please.

  3. KT on February 28, 2023 at 11:54 am

    Years before my fathers health went down hill, the doctor told him to stop eating bananas, potatoes and leafy greens because of the medication they were putting him on would take care of his potassium. The doctors started putting my father on more and more drugs over the last ten years of his life that he finally developed stage 4 kidney disease amongst clogged arteries, swollen legs and more.

    • catitude4 on February 28, 2023 at 3:58 pm

      Doctors are nothing more than peds despensers for Big Pharma.

    • KT on February 28, 2023 at 5:05 pm

      @neovssmith19 No it is not, especially when patients are also on blood thinners.

    • Iconoclasticnation on February 28, 2023 at 5:15 pm

      @Mary Martha When Jesus says we must receive the Kingdom like a child, he was referring to the obedience that a child shows their father. He was not referring to lack of understanding, education or innocence. He was referring to humility. To be a child was to be of humble station in the world of adults. We saw how the disciples initially drove the children away as being unimportant. Jesus said “…let the children come to me…” That is how we are to receive the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingship of the Messiah, being of no reputation and in trusting obedience.

    • Keylanos Lokj on February 28, 2023 at 5:47 pm

      My kidneys filtering grandmother was advised by her doctor to avoid potassium cause it would strain her kidneys. God only knows though that this was also the cause in the first place!

    • Eddie Palmer on February 28, 2023 at 6:53 pm

      @Iconoclasticnation what difference does it make if it’s too bad or so sad? Your comment was incendiary in nature and inappropriate period

  4. Jerry Dozier on February 28, 2023 at 12:09 pm

    Thank you Dr. Berg for the essential information you share! You are the best.

  5. Beth Goldman on February 28, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    I have had issues with low potassium for 40 years. Thank you for this video.

    • Jeff Sully on February 28, 2023 at 4:01 pm

      see my comment above, it could be helpful. I had the same problem

  6. Beauty1111 on February 28, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Learning about the importance of potassium and magnesium is a game changer.. and how it affects the cells etc.. I’ve felt so much better since taking them years back and not relying on food alone. I don’t eat a lot so it’s hard to get it in but I’ve increased my seed, avocado, leaf and fruit intake as well.

    • Sonoma Mia on February 28, 2023 at 2:38 pm

      Shoulda had a low sodium V-8 – tons of potassium !

    • Ernesto Parodi on February 28, 2023 at 4:29 pm

      PISTACHIOS is the nut with more potassium

  7. Loretta Caputo on February 28, 2023 at 1:12 pm

    Thank you Dr. Berg for addressing this issue. I have noted some medical papers that have looked at patients who have been on hydrochlorothiazide and once taken off of that med, their is a reduction in their HgbA1c. I have not seen what the numbers were but they mentioned that their was a dramatic drop in this and the FBS of the patients. In my case, being on this med and a low carb ketogenic diet I could not understand why despite all of the carb restriction I could improve my A1c and get out of the prediabetes range yet my FBS would still be in the 105 range. I am looking for a lower A1c and FBS below 100 and cessation of hydrochlothiazide may be the key. Any thoughts on supplementation with KNo3 to boost K and the nitrates to replenish the nitrate stores for Nitric oxide release?

    • ineedhoez on February 28, 2023 at 2:33 pm

      Also… if you have anemia, your a1c can stay high. I was literally water fasting and doing keto for 5 months and my A1C only went down .3. My average glucose, according to my continous glucose monitor, was 85. That would have put me at a 4.6. I came back at 5.6. Made zero sense.

  8. Mss Winnie on February 28, 2023 at 1:23 pm

    Hi Dr Berg, I’ve been watching your videos and started taking K2 recently for about 2 weeks for chest pains (stopped last week) however I’ve felt dizzy and weak and faint ever since, my muscles feel week and my head feels heavy when I lie down. I’ve had difficulty sleeping and I can’t seem to do my usual daily tasks. Is there anything you can recommend I do?. I actually didn’t know it was the supplement causing so I went to the hospital and they found nothing wrong with me except that I had low oxygen levels but somehow I found out after it was the supplement so I stopped it’s been a week now n my strength seems to be failing😢😢..

    • Bush Pig on February 28, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      How do you know it was the K2? If you’re strength didn’t return when you stopped the k2.

    • giftedtouch633 on February 28, 2023 at 3:29 pm

      You should get your heart checked out. To see if it’s working properly.

    • SPY UNIverse on February 28, 2023 at 3:37 pm

      @giftedtouch633 Seems like Heart failure

    • giftedtouch633 on February 28, 2023 at 3:43 pm

      @SPY UNIverse Could be.! That shouldn’t be ignored.!

    • Or on February 28, 2023 at 4:11 pm

      Get some exercise quickly! Make sure you’re hydrated. Don’t over do it just get outside and go for a light jog. If you feel worse or even more sluggish then it’s time to take the trip to the ER. From there I would over exaggerate your symptoms. Sometimes that pushes them for extra scans to rule out any heart and lung issues. Stay safe and best of luck!

  9. Beáta Tax on February 28, 2023 at 1:28 pm

    I really appreciate your help Dr. Berg in every single topic.
    I listen to you and try to follow all your advices you share even I eat clean (pescatarian) and workout (long distance running&swimming) a lot.
    🙏🏻

  10. mary gee on February 28, 2023 at 1:48 pm

    ☀️Thank you Dr. Berg🙂
    I added up what I like and could eat in a day to check how much potassium I could get. It came to about 2750. That would include a banana, sweet potato and a glass of tomato juice.
    But I never eat those items every day. They are high carb. I also included avocado. It is easier to eat that every day but I don’t.
    So it’s easy to see how likely it is to be deficient in potassium. If Doctors are not schooled in nutrition, the fuel our bodies need, it’s a sad state of health for all of us. So a 10meq pill prescribed along with your diuretic is only adding about 750mg? of potassium. Not really enough.

  11. Majestic1 on February 28, 2023 at 2:35 pm

    Thank you for keeping us informed and on track with a healthy lifestyle Dr. Berg. God bless you and keep you healthy, happy and safe. ✨

  12. OldTymer on February 28, 2023 at 2:57 pm

    Great video, Doc! I use your electrolyte powder every day. I was doing 4 scoops a day, but my bloodwork came back showing my potassium as being too high, so I dropped it down to 3 scoops and now its just right.
    Also, I salt my food quite liberally, some would say excessively. When I do this my muscle cramps decrease significantly. Just check my blood pressure this morning it was 119/81!

    You rock, Doc!

  13. Radar on February 28, 2023 at 3:21 pm

    ❤ Dr. Berg. I was given intramuscular steroids later followed by Toradol (strong anti-inflammatory) twice. My muscles turned to mush, my blood pressure went through the roof, I woke to severe convulsions, and I was barely coherent. Dr’s kept saying nothing wrong. I was Finally diagnosed with dehydration and had Very High Ketones.

    I began continuously drinking electrolytes but when stopped, the episode returned. (fluid distribution through my body also bizarre) Dr’s again said nothing, and denied any electrolyte imbalance.  From that point on, I continued drinking electrolytes to stay even moderately functional with very slow recovery after almost 2 years. Stiffness and lack of flexibility was beyond extreme. 
    FIVE months later after my own research learning of RAAS (renin angiotensin aldosterone system which works to regulate blood pressure and volume), I had aldosterone and also ACTH tested on my own. Aldosterone was VERY High (causing potassium loss and everything that goes with it) and acth was low.  Dr’s still never confirmed any electrolyte imbalance, or ever explained what happened.

    • Radar on February 28, 2023 at 3:22 pm

      Love that Dr. Berg asked the question, “what’s going on here?”  Do MDs even know? Are they even asking the question, or is it culpable, willful ignorance?

  14. Shane N on February 28, 2023 at 3:55 pm

    I started looking at Potassium ( and other vits. and mins.) many years ago because of cronic health issues and found that Potassium is quite difficult to come by as most suppliments only contain maybe 3 to 9 mg. You would have to eat the whole bottle to get the RDA.

  15. NRG Ltwrkr on February 28, 2023 at 4:14 pm

    Other food sources high in Potassium, and Keto (regular serving sizes):
    Wild Caught Salmon 31% RDA
    Mackerel 28%
    Halibut 26%
    Tuna 26%
    Trout 26%
    Spinach/Leafy Greens 24%
    Avocado 20%
    Mushrooms 18%
    Clams 18%
    Brussels Sprouts 14%
    Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash 13%
    Pork Chops 11%
    Pumpkin Seeds 6%

  16. Rebel Judes on February 28, 2023 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Dr. Berg……I love your video’s and they’ve literally saved me in so many areas of my health……BUT, the electrolyte thing has me baffled. I understand the need for potassium and how important it is. I have edema, I’m overweight, and I’m working on KETO way of eating to help, but I also realize I need to balance my electrolytes and monitor them to make sure I’m doing OK. I already have your electrolytes powder and have noticed when I started using it, a few hours later I get a raised pulse and strange feelings for several minutes before going back to normal. When this happens in the middle of the night, it can be concerning. What is it about this particular cocktail of electrolytes that’s causing this? Is it the higher potassium? or something else. It really has caused me to slow way down on taking this…..and I really want to continue taking it because I trust your products. Any thoughts??

  17. Kiki Jewell on February 28, 2023 at 5:18 pm

    In the 1980’s, my mom carefully got my dad off his blood pressure medicine mainly by increasing his potassium – she filled capsules with a No-Salt potassium salt replacement. She carefully monitored his blood pressure multiple times a day, and brought his blood pressure down to the point he no longer needed his meds.

    I’ve taken potassium in my adulthood ever since.

    Potassium also tends to calm “squirrel brain” – I keep it by my bed and put 1/4t into a glass of water and drink it down. Within 5mins, I can sleep.

    I mix it into my pink salt at home so I keep my rates up daily.

    • Slap Happy!! on February 28, 2023 at 6:47 pm

      What type of potassium do you take that’s in powder form, how much do you take a day, and for how long have you been religiously taking it?
      If you don’t mind my asking… thanks.

    • Slap Happy!! on February 28, 2023 at 6:48 pm

      I see you’ve been taking it in your adulthood ever since, but would it be the same brand?

  18. K-Honey L. on February 28, 2023 at 5:22 pm

    Thank you so much Dr. Berg for this video. My hands were tingling bad (pre-diabetes). My muscles were cramping horribly, still slightly. I’m on the keto diet with Omad and/or intermittent fasting. Just put in a big order from your website. I had to hurry and buy your electrolyte powder & b1 again because i know they work. I feel much better with my blood pressure as well. Thanks again and please keep those videos coming. 💙🙏🏽

  19. Build Your Home On Truth TV on February 28, 2023 at 6:48 pm

    Thanks Dr Berg. Since I watched your video years ago on the importance of potassium on blood pressure, my blood pressure has been so good. Thanks so much for your amazing contents.

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