Having a guideline to the various minerals is essential to understand when planning your diabetes diet.
It is important that your diabetes diet contains enough vitamins and minerals for your body's requirements.
The various food groups can supply you with the minerals that you require if you implement a well-balanced nutritious diet.
Minerals are a key ingredient to your healthy nutritious diet.
There are various minerals that are beneficial for diabetes treatment as well as helping with the complications associated with diabetes.
You will only require small amounts from most of the minerals.
Following is a list of some of the minerals that are beneficial for a diabetes diet:

• Iron - this mineral is essential for red blood cells and can be obtained from meat
• Iodine - this is important for the production of thyroid hormones.
  Iodine is usually added to salt making sure you get enough into your system.
  
• Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous help to build bones and teeth.
  Milk and many dairy products contain these minerals.
  People however do not get enough into their system.
  The recommended dosage required is 800 milligrams per day for adults and children, 1000 milligrams per day for adolescents, and 1000 milligrams per day for the older generation.
  
• Sodium - This regulates body water, the daily requirement is 300 milligrams, however, our intake is 20 to 40 times over that amount which is why we have many cases of high blood pressure.
  
• Zinc - This mineral is required for the proper release of insulin, other benefits of zinc include cholesterol, metabolism growth, protein and immune functions
• Manganese - Manganese helps to maintain the blood glucose level in its normal range as well as being useful in our bodies for the fat and protein metabolism and the production of energy
• Vanadium - This is apparently well known for the management of diabetes, it acts like insulin in your body as well as enhancing its affects.
  Vanadium is associated with the regulation of proper glucose.
  For diabetics this means that you can improve your glucose levels, increase your insulin sensitivity if you have type 2 diabetes, and will lower your insulin requirements if you have type 1 diabetes
• Magnesium - this will help with the digestion of sugar, starches and fats as well as maintaining your blood sugar levels

The formation of your body structures like your bones and tissues comes from minerals.
This is why it is so important that you get the required amount of minerals into your diabetes diet.
The guidelines above will help you to understand what the various minerals can do to benefit your diabetes and your general health.
This is why minerals should be an essential part of your diabetes diet.