Heart Health FAQ

General Product Information
How to Take/Which Form
Safety
Drug Interaction Information
Where to Buy
Requests for Additional Information
Corporate
About Diabetes
Health Care Professional Section

General Product Information

What is Diabetes Essentials?

Line of nutritional supplements developed specifically for people with type 2 diabetes;
Offers products formulated to: promote blood sugar and heart health and support energy levels
Do it in a way that is convenient – whether you wish to take a pill or use a dissolvable drink packet.
There are four products in the line:
1. Blood Sugar Health formula – in a capsule – called Diachrome Diabetes Blood Sugar Health
2. Blood Sugar Health formula – in a drink packet – called Diabetes Essentials Blood Sugar Health Nutrition To Go
3. Multivitamin Formula – in a drink packet – called Diabetes Essentials Multivitamin Formula Nutrition To Go
4. Heart Health Formula – in a tablet – called Diabetes Essentials Heart Health

What is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?

A nutritional supplement specifically designed to help people with type 2 diabetes who may also be watching their heart health and cardiovascular system;
Our Heart Health formula replenishes magnesium and taurine levels, both of which have been shown to be low in people with type 2 diabetes and in people who suffer from cardiovascular disease.

What are the ingredients in Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?

Magnesium (as magnesium taurate)
Taurine (as magnesium taurate)

What is Magnesium Taurate?

It is a mineral-amino acid complex developed as a dietary supplement to support heart health.
It contains the essential mineral magnesium and the amino acid, taurine.
Magnesium Taurate has been referred to as a “vascular-protective” supplement, as both nutrients have been shown to promote cardiovascular health.

What is magnesium?

Magnesium is an essential mineral that regulates more than 300 enzymes in the body involved in cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism.

What does magnesium do?

Helps regulate more than 300 enzymes in the body involved in cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism.
People with diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hypertension tend to have low magnesium levels.
Magnesium also plays a vital role in controlling homocysteine levels, which is a strong marker for heart disease and blood clotting disorders.
It plays a critical role in blood sugar and heart health. Muscle and nerve function and bone health require several nutrients, including magnesium. Lastly, it also supports healthy blood pressure.

What is taurine?

A heart-healthy nutrient (amino acid) involved in the normal functioning of the brain, heart, gallbladder, eyes and vascular system.

What does taurine do?

Taurine has been shown to support insulin and heart health.
Taurine plays a key role in forming bile, which helps remove cholesterol.
It contributes to heart muscle contractility and rhythm.
Taurine is also an important antioxidant that provides support for inflamed blood vessels, retinal degeneration, kidney problems, neurodegenerative disease, and atherosclerosis, and helps in wound healing.

Why is your magnesium product better than what’s out there now?

Unlike other magnesium products, ours:

Is organic and organic magnesium is shown to be more bio-available (absorbed by the body) than inorganic magnesium (such as magnesium oxide which is only 4% absorbed and causes diarrhea);
Contains the amino acid, taurine, which is another nutrient shown to promote cardiovascular health (especially important as studies have revealed that people with diabetes and cardiovascular disease have been shown to have low levels of both magnesium and taurine).
Studies have revealed that magnesium and taurine have interchangeable and potentiating roles – magnesium helps to regulate taurine and taurine can substitute for magnesium when magnesium is deficient.

Why does your magnesium product have a lower Daily Value percentage than others (like MagOx)?

While other magnesium products state that their tablets have 100% DV, that’s not necessarily what gets absorbed.
It’s well known that magnesium oxide, for instance, is probably the worst-absorbed form.
Ours, on the other hand, contains magnesium taurate which provides two nutrients for heart health vs. others which offer a poorly-absorbed form of magnesium.

Are there any other ingredients in Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?

The inactive ingredients in Diabetes Essentials Heart Health are:
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, and Croscarmellose Sodium.

What are the consequences of low magnesium intake?

Low magnesium intake can result in fatigue, muscle weakness, diabetes, heart attack and arrhythmia.
Low magnesium intake also contributes to metabolic syndrome (i.e., elevated triglycerides, obesity, insulin resistance and disturbed insulin function).
Diabetes complications (neuropathy, atherosclerosis, impotence, blindess, infection and nephropathy) are also linked to low magnesium intake.

What are the benefits of taking magnesium taurate?

People with diabetes and patients recovering from heart attacks have shown to have low levels of both nutrients.
Both nutrients are important for heart health.
Magnesium taurate may be a “match made in heaven” because taurine is used by the body to transport magnesium ions into and out of cells through cell membranes.
Studies have revealed that magnesium and taurine have some interchangeable and potentiating roles. Magnesium helps to regulate taurine and taurine can substitute for magnesium when magnesium is deficient.
Magnesium supplements come in numerous forms – magnesium oxide, for instance, is an inorganic form and is only 4% absorbed by the body and can cause diarrhea.
Organic forms of magnesium, such as our magnesium taurate, have been shown to be more bio-available.

What does Diabetes Essentials Heart Health do?

It helps replenish magnesium and taurine levels, both of which have been shown to be low in people with type 2 diabetes and in people with cardiovascular disease.

Does Diabetes Essentials Heart Health contain any animal bi-products?
No.

Does Diabetes Essentials Heart Health contain any yeast, starch, gluten or preservatives?
No.

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health kosher?
No.

How many pills come in a Diabetes Essentials Heart Health package?
60 – a one-month supply.

What is the shelf life of Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
Three years - please refer to the expiration date on the bottom of the carton.

What is Core4Life?
Core4Life is a certification:

That our products are of the highest quality with proven safety and effectiveness through clinical research and
That we guarantee a customer’s satisfaction or their money back

HOW TO TAKE / WHICH FORM

How do I take Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
Taking Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is very easy – just take two tablets each day.

Can Diabetes Essentials Heart Health be taken in combination with other Diabetes Essentials products, and if so, how?

There are instructions on each package which says that they may be taken individually or in combination. You must read the instructions on each package that shows how many of each you may take each day. For instance:
- For our Blood Sugar Health formulas – you may take either form once per day (not both) – so one Diabetes Essentials Blood Sugar Health Nutrition To Go drink packet or one Diachrome Diabetes Essentials Blood Sugar Health capsule.
- For our Heart Health Formula – you may take 2 tablets per day
- For our Multivitamin Nutrition To Go Formula – you may take up to three packets per day.
If you’d like to take all three formulas each day, here’s how much you can take of each: (1) Blood Sugar Health serving (either formula) + (1) Heart Health serving + (1 ) serving of Multivitamin Nutrition To Go.

Can I take Diabetes Essentials Heart Health every day?
Yes – you can take the recommended dose of 2 tablets each day.

Can I take Diabetes Essentials Heart Health with my type 2 diabetes prescriptions?
Yes. It can be safely and effectively used in combination with multiple oral prescription type 2 diabetes, cholesterol and blood-pressure-lowering medications.

Can I stop taking my type 2 diabetes prescriptions if I’m taking Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
No. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is not a replacement of your diabetes prescriptions. It may be taken alone or with your diabetes medications.

Can I stop taking my heart medications if I’m taking Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
No. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is not a replacement of your heart health medications. It may be taken alone or with your heart health medications.

How should I store Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
Store at controlled room temperature of between 59o – 86o F (15o-30oC). Protect from bright light and moisture.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health safe?
Yes. There are no known contraindications. There are no known allergic reactions.

Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards.

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health safe to take with my type 2 diabetes prescriptions?
Yes. It can be safely and effectively used in combination with multiple oral prescription type 2 diabetes, cholesterol and blood-pressure-lowering medications.

Can I use Diabetes Essentials Heart Health if I’m pregnant or nursing?
As is the case with any nutritional supplement, if you are pregnant or nursing, please first consult with your physician.

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health safe for children to take?
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. We strongly urge you to consult a physician regarding this matter.

Can I stop taking my type 2 diabetes prescriptions if I’m taking Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
No. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is not a replacement of your diabetes prescriptions. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health may be taken alone or with your current diabetes medications.

Are there any side effects to taking Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
No. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health has no known side effects, contraindications or allergic reactions.

Has there been any research done on Diabetes Essentials Heart Health’s effects, benefits and safety?
When we formulated our Heart Health product, there were numerous studies and references we consulted when formulating the product.

DRUG INTERACTION INFORMATION

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health safe to take with my type 2 diabetes prescriptions?
Yes. Diabetes Essentials Heart Health can be safely and effectively used in combination with multiple oral prescription type 2 diabetes, cholesterol and blood-pressure-lowering medications.

Is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health safe to take with my heart health medication(s)?
Yes. It can be safely and effectively used in combination with your heart health medications. Should you have any questions or concerns, we urge you to consult your healthcare professional regarding this.

WHERE TO BUY

Where is Diabetes Essentials Heart Health sold?
Diabetes Essentials line of products is sold in retailers nationwide in the Home Diagnostics/Diabetes Care Products section. It is not sold in the vitamin aisle or the drink aisle. For a full listing of what retailers are carrying it, please visit the “Where to Buy” section of this website.

REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

How do I get additional information on Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
There is lots of information, right here on our website – www.diabetesessentials.com. You can also call our Customer Service line at 1-866-342-2476 with any specific questions regarding any Diabetes Essentials product.

CORPORATE

Who makes Diabetes Essentials Heart Health?
Diabetes Essentials Heart Health is marketed by Nutrition 21 – a nutritional bioscience company located in Purchase, NY. For more information, go to the Nutrition 21 website at www.nutrition21.com or www.diabetesessentials.com.

Where is Nutrition 21 located?
4 Manhattanville Rd., Purchase, New York 10577

What kind of company is Nutrition 21?
Nutrition 21 is a nutritional bioscience company and the maker of chromium-based and omega-3 fish oil-based supplements with health benefits substantiated by clinical research. More information is available at http://www.nutrition21.com.

What other products does Nutrition 21 sell?
In addition to Diabetes Essentials, the company markets Chromax® chromium picolinate, http://www.chromax.com/, which is the most-studied form of the essential mineral chromium. Chromax, a supplement for healthy and pre-diabetic people that promotes insulin health and helps improve blood sugar metabolism, cardiovascular disease, control carbohydrate cravings and fight weight gain, is now available through food, drug and mass retailers nationwide. Nutrition 21 holds 33 patents for nutrition products and uses, 23 of which are for chromium compounds and their uses. The Company is the exclusive importer of Icelandic fish oils, including omega-3 fatty acids, which are manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and sold under the Iceland Health® brand, http://www.icelandhealth.info.

Is Nutrition 21 a publicly-held company?
Yes.

I am an investor and interested in Nutrition 21. Who can I contact to discuss my interest?
For more information on Nutrition 21 - you can:
visit www.nutrition21.com
write to: Nutrition 21, Inc.
4 Manhattanville Road
Purchase, NY 10577
e-mail to: contactn21@nutrition21.com
or phone: 1-914-701-4500 (main)
1-914-701-454 (investor relations)

ABOUT DIABETES

What is diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin, and must take this hormone each day in order to process the glucose or “sugar” in their blood. Formerly called “juvenile diabetes” because it is generally diagnosed in children and young adults, treatment for type 1 diabetes includes taking daily insulin shots or using an insulin pump, making balanced meal choices, exercising (under a physician’s guidance), and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes, which is more common in the general population, have trouble using the insulin in their bodies. In this form of diabetes, the fat, muscle, or liver cells cannot use insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes can be managed by lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise and select nutritional supplements. Medicines are also used, sometimes including those that control blood pressure and cholesterol.

What are the complications of type 2 diabetes?
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can prevent complications. That’s why it’s important to follow your healthcare practitioner’s instructions and stay on top of your diabetes. Some of the complications from diabetes include:

Heart disease, which represents about 50 percent of all deaths among people with diabetes;
Stroke;
Kidney failure;
Diabetic retinopathy, which causes blindness in about 2 percent of patients or severe vision impairment in about 10 percent of patients;
Diabetic neuropathy, a condition that affects about 50 percent of people with diabetes, causing sensory loss and damage to the limbs;
Impotence;
Diabetic foot disease, which can lead to amputation of a lower limb;
Dental disease.

What is HbA1c (or A1C) and how can I use it to help manage my diabetes?
Your HbA1c level, also abbreviated as A1C and called glycated hemoglobin, is a measure of average blood sugar control for a two to three month period. For someone with diabetes with poorly controlled blood glucose levels, the A1C level is higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the average blood glucose level was during the past several months. Levels can range from normal, which is in the 5 to 6 percent range, to borderline diabetic between 6 and 7 percent, to as high as 25 percent if diabetes is badly out of control for a long time.

The A1C test can help people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes know about their blood glucose control. A1C tests can help a doctor judge whether a treatment plan is working

Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests do not measure your day-to-day control. You cannot adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your daily fasting and after-meal (post-prandial) blood sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective control. The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But, it is a good resource to use, along with your daily blood sugar checks, to achieve the best possible control.

Healthcare Professional Section

How do I advise my patients on how to take Diabetes Essentials Heart Health in combination with other products in the Diabetes Essentials line?
There are instructions on each package which says that they may be taken individually or in combination. Patients must read the instructions on each package that shows how many of each they may take each day. For instance:

For our Blood Sugar Health formulas – they may take either form once per day (not both) – so one Diabetes Essentials Blood Sugar Health Nutrition To Go drink packet or one Diachrome Diabetes Essentials Blood Sugar Health capsule.
For our Heart Health Formula – they may take 2 tablets per day
For our Multivitamin Nutrition To Go Formula – they may take up to three packets per day.
If they would like to take all three formulas each day, here’s how much they can take of each: (1) Blood Sugar Health serving (either formula) + (1) Heart Health serving + (1 ) serving of Multivitamin Nutrition To Go.