PotassiumDoes potassium lower blood sugar?
Updated 9 Nov 2026
Short answer
The evidence is early. Observational studies link a lower potassium intake or blood level with higher fasting glucose, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.[1] In a pilot trial of 29 African American adults with prediabetes, 40 mEq (1,564 mg) of potassium chloride a day for 3 months kept fasting glucose stable. It changed by -1.1 mg/dL, against +6.1 mg/dL with placebo, but glucose tolerance test results did not differ.[2][1] NIH says that more trials are needed before the link can be confirmed.[1]
Sources (2)
- Potassium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
- Effects of potassium supplements on glucose metabolism in African Americans with prediabetes: a pilot trial. Chatterjee R, Slentz C, Davenport CA, Johnson J, Lin PH, Muehlbauer M, et al. Am J Clin Nutr, 2017. PMID 29092881
More about potassium
What is potassium?Which foods contain potassium?What is potassium used for?What happens if you do not get enough potassium?Is potassium safe?Why do potassium supplements contain only 99 mg?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.