Creatine
Creatine, or creatine monohydrate, is a supplement that increases your phosphocreatine levels, providing extra energy for muscular contractions. More than 90 percent of your bodies creatine levels are stored in your skeletal muscle, but even small muscles such as those that make your pupils contract use the same energy pathway to function. While creatine is not essential, as your body produces approximately 2 g a day, supplementation with creatine monohydrate can produce noticeable effects.
Creatine Supplementation
Creatine supplementation increases short-term muscular endurance. Your bodies ability to quickly replenish energy reserves can help you grind out an extra repetition or two on heavy sets in the gym or speed up your recovery when running wind sprints. A 2010 study published in the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition" showed that nine weeks of creatine supplementation improved muscle strength, growth and power output. While creatine supplementation does not increase aerobic capacity, it can increase power output in high-intensity interval training, according to a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research."
Diabetes and Creatine
One of the most common concerns with creatine is the effect on your kidneys, as your kidneys act to filter waste products. Creatine is filtered normally, and creatine supplementation produces no additional difficultly, even in those suffering from type II diabetes, according to a 2011 study in the "European Journal of Applied Physiology." Even though creatine supplementation does not work to control diabetes in any way, creatine supplementation can slightly improve glycemic control in those with type II diabetes, according to a 2011 study in "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise."
What to Avoid
Not all creatine products are created equal. Some promise an insulin spike, aimed at increasing your post-workout response and boosting your uptake of creatine monohydrate. This is done with a large amount of simple sugar. This is the last thing you need, as you have enough trouble regulating your blood sugar levels without 75 g of dextrose. Other creatine products contain creatine ethyl ester instead of creatine monohydrate, and the ethyl ester version is worthless. In a 2009 study published in the "Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition," creatine ethyl ester was shown to produce no measurable effect.