Results from various surveys show that 30–70% of adult people with diabetes in the United States use alternative medicine, with one-third using it specifically to improve diabetes-related symptoms (1). Individuals with diabetes may be inclined to use these products for various reasons, including a belief that “natural” means without risks, concern over medication costs, influence from family and friends, and desire for further glucose lowering in addition to that achieved with traditional medications. However, supplements have the potential to cause adverse effects, drug interactions, and toxicity. Additionally, lack of regulatory oversight in the manufacturing and marketing of supplements can lead to inconsistent quality and quantity of ingredients within products. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are essential for assessing safety and efficacy of therapeutic interventions. However, there are a limited number of RCTs for supplements, and conclusions are often derived from studies of weak quality. For many dietary supplements, data are lacking on important information such as mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and potential toxicity. The desired clinical outcome may be dependent on the mechanism of a supplement, which may affect insulin secretion, affect insulin resistance, or have multiple effects (2). The selection of a supplement might also depend on other factors, including stage of diabetes, comorbidities, and availability. There may be inconsistencies in the reconciliation of dietary supplements, which could result from individuals choosing to not disclose information on their use of supplements, providers not asking about such use, or a lack of recording such information in the medical record. In one study of 333 hospitalized patients who self-reported dietary supplement use, 20% were asked about the use of dietary supplements by the health care professional during their stay, and only 6% of all supplement users were asked, disclosed, and had documentation (3). Therefore, it is important for health care professionals to …