Do chromium supplements help control diabetes?

Q: I am a type 2 diabetic. I stay in USA where multivitamin tablets called Centrum are available. These contain chromium. Can I use them? What are the advantages of chromium?

A:Chromium is a trace element in our diet. It is supposed to be having insulin sensitising properties. Though, there is no scientific study conforming clear-cut advantage of these multivitamin tablets, but there is no harm in taking them as long as serum creatinine is normal. If a balanced healthy diet is taken, these drugs have effect equal to placebo effect.