Proteins are necessary for tissue repair and for the construction of new tissue. Every cell needs protein to maintain its life. Protein is also the primary substance used to replace worn out or dead cells. Your muscles, hair, nails, skin, and eyes are made of protein.
Taking supplemental chromium has been shown repeatedly to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance, even to the point of reversing type II diabetes in many people (1). Thus, as my old clinical nutrition professor pointed out, apparently a chromium deficiency can actually lead to type II diabetes.
Points to Remember. 1  Insulin is a hormone that helps cells throughout the body absorb glucose and use it for energy. 2  Insulin resistance increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. 3  The major contributors to insulin resistance are excess weight, especially around the waist, and physical inactivity.