What is The Best Collagen Supplement for Diabetics
Scarlett Gray
BNutrDiet (Hons), APD, SDA
Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia (APD200526). Accredited Sports Dietitian and Credentialled Eating Disorder Clinician. First Class Honours in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Newcastle.
What is the best collagen supplement for diabetics?
People living with diabetes face a specific challenge when it comes to collagen. Not only does collagen production decline naturally with age, but the chronically elevated blood sugar levels associated with diabetes actively damage existing collagen through a process called glycation. This makes collagen supplementation particularly relevant for people managing diabetes — and the choice of supplement matters more than most people realise.
What happens to collagen when you have diabetes?
Chronically elevated blood sugar affects collagen in a specific way. Rather than accelerating collagen loss, it damages the collagen that's already there. Research from the University of Cambridge explains that collagen can acquire "covalently bound sugar that is not supposed to be there" — this is glycation, the non-enzymatic addition of sugar molecules to collagen fibres.
Over time, these glycated sugars react further to form Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) — cross-links between collagen molecules that stiffen the collagen matrix and impair its function. Because people with diabetes have higher background levels of sugar in their tissues, this process happens at a higher rate than in the general population.
The visible and functional consequences can include:
- Stiffening of connective tissues and blood vessel walls
- Slower wound healing and skin repair
- Increased tendon and ligament stiffness
- Skin changes including reduced elasticity
- Joint stiffness and cartilage changes
How collagen supplementation may help
Supporting the body's collagen supply
Supplementing with hydrolysed marine collagen peptides provides the amino acid building blocks the body uses in its own collagen production. This gives the body something to work with as glycation impairs the collagen that's already there — supporting the collagen matrix in skin, joints and connective tissue over time.
Blood sugar management
There is emerging clinical evidence that collagen peptide supplementation may support blood sugar management in people with Type 2 diabetes. A 12-week double-blind randomised clinical study tested collagen peptide as an add-on nutritional therapy in Type 2 diabetes management. The researchers concluded that a daily dose of 5g of collagen peptide, alongside standard care, reduced blood sugar levels significantly and improved quality of life measures. The higher 10g/day dose was also found effective in supporting the diagnostic parameters of Type 2 diabetes.
It's worth being clear about the scale of the evidence: this is one clinical study, and more research is needed. But it's one of the more encouraging pieces of published evidence linking collagen supplementation to metabolic health.
Glycine content
Collagen contains an unusually high proportion of glycine — around a third of the amino acid residues in collagen are glycine, which is a much higher share than in most other dietary proteins. Glycine plays a role in glucose metabolism and insulin signalling, which is part of the proposed mechanism for why collagen peptides may be particularly relevant for people managing diabetes.
Wound healing
Slow wound healing is a well-known concern in diabetes care, and collagen is central to the wound healing process. Supporting the body's collagen supply may support skin repair — though people with wound-healing concerns should always speak with their diabetes care team first, as wounds and skin changes in diabetes can require medical attention.
Joints and connective tissue
Musculoskeletal complications — joint stiffness, tendon changes, reduced flexibility — are more common in people with diabetes, partly as a consequence of glycation affecting connective tissue. Collagen is the primary structural component of tendons, ligaments and cartilage, and daily supplementation may help support these tissues over time.
For people managing both diabetes and joint discomfort, Kollo Flex+ is a targeted joint care supplement designed to complement daily collagen supplementation.
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Premium Liquid Marine Collagen
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Shop Liquid Collagen →What to look for in a collagen supplement for people with diabetes
Not all collagen supplements are equally suitable for people managing diabetes. The things that matter most:
- No added sugar — some collagen products contain added sweeteners or sugars that could affect blood glucose. Choose a formula with no added sugar
- Marine source — marine collagen is predominantly Type I (the type most relevant for skin and connective tissue), typically produced as low molecular weight peptides that are easily absorbed, and has a strong published research base
- Clinical dose — the 5-10g per day dose used in the clinical study on Type 2 diabetes. Products delivering significantly less are unlikely to replicate the study conditions
- Quality certification — Informed Choice certification confirms that every batch has been independently tested for over 250 prohibited substances and contaminants
- Vitamin C included — vitamin C is used by the body in its own collagen synthesis and is a beneficial addition to a daily collagen supplement
Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen meets these criteria. It delivers 10,000mg of Naticol® marine collagen peptides per daily sachet alongside vitamin C, contains no added sugar, and is Informed Choice certified.
Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen and diabetes
Kollo's formula is straightforward — 10,000mg of Naticol® marine collagen, vitamin C, a B vitamin complex (B1, B5, B6, B12) and l-lysine — with no added sugar and no botanicals or high-dose extras that could complicate supplement choice for people managing diabetes. Every batch is independently tested to Informed Choice standards, and the dose sits at the upper end of the range used in the published clinical study on Type 2 diabetes.
As always, speak to your GP or diabetes care team before starting any new supplement, particularly if you are managing blood sugar levels with medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is collagen safe for people with diabetes?
Collagen is a food-derived protein and is generally well tolerated. Published research to date has found collagen peptide supplementation to be safe as an add-on to standard care in Type 2 diabetes management. Always speak to your GP or diabetes care team before starting any new supplement.
Does collagen affect blood sugar?
A 12-week clinical study in people with Type 2 diabetes found that 5g and 10g of collagen peptide per day, added to standard care, reduced blood sugar levels significantly and improved quality of life measures. This is one clinical study rather than a large body of evidence, but it's an encouraging piece of research. If you are managing blood sugar with medication, discuss any new supplement with your care team first.
How much collagen should someone with diabetes take?
The published clinical study used 5g and 10g of collagen peptide per day over 12 weeks. Both doses were found to be effective. Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen delivers 10,000mg (10g) per daily sachet, which is at the upper end of the study range.
Which type of collagen is best for people with diabetes?
Hydrolysed marine collagen is a strong choice — it's predominantly Type I collagen, has good bioavailability as low molecular weight peptides, and has the strongest published research base for skin and connective tissue support. Look for a formula with no added sugar, at a clinical dose, ideally with third-party quality certification.
Should I speak to my GP before starting collagen?
Yes. For anyone managing an existing medical condition, particularly one where blood sugar is being managed with medication, a conversation with your GP or diabetes care team before starting a new supplement is the right first step.
For the complete picture on liquid marine collagen — dose, sources, research and how to choose the right supplement — read our complete guide to liquid marine collagen.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer — TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
