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Golden Gate Park | San Francisco, CA

System of a down & deftones, latest setlist, system of a down on april 27, 2024.

Las Vegas Festival Grounds, Las Vegas, Nevada

Note: Gold Stage. "Aerials" "Bubbles", "Lonely Day" and "Bounce" were soundchecked. "Protect the Land" and "Cigaro" were listed on the setlist, but not played due to curfew.

System Of A Down announce tour dates with At The Drive In, Incubus and more

After teasing fans with a countdown to an announcement, System Of A Down have now revealed tour US tour plans with At The Drive In , Incubus and more. See full dates below

Over the weekend, the metal veterans took to Twitter to kickstart a mysterious countdown from three to one. Once it ended today, the artwork of an apocalyptic family beach holiday then revealed a trio of US tour dates with At The Drive In and Skeleton Witch, another another show in San Bernadino that also featured Incubus, Clutch and more:

THREE. #systemofadown pic.twitter.com/dOCyUCx4BO — System Of A Down (@systemofadown) April 6, 2018

TWO. #systemofadown #soad2018 pic.twitter.com/WX1rCWBDWM — System Of A Down (@systemofadown) April 7, 2018

ONE. #systemofadown #soad2018 #letsdothis pic.twitter.com/8o7YMzbn6v — System Of A Down (@systemofadown) April 9, 2018

See you this fall. https://t.co/DnX3WSO0px #systemofadown #soad2018 #letsdothis pic.twitter.com/osNGFhUx1b — System Of A Down (@systemofadown) April 9, 2018

San Bernardino, join us Saturday, October 13th at Glen Helen Amphitheater. Tickets on sale this Friday at 10am PT. #letsdothis #soad2018 #sanbernardino pic.twitter.com/a1EDuPWyhe — System Of A Down (@systemofadown) April 9, 2018

Fans remain hopeful that this could bring news of their long-awaited sixth album ahead of more world tour dates. SOAD haven’t released a full-length record since 2005’s double album ‘Mezmerize/Hypnotize’, which was released a year before the four-piece initially split up. However, they reunited in 2010 and have remained an active touring unit since.

After telling fans back in July that he wasn’t optimistic about the prospect of a new album  surfacing any time soon, frontman Serj Tankian revealed late last year that the band had been in the studio – but still had a long way to go.

“We’ve discussed it and we’ve played each other songs, but we still haven’t come eye-to-eye on how things should be done for us to be able to move forward with it,” Tankian said. “And that’s where it’s been.”

Asked about his current relationship with his bandmates, the frontman reassured fans that they all still get along.

“That’s the funny thing. When people don’t see a record, they assume the worst about your internal relationship. But the truth is we’re actually better friends – at least I’m better friends with everyone than I’ve ever been,” he clarified.

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System Of A Down To Headline Sick New World 2024 With Slipknot And Bring Me The Horizon Joining The Juggernaut Lineup

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES BY A PERFECT CIRCLE, ALICE IN CHAINS, DANNY ELFMAN, BAD OMENS, SLEEP TOKEN, AND MANY MORE

Las vegas festival grounds saturday, april 27, 2024, presale friday, october 13 at 10am pt, public on sale 2pm pt .

Following a meteorically successful inaugural year, Sick New World is set to return to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds April 27, 2024 with an enormous collection of the world’s biggest hard rock, alternative, and up and coming artists. With a closing performance from returning headliner  System Of A Down , this colossal lineup features over 65 artists across five stages, including  Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon, A Perfect Circle ,  Alice In Chains ,  Danny Elfman ,  Bad Omens ,  Sleep Token ,  Knocked Loose,  and many more.

Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at SickNewWorldFest.com to receive an access code for the presale that will begin  Friday, October 13 at 10AM PT . Any remaining tickets following the presale will go on sale to the general public on  Friday, October 13 at 2PM PT . GA, GA+, VIP, and VIP Cabana Tickets will be available, with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down.

VIP packages include preferred viewing areas, charging stations, a dedicated entry lane at the festival entrance, air-conditioned restrooms, and more. VIP Cabanas are available with exclusive viewing areas, featuring VIP service including food vouchers and select complimentary beverages, expedited entry and more. Sick New World has partnered with Jampack to offer hotel and ticket packages with exclusive amenities, including discount rates on select Las Vegas hotels. For the full list of available tickets, packages, and the amenities included in each, please visit  SickNewWorldFest.com .

Sign up for official Sick New World SMS and email lists to be the first to receive new information. Follow along on social media to stay in the loop for all festival announcements: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | X | YouTube

Sick New World is produced by Live Nation, Redrock Entertainment, and Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group.

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System Of A Down and Korn kick off US co-headline tour and the setlist is a millennial metalheads' dream

Inside the first night of the Korn/System Of A Down co-headline tour - 41 songs, countless singalongs and the live debut of a new single

System Of A Down and Korn kicked off their run of US co-headline shows last night at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The two bands previously played a run of US dates in October 2021 before being forced to postpone their long-awaited Los Angeles stadium shows when SOAD vocalist Serj Tankian contracted COVID. 

In December, an announcement was made that in addition to the rescheduled Los Angeles dates (set for February 4 and 5), the bands would play two further co-headline dates in Phoenix and San Diego, with support from post-metal group Russian Circles. 

Last night (January 31) the bands kicked off this short US co-headline run when they played to 18,000 people in Phoenix, Arizona and the setlists are the things millennial metalheads dreams are made of. We're not drowning amidst an ocean of jealousy, honest. 

A spectacle fit for arenas

Put aside the fact that System Of A Down and Korn were two of metal's biggest commercial forces at the turn of the millennium, both bands also represent the most influential and creative forces in our world for the past three decades. That alone should tell you just how special it is to see them sharing a bill, much less playing to 18,000+ people after a drought of shows that has seen most bands (and fans) go nowhere near a venue for two years plus. 

Fittingly, the visuals from the shows are everything we could want from a massive metal double-header, stunning visuals reminding us just how excited we should be for any arena-size metal gigs in 2022. 

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And a combined set that effectively describes the best of millennial metal

With a combined total of 41 songs between them, Korn and System Of A Down weren't mucking about when it came to picking out their setlists. Any double-header that can start with Here To Stay and end on Sugar is one to be admired, but when you consider it also meanders through the likes of Falling Away From Me , Got The Life , Shoots And Ladders , Coming Undone , Freak On A Leash , BYOB, Chop Suey!, Radio/Video, Aerials and Toxicity on the way, jeez. As one fan put it, this setlist is everything. 

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Fans couldn't be more delighted

Considering the many delays to getting fully on the road (System Of A Down's Los Angeles shows were originally planned for summer 2020), there's a sense of relief inherent just to the fact that the shows happened in the first place. That they went off as well as they did however, is an absolute bonus and the reports on social media were glowing. 

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I owe Michelle my life for taking me to see Korn and System of a Down and getting to sit in the smaysmell box suite pic.twitter.com/hqYPxitc1w February 1, 2022

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Korn/System Of A Down was the best concert I’ve been to in a long time. Completely worth only getting 6 hours of sleep this morning because I was so amped afterwards. February 1, 2022

There's nothing purer than seeing people lose their minds to *that* drop in Korn's set

With Korn's new album Requiem out on Friday, we expect there will be plenty of new jams to get stuck into by the time the band's next headline shows roll around. That said, we can't imagine anything whipping the crowd up into a frenzy quite like that drop at the tail-end of Freak On A Leash . God, we've missed that. 

SEEING SYSTEM OF A DOWN AND KORN AGAINNNN MY BAIBES pic.twitter.com/Dj11sQXpX6 January 31, 2022

Korn played 'Start The Healing' for the first time

Put it down to a mad end of year or just the fact time seems entirely arbitrary since the pandemic hit, but it feels like ages since Korn first unveiled Start The Healing - the first single from Requiem . Except, the single actually only came out in November, meaning we've barely had it three months now and last night marked the first time the band played it live. The fact it didn't stick out amidst a tightly-packed 14-song setlist bodes well for the song, Start The Healing already feeling like a crowd-pleaser even before its parent album comes out. 

System Of A Down played 27 songs!

You can't help but feel System Of A Down might have pulled a fast one on Korn, considering their set featured no less than 27 songs in the evening (compared to 14 Korn tracks). While we get SOAD can usually blast through a lot of quick numbers to round out the numbers, that's an obscene amount of idiosyncratic brilliance being brought to bear, particularly when the likes of Prison Song , Cigaro , Soldier Side , BYOB and Toxicity all get trotted out. There's nothing like listening to half of System Of A Down's discography in one headline set to remind you why the band are just so brilliant in the first place. 

A post shared by Russell Stuart (@russellstuart) A photo posted by on

Including a few newer tracks

We don't want to come off as greedy or anything, but System Of A Down's Genocidal Humanoidz came out in November 2020 - almost 14 months ago. We understand that it was a 15-year wait before that, but Korn have a new album out on Friday . C'mon lads, step it up. We're being facetious of course, but it is incredibly gratifying to see the newer songs so proudly displayed in SOAD's set, showing just how great that spark of inspiration still is when the mood strikes the band right. 

People still can't quite get their heads around System Of A Down's Sugar

Never mind that Sugar is almost 25 years old (God, when did that happen?), the song remains one of metal's weirdest (but no less wonderful) anthems. That doesn't stop it completely confounding audiences who try to sing along, mind - from spitting the verses until all the words jumble into one or shouting 'sugar!' at the wrong point, its a chaotic mess and we utterly adore it. 

Even from the rafters the show looks spectacular

Its an inevitability of arena shows that somebody has to sit in the nosebleeds, but as the below video shows sometimes that just offers a bird's eye view of something spectacular... 

A post shared by Jimmy Vayps (@vayps) A photo posted by on

We'd quite like System Of A Down back this side of the Atlantic in 2022

Way back in the mists of time, System Of A Down and Korn were both booked for Download 2020. Obviously the pandemic put a hold on that happening, but despite the fact Download has retained mostly the same line-up (Korn are still there, hooray!) the lack of System Of A Down is pretty glaring after seeing all the footage of these shows. But you know what? That's fine - perhaps we can hold out hope of a SOAD headline show or even tour announcement before the end of 2022. It's been 7 years since the band played Wembley Arena and we reckon it's high time we get some more arena dates lined up. Hell, we'd even go for stadiums - Rammstein seem to be doing alright out of it, after all. 

SYSTEM OF A DOWN!!#SOAD #concerts #workingman pic.twitter.com/ou181HIp6B February 1, 2022

Seeing a sea of metalheads *still* gets us insanely emotional

The worst of lockdown might be behind us (we hope!) and live music might have made a return , but it's still been fairly slim pickings for arena-sized rock and metal gigs over the past 12 months. Considering we're still seeing tours cancel or postpone ( Aerosmith , Sabaton ) we're not entirely sure when arena-sized metal gigs will come back to the UK (our fingers are crossed for Ghost , especially after seeing the band's first US date ) but even if we were guaranteed to have some massive shows in the next few weeks, it wouldn't stop us getting a little choked up seeing a full arena gathering to celebrate heavy metal. More of this in 2022, please. 

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Korn Setlist

Korn Setlist Here to Stay Falling Away From Me Start the Healing Got the Life Rotting in Vain Shoots and Ladders Clown Coming Undone Y'All Want a Single Freak on a Leash| It's On! / Trash / Did My Time Twist A.D.I.D.A.S. Blind

System Of A Down setlist

X Prison Song Holy Mountains Mind (Intro) Cigaro Suite-Pee Needles Deer Dance Soldier Side (Intro) Soldier Side B.Y.O.B. Genocidal Humanoidz Suggestions Psycho Chop Suey! Lonely Day Lost in Hollywood Radio/Video Dreaming (Bridge) Hypnotize ATWA Bounce Chic 'N' Stu Protect the Land Aerials Toxicity Sugar

Korn's new album Requiem is due February 4 via Loma Vista. This Thursday (February 3) the band will play a special livestream set in an intimate LA Church to celebrate the album's launch. 

The band play Download Festival on June 12. 

Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token. 

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System of a Down & Deftones to Headline Golden Gate Park’s First Nighttime Concert

Produced by promoter Another Planet Entertainment, the event will also feature performances from The Mars Volta, Viagra Boys and VOWWS.

By Taylor Mims

Taylor Mims

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“We are excited to be bringing such an iconic lineup to the city and what better venue than Golden Gate Park,” said Another Planet Entertainment president of concerts and festivals Allen Scott in a release. “We are expecting fans from not just the Bay Area but from across the U.S. and internationally to travel to the city injecting money into the local economy. From hotels to local restaurants and everything in between, this will be a great night of music and a great economic boost for the city.”

Golden Gate Park has been hosting daytime concerts since 1967. Legendary artists including Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Neil Young have all played the park over the past 55 years.

GA tickets for the event will start at $169, with VIP tickets starting at $399. Artist presale will begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT, with Another Planet Entertainment’s presale beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. PT. General onsale will begin Friday at 10 a.m. PT. Head to Golden Gate Park’s concerts website for more information.

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System of a Down Guitarist Explains Band’s Lack of Touring

It's no secret that System of a Down are fairly inactive when it comes to the extended touring circuit. The band have notably capitalized on rock's festival market since their return friom hiatus in 2011, but long, country-wide treks have remained untouched.

Guitarist Daron Malakian has spoken on the topic in a new interview with Metal Hammer , saying, "I’m the only one in the band that doesn’t have kids and I’m the only one who’s not married. So when we do play, we don’t go on these year-long tours; we do three weeks a month in Europe or a couple of weeks here in the States in October. It’s just enough for us to get out and play and have a good time, and then for everyone to come back home to their families and not be gone too long.”

System of a Down will embark on a rare five-date North American tour this fall. These will be the group's first U.S. appearances in three years. Speaking on the band's impact their career has had, Malakian said, "I just feel really lucky. We haven’t released any new music in 10 years, so for people to still appreciate those songs means a lot to me. A lot of the kids that I see at the System shows were either really young or maybe some of them weren’t even born when our band started, so to see that makes me really proud and I think it’s a testament to the songs."

Frontman Serj Tankian recently addressed their current state and new music delay in a tell-all statement . You can check out a comprehensive timeline of the back-and-forth between members regarding their future in the gallery below.

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Serj Tankian Talks About System Of A Down’s Future of Touring

by Em Casalena May 11, 2024, 7:14 am

System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian recently spoke about the band’s future in a new interview with LiveSigning .

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In the interview, Tankian promoted his newly-released book Down With The System: A Memoir (Of Sorts) . He got onto the topic of SOAD’s future in terms of touring. The singer noted that there was little charm left for the band when it came to touring. 

However, he didn’t close the book on SOAD performing live for good. Tankian did mention that he would be open to doing something in the future with the band, assuming it wouldn’t be as exhausting as a full-blown headlining tour.

“I love performing, but…” Tankian started. “I think when you do a long tour, it’s not just physically exhausting, but it’s artistically redundant after a while, repeating the same thing. That’s why we’re really enjoying doing these one-offs, they’re special events, special occasions. We can’t do them everywhere, we can’t do them all the time.”

The vocalist went on to say that he knows how performing often becomes fun again in waves, but physical problems can still get in the way. His back issues have made it very difficult to tour efficiently. However, he noted that he has been feeling quite a bit better and has been exercising to keep the pain at bay.

“As far as touring somewhere in the near future, possibly, I would say,” Tankian said in the interview. “I mean, I’m open to looking at stuff, but not thrilled about doing long tours at all, anywhere. Just one-offs, or maybe a handful of one-offs with dates in between.”

Could System Of A Down Be Done Touring For Good?

SOAD hasn’t toured much in recent years. They performed twice at Sick New World Fest in 2023 and 2024. In 2022, the band only performed a few times. An actual tour hasn’t been on the books in quite a long time. The only performance marked for this year will be a show with Deftones in San Francisco, California this August.

[Get Tickets To See System Of A Down and Deftones Live in 2024]

Still, according to Tankian, a tour could potentially happen. Fans just shouldn’t expect a full-blown headlining trek in the near future. Keep your eyes peeled!

Photo by Kevin Winter

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Bryce Leatherwood Releases Sweet Music Video for “The One My Daddy Found” Just in Time for Mother’s Day

© 2024 American Songwriter

Serj Tankian Describes Telling System of a Down to Find a New Singer

By Kory Grow

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Next year marks two decades since System of a Down released a new album. Although they released two new songs in 2020 to draw attention to Azerbaijan’s invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh , they reached a creative impasse years ago. The group chose to go on touring and celebrating their legacy for their fans and, as frontman Serj Tankian writes in his new book — Down With the System: A Memoir (Of Sorts) , which comes out Tuesday — they still have fun performing live. (They have a gig scheduled with Deftones in San Francisco in August.)

When the band reconvened in 2010, Tankian proposed a four-tiered agreement that would allow each member of the band to contribute equally. Ultimately, they couldn’t find common ground and decided it was best to just tour. “My only regret is that we have been collectively unable to give you another SOAD record,” Tankian wrote. “For that I apologize.”

In a revelatory excerpt from Down With the System , Tankian writes about how tense the environment felt as they were figuring out what to do with themselves.

What is a band? Is it simply a bunch of people who get together to create music? If you don’t have any gigs, are you still a band? What if you only play shows, but you don’t create any new music? Are you still a real band, or are you just a glorified cover band? And is there anything wrong with that?

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In the year or two after playing in Yerevan [in 2015], System of a Down felt like it was largely on cruise control. We did those Latin American tour dates, we played some festivals in the U.S., and then a run of more than 20 European tour dates in the summer of 2017. Ultimately, for me, it felt like just a part-time job, albeit one that paid significantly better than most people’s full-time gigs. In fact, it paid better than what was essentially my full-time gig.

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Even when the band was making new music, I didn’t find the life cycle of a major-label artist particularly satisfying. We’d typically spend six months writing, six months recording, and then two to three years touring and promoting. That means that two-thirds to three-quarters of your time as a signed artist is spent doing things that didn’t feel very artistically fulfilling or creative.

The obvious riposte to all this is that if you’re successful, you get paid quite well for your trouble. System is lucky enough to make royalties from selling music, and that income is reasonably consistent. If you outspend that income, you can always refill the coffers with big checks from touring. Playing live can become a bit like visiting the world’s most generous ATM.

But remember: I’d never wanted to be someone who made decisions because of money. I recognize it’s a tremendous privilege to be in a position to not have to do exactly that, but I can’t ignore the fact that not making decisions based on money was what had led me to that privilege in the first place. As it happened, I was pretty good at staying within my budget anyway, so the financial lure of touring was never going to outweigh all the negatives. With music, I’ve never made compromises and it’s always worked out, so why start now?

“So, who’s going to throw me a going-away party?” I asked the group. “Do one of you guys want to be the master of ceremonies?” I laughed a little, but I was serious. “Look guys, I’ve been very clear that I’m no longer interested in touring both due to my back and because it’s just no longer something within my vision.

“The thing is, though,” I continued, “I don’t want to hold you guys back. This is your dream. This is what you’ve worked for your whole life. You deserve to have this.” I looked at Daron, Shavo, and John, knowing what I said next would hit hard.

“I think you guys should find a new singer.”

For the longest time, System of a Down was about the four of us. We’d built it up from nothing, we’d been through all the battles together along the way, and if any one of us left, it simply wouldn’t be the same thing anymore. A couple of years earlier, I’d even tried to codify this with a legal document that stated that if someone left the band for any reason — other than, God forbid, dying — that the remaining members couldn’t use the band name without him. Everyone else resisted that idea, probably because they sensed I was looking for a way out of the band at the time, and they weren’t ready to kiss it goodbye. I’d initially been upset that they didn’t see System the same way I did, but after a while, I stopped being so precious about it, and just thought of these three guys not as my bandmates but as my close friends.

That’s who they are to me still. Shavo is one of the nicest, happy-go-lucky guys I’ve ever met in my life. He gets along with everyone, even at the worst of times. I can remember riding in the back of a bumpy camper van once with a bad flu, and as soon as I started to feel sick, he insisted on giving me his seat on another band’s more comfortable bus so I could recover. That’s Shavo: joyful, hopeful, helpful.

And Daron and I … well, we have always had a long, complicated relationship. The love of music welded our unique friendship early on despite our age difference. Artistically and even politically, we were like-minded partners at first. We both had a punk-rock ethos from different sources and experiences. Musically, we’d often finish each other’s sentences and had this incredible harmonic resonance in our voices. But it was almost impossible to separate our personal relationship from our creative one. It got messy at times, though neither of us ever let it fall apart. He had a possessiveness I didn’t always understand or appreciate, especially when it started affecting my relationships with others. I think he viewed me like an older brother, and I was protective of him, as I felt he was emotionally vulnerable. He has always made music the priority in his life and remains stubbornly true to his own artistic vision. Even though that has sometimes put us at odds, I have a lot of respect and love for him. So what did I want for these three people whom I was closer with than anyone outside my own family? I wanted them to be happy. I wanted them not to have to depend on my health, my back, or my willingness to spend months on the road each year for them to have this band that they wanted so much. These three guys meant more to me than System of a Down had ever meant — and they still do.

Of course, I wanted me to be happy, too. It seemed like the solution was to ease myself out of the band while they invited in a replacement. I told them I’d even help train a new singer.

“Think about it,” I said. “We can be the unique band that’s able to make this transition amicably, where the member of the band who’s leaving is 100 percent on-board with the new direction. I’ll do press and talk about it positively. I’ll make it clear that I support you guys.” I don’t think the guys were totally shocked by my announcement.

It sounded reasonable enough to me.

I sort of thought they’d forgotten about the whole idea of hiring a new singer, but a year or so later, John, Shavo, and I were at a fundraiser in Glendale, and this singer I knew got up and sang this beautiful Armenian song. Shavo was sitting next to me at the table. He leaned over and tapped me on the shoulder.

“By the way,” he nodded toward the singer, “we tried this guy out as a singer. The only problem was that he couldn’t scream and growl.”

I was taken aback. Not that they had been auditioning replacements, but that they’d kept it a secret.

“Why didn’t you guys ever tell me?” I whispered. Shavo shrugged. “I dunno.”

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In more recent years, I pitched another friend to them as a potential replacement that they ought to seriously consider. But I don’t think they ever did.

Excerpt from  DOWN WITH THE SYSTEM: A Memoir (of Sorts)  by Serj Tankian. Copyright © 2024. Available from Hachette Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

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The Big Four Of Nü-Metal, PAUL D'AMOUR Talks TOOL & More Top Stories You Might've Missed This Week

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Author Interviews

System of a down's serj tankian on his memoir, why a new album hasn't come since 2005.

Kaity Kline

Phil Harrell

Serj Tankian, singer for System of a Down Travis Shinn/Hachette Books hide caption

Serj Tankian, singer for System of a Down

The sound of protest music used to be the gentle plucking of Bob Dylan's guitar or the smooth grooves of Marvin Gaye. But at the end of the 1990s, there was a more insistent voice, screaming through a wall of amplifiers.

System of a Down became the most popular metal band of its era, scoring three No. 1 albums in the early part of the 2000s. Concert venues sold out. Eardrums were pummeled. Then, at its height, the Los Angeles-based band stopped releasing music and hasn't offered a new album since 2005.

Singer Serj Tankian describes the band in a new memoir, Down with the System, as:

"Armenian-Americans playing a practically unclassifiable clash of wildly aggressive metal riffs, unconventional tempo-twisting rhythms, and Armenian folk melodies, with me alternately growling, screaming, and crooning lyrics that could pivot from avant-garde silliness to raging socio-political rants in the space of a single line. I'd be the first to admit it: It's not easy listening."

Part of the band's mission was to educate a new generation about something that happened more than a century ago — the Armenian genocide. The Turkish government has never acknowledged it as a genocide, and a U.S. president didn't formally recognize it as genocide until Joe Biden did in 2021 .

Morning Edition host A Martinez spoke with Serj Tankian about his memoir.

On his family fleeing the Lebanese Civil War as a child:

I was seven; my brother was four. And I remember when the bombings first started and school was closed, we were crouching in our bedroom from the sounds, the building shaking from bombs falling nearby. And it was just fear. I remember fear, you know? The fear of the unknown as well because as a child you're not cognizant of who's fighting for what reason. You just feel the fear of war, and it's a horrible feeling.

That definitely made me anti-war at a very young age, but as I grew up, it is actually the hypocrisy of the taboo nature of the recognition of the Armenian genocide in a well-known democracy like the United States that ultimately made me an activist.

On his family's link to the Armenian Genocide:

My ancestors, my great grandparents – perished in the genocide. My grandfather, Stepan Eytan, was born in the early 1900s in a small village called Efkere in the Gesaria area of Turkey, which used to be historical Armenia. Turkey used to have at least 3 million Armenians, if not more. We were the largest Christian minority in the country. During the First World War in 1915, there was a systematic, organized genocide conducted by the government of the Ottoman Empire at the time. And my grandfather is a survivor of that genocide. He told us his story of survival.

My grandfather lived to the age of 93, 94 (we're not exactly sure of his age because of lost documents). We know his story more than our other grandparents, so that was a gift for us. I wanted him to know that before he [died], we were fighting for his memory, the memory of his family, his whole generation, and what he had fought for during his life.

On losing fans over his activism:

I'm OK with that because an artist isn't supposed to please everyone. An artist is supposed to basically try to receive through the collective consciousness whatever truths that we're trying to live by, the truths of our times. If we can't do that as artists, then we're entertainers. From day one, you have to make that choice: Are you an entertainer only or are you going to be an artist? If you're an entertainer, that's cool; there's many entertainers I follow and love. But if you're going to be an artist, then the road is not going to be easy. You're going to have to be honest with yourself and everyone else at all times, and people are going to like you and people are going to hate you, and that's OK.

I was more of the activist in the band than anyone else. There was always this push and pull between the message and the music. The other guys, rightfully so, didn't want the music to be victimized by the message at all times. I understood that because I loved the music as well, but when there was [a message] that needed to be dispersed, I felt like that was just as important, if not more important, than the music.

On why System of a Down hasn't released a new album since 2005:

I guess the short answer to that is: creative differences. And trying to imbue egalitarian means within the system, not only through our message. A band is a unique dynamic of individuals, with goals and things that they want to express. Not all of it works together at once.

Our original format was: Daron [Malakian], guitarist in System of a Down and my friend, would write the music and I would write the lyrics. As he grew as a lyricist. I tried to encourage him to sing as much as possible, because those were his lyrics. I wanted his voice to come out through his song. I believe that when someone writes a song – and they have a more complete song, both lyrically and musically – they can encapsulate it better with their voice.

I felt like I wasn't getting the same back at the time, in terms of encouragement. I was writing more music now, not just lyrics, and I wanted that badly within the band. I was also passive at the time, based on everything that was happening in my life. I wasn't as assertive. And I totally take the blame for that, which is not who I am now. I'm more assertive now. So it's an interesting dynamic that caused this block for us to be able to proceed musically ultimately.

On many fans learning about the Armenian Genocide through System of a Down's music:

I consider the awareness having to do with the Armenian genocide one of the band's largest non-musical legacies. In fact, in 2015 when we were playing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Yerevan, Armenia in Republic Square , that feeling was palpable, like we were almost created for this moment. This is the top of the mountain for this band. I'm incredibly proud of that, that we've been able to help.

Cover art for Serj Tankian's "Down with the System: A Memoir (Of Sorts)" Travis Shinn/Hachette Books hide caption

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Correction May 14, 2024

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Joe Biden was the first U.S. president to refer to the Armenian genocide as genocide. Ronald Reagan referred to the killings as genocide in 1981.

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System of a Down singer Serj Tankian's new book details band's up and downs, and what fuels his activism

S erj Tankian is a man of many talents. Aside from being the lead singer of rock band System of a Down, he’s also a solo artist, composer, filmmaker and painter. This month he can add author to that list, as his memoir "Down With the System" comes out May 14.

Born in Beirut to Armenian parents, Tankian and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 7. His multiplatinum-selling band System of a Down is composed of four men of Armenian ancestry who grew up in L.A. Though it’s been almost 20 years since the band’s last album “Hypnotize” came out in 2005, their influence in rock remains undeniable. Recently the band was tapped to headline a show at Golden Gate Park accompanied by the Deftones, the Mars Volta, Viagra Boys and Vows on August 17.

"Down With the System" starts with Tankian, a longtime champion of Armenian causes, being grilled by Howard Stern in 2001 for an essay he wrote called “Understanding Oil,” which he posted on the band’s website in the days after 9/11. He called 9/11 “a reaction to existing injustices around the world, generally unseen to most Americans.” With America reeling from the attacks, the essay sparked considerable controversy. Stern told listeners how Tankian “said the right things” on the show, and Tankian calls it a missed opportunity to speak his mind on American foreign policy.

He vowed to never let that happen again.

Ever outspoken, Tankian spoke with The Times about his book, why he’s optimistic about Armenia, and whether we might see another album from System of a Down.

What compelled you to take on a memoir?

I had a call from a literary agent in London, who asked if I'd be interested in a memoir. My first answer was, not really. I want to write a book about the intersection of justice and spirituality [laughs], a philosophy book, and ultimately we realized that both can be done in the same form. So it became a memoir of sorts.

Are you able to be optimistic about what's going on in Armenia?

I'm an eternal optimist because I have to be, based on my culture. We've had such a tragic history that, without optimism, you wouldn't get out of bed. The reason that I'm optimistic is, Armenia has a very strong, growing economy right now — in fact, one of the strongest in all of Europe, in terms of GDP growth. The 2018 Velvet Revolution, the peaceful revolution, really pivoted the country into a more transparent, responsible governance. It changed a lot of things and slowly got rid of all the post-Soviet corrupt policies. The problem was in 2020, when Azerbaijan, along with the help of Turkey, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia. It led to basically a brain drain, and the death of 5,000 men — like a whole generation of young men.

For those that don't know much about what's going on in Armenia, can you point them toward a fact-based website, a book, a film?

There's a wonderful English news website from Armenia called Civil Net [ civilnet.am ] that they can check out. The U.S.’s own Radio Free Armenia is also a resource.

I know it’s a question you get every day, but will there be another System of a Down record?

Time will tell! I go into a lot of nitty-gritty details with the process of understanding each other and laying out what everyone's vision is, at least what my vision is for the band, and to move forward. I'm proud to say that, in 2020, we were able to galvanize and do two songs [“Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz”] that we dedicated to our people in Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia and to raise awareness and funds for those people suffering.

Any concern about how your bandmates might interpret some of what you've shared in the book?

Sure, sure. I was very honest because that's who I am. I'm an activist, and without being honest, there's no activism. But at the same time, I have compassion and love for the guys. I have respect for the guys. One of them is my brother-in-law! We're a family. We've been together for 30 years. The reason I even wanted to write it was, some of it's already public, but not really perceived correctly. I wanted to put it to bed so we can move beyond this.

Is there a live performance of yours that sticks out in your mind a little bit more than the rest?

I would say [System’s] show in 2015 in Yerevan, Armenia. It was the 100th commemoration of the Armenian genocide in Republic Square and it was streamed worldwide, so we had millions of people watching. It felt like the top of the mountain for the band, like we had achieved something greater than music. It was being with our people, our heritage, where we come from, and playing for them and for our ancestors and our grandparents who were survivors of the genocide. It was a feeling unparalleled.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .

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The 7 Best Supplements for Diabetes, According to an RD Diabetes Specialist

Learn which supplements can help lower your blood glucose levels with diabetes

Verywell Health

Diabetes affects approximately 11% of the U.S. population, with roughly 23% of these adults being undiagnosed or unaware . If diabetes isn't effectively managed, the excess sugar in your blood can lead to complications involving the heart, nerves, eyes, feet, and kidneys. Managing diabetes typically begins with simple lifestyle adjustments. According to Kimberley Rose-Francis , RDN, CDCES, CNSC, diet and exercise changes can initially help manage blood sugar levels, and a healthcare provider might recommend various medications to help manage diabetes .

Dietary supplements can offer further benefits in addition to medication but should be used under guidance from a health professional, as some supplements can interfere with diabetes medication . An important first step is to get blood tests to check for nutrient deficiencies . Then, a healthcare provider can guide you on the best supplement dose.

We’ve rounded up the top supplements for diabetic health that are backed by research and approved by experts, and we also address when there may be important interactions with common blood sugar medications like metformin and sulfonylureas .

Types of Supplements for Diabetes

Which supplements you should take for diabetes will vary based on your individual needs, but according to Messerli, “Most people with diabetes would likely benefit from a magnesium supplement and possibly a vitamin D supplement .” These are two nutrients that the general public is likely deficient in, and both play key roles in insulin's action.

The following nutrients are based on research and expert recommendations for supplements for diabetes. Here is more information on how they may help regulate blood sugar:

• Fiber helps slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream. Psyllium husk, as a supplement, may be particularly helpful with blood sugar management.
• Magnesium can help with insulin resistance, and it's a nutrient many people don't get enough of. This is especially true during pregnancy, when magnesium needs increase .
• Vitamin D plays a role in glucose metabolism and may help lower the risk of transitioning from prediabetes to diabetes .
• Berberine may help lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Vitamin B12 can be an especially important supplement for those taking metformin to manage diabetes.
• Apple cider vinegar can help lower blood sugar levels after a meal.
• Some research suggests ginger may help the body use and lower blood glucose.

Editor's Note

Our team of registered dietitians reviews and evaluates every single supplement we recommend according to our dietary supplement methodology . From there, a registered dietitian on our Medical Expert Board reviews each article for scientific accuracy. Always speak with a healthcare professional before adding a supplement to your routine— especially if you are on blood sugar-lowering medication —to ensure that the supplement is appropriate for your individual needs and which dosage to take.

• Supplements We Excluded
• Is It Beneficial
• Who May Not Benefit
• How We Select

Our Experts

• What to Look For
• How Much is Too Much

Why Trust Verywell Health

Best fiber supplement, now supplements psyllium husk caps 500 mg.

Low concentration of lead

Provides soluble fiber

Third-party tested

May need to take multiple capsules daily

Form: capsule | Type: psyllium husk powder | Dose: 3 capsules | Servings Per Container: 166 | Third-Party Certified: Yes, Consumer Lab

Why We Recommend It

One of the simplest ways to lower blood sugar, control blood pressure, and protect heart health is to eat more fiber . It is widely recommended that adults consume 15–35 grams of fiber daily, although many Americans fall short. While a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes can help you meet this goal, a fiber supplement like NOW Psyllium Husk Caps can be a great way to supplement your dietary fiber intake.

Each capsule provides one gram of soluble fiber per capsule, and it’s recommended to start with three capsules daily, although you may need more. We like psyllium husk because it is a soluble fiber source, and research has shown in randomized controlled trials that it can help to reduce fasting blood sugar , hemoglobin A1c, and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

One consideration is psyllium fiber supplements may be contaminated with lead, but we appreciate that third-party testing shows that this brand has one of the lowest levels of lead of all the tested psyllium fiber supplements.

Things to Consider

• You may need to take multiple capsules daily to achieve your daily fiber goals.
• Fiber supplements can affect your body’s absorption of certain medications, and you may need to take them at different times.

Best Magnesium Supplement

Thorne research magnesium bisglycinate powder.

Highly absorbable form

Sweetened with monk fruit

Easy to consume powder

Exercise caution with some diabetes medications

Form: powder | Type: magnesium bisglycinate | Dose: 200 mg | Servings Per Container: 60 | Third-Party Certified: Yes, NSF Certified for Sport

Over time, diabetes can deplete your body of certain nutrients—including magnesium. This is especially true in people with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. Your magnesium needs increase during pregnancy, so this may be a helpful supplement if you have gestational diabetes.

Magnesium supplementation may also improve insulin resistance in diabetics—especially those who aren't getting enough magnesium from food . Our top choice for a magnesium supplement is Thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate because of its high-quality ingredients and strong third-party testing. 

Each serving of Thorne’s easy-to-consume powder provides 200 milligrams (mg)—48% Daily Value—of magnesium. We like that magnesium bisglycinate , the form of magnesium in this supplement, is highly absorbable , and it can simply be mixed into water or your beverage of choice.

• If you have diabetes and take sulfonylureas (eg. glyburide), magnesium may increase absorption of this medication and could cause hypoglycemia . Also, magnesium levels may be increased if you take diabetes medications from the SGLT-2 inhibitor family (eg. Jardiance). 
• It contains only magnesium, citric acid, and a little bit of monk fruit for sweetness, which may not suit everyone’s taste, but it won't impact glucose levels. 

Best Vitamin D

Hum vitamin d3 immune system support supplement.

Single softgel serving

May need to take multiple doses

Form: softgel | Type: vitamin D3 | Dose: 2,000 IU | Servings Per Container: 30 | Third-Party Certified: Yes, Consumer Lab

Vitamin D is necessary for processing sugar and insulin in the body. Research has found that for people with diabetes who are deficient in vitamin D , a supplement may help decrease fasting glucose levels and improve insulin resistance . This benefit is less pronounced if vitamin D levels are already normal, which a blood test can determine. However, vitamin D may be helpful for people with gestational diabetes or with type 2 diabetes who are dealing with depression .

If you have diabetes and low vitamin D levels, we recommend HUM Here Comes the Sun Immune Supplement with Vitamin D. We appreciate that this product provides an effective 2,000 IU dose of vitamin D3 in an easy-to-consume softgel. This dose is above the RDA of 600 IU of vitamin D but under the Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) of 4,000 IU for adults over 19 years. A healthcare professional can help determine the best dose for your needs, depending if you are deficient or not.

• If your vitamin D levels do not respond to supplementing with one capsule, you may need to speak to your healthcare provider about increasing the daily dose.

Best Berberine Supplement

Thorne berberine 1,000 mg.

Contains two effective forms of berberine

Customizable dose

Not to be used for gestational diabetes

Form: capsule | Type: berberine HCl and berberine phytosome | Dose: 450 mg berberine HCl and 550 mg berberine phytosome | Servings Per Container: 30 | Third-Party Certified: Yes

Social media is touting berberine , a compound derived from goldenseal root, as a “natural” Ozempic (the landmark drug intended to treat diabetes) due to its effect on blood glucose levels. Research has shown that berberine can help lower fasting glucose, post-meal glucose, hemoglobin A1c , and even LDL and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

We like Thorne Berberine 1,000 mg because it uses the most researched form, berberine HCl . Research suggests doses of 500 mg taken twice or three times daily can be effective for glucose regulation, so we appreciate that this product is a suggested two-capsule dose to equal 1,000 mg total.

• Berberine may cause gastrointestinal discomfort for some people and may have several drug interactions , including those used for diabetes management.
• It is not recommended to take if you are pregnant, so people with gestational diabetes should not use it.

Best Vitamin B12

Mary ruth’s organic liquid vitamin b12 spray.

Customizable dosing

No added sugar

USDA certified organic

Some might not care for the berry flavor

Form: liquid | Type: Methylcobalamin | Dose: 1,500 mcg in 2 sprays | Servings Per Container: 120 | Third-Party Certified: Yes, Clean Label Project Certified

Many people consume sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 through diet; it’s found in ample amounts in fish, meat, dairy, and grains, and it's easy to meet the 2.4 mcg Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). That said, people living with diabetes tend to have lower levels of vitamin B12, and we like that Mary Ruth’s Vitamin B12 comes in a convenient spray format.

One reason people with diabetes should consider B12 supplementation is that a widely used diabetes medication, metformin , actually depletes blood levels of B12 , according to Kristie Messerli , RD, CDCES. If you have been taking metformin for more than 1–2 years, it is routinely recommended to get your blood levels checked and supplement accordingly, especially if you are also a vegan or planning to become pregnant.

Some people may need a very low dose, and some may need more, so we appreciate that this product allows for customizable dosing. Two sprays will provide 1,500 mcg of B12 in the methylated form, which your body may retain better than other forms of B12. Note that there is no upper limit for B12, so you could take the full serving size if you have a true deficiency. Research has shown that supplementing with a dose as high as 1,000 mg may help replenish blood levels and even improve nerve function associated with diabetic neuropathy .

• The berry flavor may be strong for some people, but it does not contain added sugars.

Best Apple Cider Vinegar

Bragg organic apple cider vinegar.

Contains “true” apple cider vinegar

Less acidic taste than other vinegar

Widely available

May not be appropriate for gestational diabetes

Form: liquid | Type: apple cider vinegar | Dose: 1 tablespoon | Servings Per Container: 63 | Third-Party Certified: Yes , Consumer Lab

Why We Recommend It 

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been enjoying a moment in the spotlight recently—even doctors and scientists have been discussing the use of apple cider vinegar to improve blood sugar levels. Our top choice for this category is Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, which is widely available at supermarkets and health food stores nationwide.

We chose Bragg’s liquid apple cider vinegar over ACV pills or gummies because the liquid form is found to be more effective for diabetes and actually contains the amount of acetic acid studied to improve blood sugars. Research suggests mixing half to one tablespoon of ACV with a small glass of water to help prevent a post-meal blood sugar rise . We also appreciate this pick because we found it has a less acidic taste than other vinegar and contains “true” apple cider vinegar, with beneficial enzymes and acetic acid. Keep in mind it remains unclear if using ACV in food preparations (such as salad dressing) is as effective as a drink. 

• People with poorly controlled diabetes who are experiencing gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) may not tolerate ACV well and should speak with a healthcare provider. 
• Note that this product is also unpasteurized and may not be suitable for gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

Best Ginger Supplement

Mountain rose herbs ginger root.

Mountain Rose Herbs

Contains mostly gingerols

Organically sourced

Large capsule

Form: capsule | Type: 505 mg ginger root | Dose: 1 capsule | Servings Per Container: 100 capsules | Third-Party Certified: Yes, Consumer Lab

For centuries, ginger has been used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice, offering potential benefits for blood sugar management. Our top pick among ginger supplements is Mountain Rose Herbs Ginger Root. We appreciate the company’s commitment to sourcing ingredients from organic or “cultivated without chemicals” plants coupled with a dedication to sustainable harvest and fair worker practices. Additionally, herbal supplements can often be contaminated with heavy metals, but this ginger capsule has been third-party tested for safe levels of heavy metals . 

The key active compound in this supplement, gingerol, appears to be closely linked to glucose regulation and insulin secretion . Research indicates that ginger may enhance the body’s ability to clear glucose from the bloodstream. Randomized controlled trials (the highest quality study) have shown that 1.6–3 grams of ginger taken after meals could potentially lower hemoglobin A1c levels. Mountain Rose Ginger provides just over 500mg of ginger per capsule, and taking one capsule three times per day may help manage diabetes. If you are pregnant with gestational diabetes or managing nausea , this supplement could be a safe and effective choice to help with symptoms.

• This supplement is a large capsule and may be difficult for some people to swallow; however, it is powdered and could be opened and added to a drink or food if that is more tolerable for you. A final word of caution: ginger may increase the risk of hypoglycemia . 
• If you are taking diabetes medications or blood thinners, you should discuss the use of ginger with a healthcare provider .

Supplements We Excluded From Our List

We excluded a few popular supplements for diabetes from our list due to a lack of strong evidence that they actually improve blood sugar or diabetes status, including cinnamon , chromium, and omega-3s. That said, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider to identify the best supplement for your individual needs.

Is a Supplement for Diabetes Beneficial?

For many people, diet, exercise, and medication work well together to manage glucose levels effectively. There are, however, some groups of people who may benefit from additional supplementation. Mary Ellen Phipps , MPH, RDN, LD, points out, “ People with type 1 diabetes tend to be deficient in some nutrients and may benefit from supplementing vitamin D, iron , vitamin B12, or zinc .” Prior to adding new supplements to your regimen, we recommend getting your blood levels checked for possible deficiencies, and we recommend speaking with a healthcare provider to determine how you should supplement accordingly.

Aside from treating deficiencies, supplements for people with diabetes could also be beneficial for the following reasons:

• You don't eat a varied diet: If your diet lacks nutrient diversity—maybe you consume few fruits and vegetables, or you choose more fried, fatty meats over lean meats and seafood—then you may be lacking key nutrients that can better help regulate blood sugars and manage concurrent conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease.
• Medication use: Ironically, one popular medication indicated for diabetes— metformin—can actually lead to developing low blood levels of vitamin B12 . If you are on this medication for an extended period of time, you may need to supplement. If you have diabetes and take other medications that manage cholesterol, are on antibiotics, or take antidepressants, note that these can cause nutrient deficiencies, and you may benefit from supplements as well.

Who May Not Benefit From Supplements for Diabetes

According to Phipps, “People with diabetes who are also living with other conditions like liver disease, heart disease, and kidney disease may experience negative effects from adding supplements to their routine because of medication interactions. This is why it is especially important to always speak with your doctor before starting a new supplement.”

The following groups may not benefit from supplements for diabetes.

• People taking certain medications . Diabetes is often an overlapping condition with high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, which may require medication management. Some of the medications to treat these other conditions can become less effective if you take high-dose supplements. For example, a statin (cholesterol-lowering medication) may not work as well if you take high doses of vitamin D .
• People who eat a well-balanced diet . It is possible to manage your blood sugars with diet alone, so if you are consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, lean protein, fish, whole grains, and healthy fats, then you may not benefit from additional supplementation.

How We Select Supplements

Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements; you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology here . 

We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. We prioritize products that are third-party tested and certified by independent third-party certifiers such as USP, NSF, and ConsumerLab.com. 

It's important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend.

We interviewed the following experts to determine the best supplements for diabetes: 

• Mary Ellen Phipps, MPH, RDN, LD , is the author of The Easy Diabetes Cookbook. She has also lived with type 1 diabetes for most of her adult life and helps people manage their blood sugars while still eating delicious food. 
• Kimberly Rose-Francis, RDN, CDCES, CNSC provides evidence-based recommendations for lowering blood sugars and encourages her clients to approach behavior change in a realistic and sustainable way.
• Kristie Messerli, RD CDCES, breaks down complex topics of diabetes, like medications and disease progression, in an easy-to-understand manner that helps motivate her clients to make changes for themselves.

What to Look For in Supplements for Diabetes

Third-party testing.

Supplements that are third-party tested are sent to a lab for purity and potency testing to ensure they contain what they say they contain and do not contain potential contaminants. Trusted third-party certifications include ConsumerLab.com, NSF, USP, and Informed Choice, among others.

However, these certifications can be difficult to obtain and expensive for manufacturers, so many companies choose not to get their products tested. If you are selecting a supplement that does not have third-party testing, we recommend choosing a trusted brand that does rigorous internal testing.

The supplements discussed in this article, and many others for diabetes, come in capsules, gummies, powders, or liquid forms. Ultimately the form of the supplement is up to you, but consider their ease of consumption, price, and added ingredients (such as sugar often found in gummies).

Ingredients & Potential Interactions

It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included relative to the recommended daily value of that ingredient. We recommend bringing the supplement label to a healthcare provider to review the different ingredients contained in the supplement and any potential interactions between these ingredients and other supplements and medications you are taking.

Some supplements are known to interact with prescribed medications; therefore, Messerli advises discussing each supplement you are considering with a healthcare provider . Some supplements may also contain added ingredients that are unsafe for various people, such as certain herbs that may be harmful to the liver.

People with diabetes should exercise caution with certain supplements, especially if they are taking other medications. For example, taking vitamin E is not advised if you have diabetes, and also take blood thinners like Coumadin . If you are on diabetes-lowering medications or insulin, you may be more prone to hypoglycemia or low blood sugar if you take supplements like berberine . Always review your medications and supplements with a healthcare provider before beginning a regimen.

Potential doses for each of the supplements featured in this article are discussed above. For most vitamins and minerals, there is an established dietary reference intake (DRI), which gives the optimal level for the general population; however, for other supplements, there is no recommendation for how much to take in general, or specifically for improvements in diabetes. Also, some research may demonstrate the need for a dose higher than the established DRI, but it’s always important to discuss doses for your individual needs with a healthcare provider.

How Much Is Too Much?

The upper limit for many of the discussed supplements is also less certain. How much you take may be guided by the established Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) , what your healthcare provider recommends, or whether or not you are deficient in certain nutrients. Taking more than you need of some supplements can lead to unintended consequences. For example, Rose-Francis notes that a high intake of niacin, a B vitamin, may actually raise blood sugars and be counterproductive to glucose management and lowering your hemoglobin A1c.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s possible! Many supplements, like vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc, can directly help manage blood glucose by improving the function of the pancreas or helping to reduce insulin resistance. Other supplements may be helpful for type 2 diabetes in that they can replete nutrient stores that may have become deficient due to diabetes medications, or they can help address damage sustained to other systems of the body (eyes, nerves, heart, kidneys) due to long-standing or uncontrolled diabetes.

There are many supplements that can very effectively manage insulin resistance and improve glucose levels. In fact, there are some supplements, like berberine and inositol, that have been shown to treat diabetes at levels comparable to medication. However, supplements likely may not fully replace the need for medication for many people, so it’s always important to speak with a healthcare provider before stopping medications.

Casey Seiden is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist based out of New York City. Casey works at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, the premier maternal fetal medicine practice in Manhattan, where she provides nutrition therapy and counseling to women with high-risk pregnancies. She is also the founder of Casey Seiden Nutrition, a virtual private practice specializing in a non-diet approach to diabetes care and women’s health.

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