Many people use antacids to calm down their stomach troubles, but new research suggests they might also help those with diabetes control their blood sugar.
The Unexpected Find
Researchers from the University of Maryland found something interesting: antacids seem to help control blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Given that about 10% of the world’s population has type 2 diabetes, this is big news. It suggests a new way to help manage blood sugar levels alongside the usual diabetes treatments.
What the Research Says
The usual way to care for diabetes includes changes in diet and lifestyle, plus some specific medicines or insulin.
But this research showed that when antacids were added to this standard treatment, the results were even better. The research specifically looked at a kind of antacid called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
The team took a close look at several studies to understand the effect of PPIs on blood sugar.
Some of these studies focused on people with diabetes, while others looked at whether PPIs might stop other people from getting diabetes.
After examining the results of these studies, the researchers found that PPIs reduced a specific marker of blood sugar control, called HbA1c, by an average of 0.36%.
They also lowered fasting blood sugar levels by 10 mg/dl in those with diabetes. But for people who didn’t have diabetes, antacids didn’t seem to stop them from getting it.
What This Means for Us
If you have diabetes, you might find it interesting that a common stomach medicine might also help control your blood sugar. And if you’re a doctor, this might change how you think about treating patients with diabetes.
But, and this is important, antacids should be an extra tool, not the main tool, in the fight against diabetes.
This study was shared in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
It suggests that while antacids, specifically PPIs, don’t stop people from getting diabetes, they do help those who already have it control their blood sugar better.
As scientists keep studying this, it’s hoped that doctors will think about this surprising connection when they’re deciding on the best treatment for people with diabetes.Top of Form
If you care about blood sugar, please read studies about why blood sugar is high in the morning, and how to cook sweet potatoes without increasing blood sugar.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about 9 unhealthy habits that damage your brain, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
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