Antacids are best known for easing symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach by neutralizing excess stomach acid. But now, new research suggests they might also help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes—a surprising and promising discovery.
A research team from the University of Maryland found that adding certain types of antacids to standard diabetes treatment could lead to better blood sugar control. This finding could have big implications for the nearly 10% of the global population living with type 2 diabetes.
Managing diabetes usually involves a combination of healthy eating, exercise, medication, and sometimes daily insulin. The goal is to keep blood sugar levels stable and prevent complications. Now, it seems that common over-the-counter antacids—specifically a type called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)—might also play a helpful role.
The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which means they reviewed data from several studies to look for overall patterns. They focused on seven clinical trials involving 342 people with diabetes to see how antacids affected blood sugar. They also reviewed five larger studies with over 244,000 people to explore whether antacids might help prevent diabetes in the general population.
In people who already had diabetes, the results were encouraging. When PPIs were added to usual diabetes treatment, they helped lower HbA1c—a marker of average blood sugar over 2–3 months—by about 0.36%. They also helped reduce fasting blood sugar by an average of 10 mg/dL.
While these numbers might seem small, they can make a meaningful difference in long-term blood sugar control and risk of complications.
On the other hand, the researchers didn’t find evidence that antacids helped prevent diabetes in people who didn’t already have it. So, while these medications may support treatment, they don’t seem to offer protection from developing the disease in the first place.
This discovery opens the door to potentially repurposing a common medication for a new use. Since PPIs are already widely available and well-known for their use in digestive health, they might be a simple add-on therapy for people with type 2 diabetes—especially those who already need antacids for stomach issues.
The study, led by Dr. Carol Chiung-Hui Peng, was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It adds to growing interest in how existing drugs might offer unexpected benefits for other conditions.
Of course, more research is needed to fully understand how antacids affect blood sugar and whether they should be widely used for this purpose. It’s also important for people with diabetes to talk to their healthcare provider before starting any new medication, even one that’s available over the counter.
In summary, this study offers hope and convenience—a familiar, easily accessible medication may help improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s another reminder that small discoveries can lead to big changes in how we manage chronic diseases.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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