Researchers at the University of Maryland have found that antacids—medicines often used to treat heartburn and indigestion—might also help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that affects about 10% of people worldwide. Doctors usually suggest a mix of healthy habits, medications, and sometimes insulin injections to help keep blood sugar levels under control.
Now, scientists are looking at antacids as a new way to support blood sugar management.
The study focused on a specific kind of antacid called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medications reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. The researchers looked at data from seven clinical trials involving 342 people with diabetes.
In these studies, some people took antacids along with their usual diabetes care, while others only followed their regular treatment plans. The results were clear: those who took PPIs saw an improvement in their blood sugar control.
More specifically, their HbA1c levels—which show average blood sugar over a few months—dropped by 0.36%. Their fasting blood sugar levels also went down by 10 milligrams per deciliter compared to those who didn’t take antacids.
This means that adding certain antacids to diabetes treatment could help improve blood sugar levels more than standard care alone.
However, the researchers also found that these antacids did not prevent diabetes in people who didn’t already have the condition. So, this potential benefit seems to apply only to people who are already living with diabetes.
The study was led by Dr. Carol Chiung-Hui Peng and published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The findings offer new hope and a new tool for managing blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Doctors may want to think about this added benefit when they prescribe antacids to their diabetic patients.
For people living with diabetes, managing blood sugar is very important. Keeping it in a healthy range helps prevent serious problems like kidney damage, nerve pain, and vision loss.
There are many ways to help keep blood sugar levels steady. Eating a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins is a good start. Avoiding sugary and processed foods also helps.
Regular exercise, like walking for 30 minutes most days, can make a big difference. Physical activity helps your body use insulin better.
Taking medications as prescribed and checking your blood sugar levels regularly are also key parts of a good plan. Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol, as they can make blood sugar harder to manage.
Lastly, don’t forget about stress. High stress can raise blood sugar, so finding time to relax, breathe deeply, or try yoga or meditation may help.
Everyone with diabetes is different, so it’s important to work with a doctor or healthcare team to find the best plan for you.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes, and how to manage high blood pressure and diabetes with healthy foods.
For more health information, please see recent studies about vitamin D and type2 diabetes, and to people with type 2 diabetes, some fruits are better than others.
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