Apple Cider Vinegar has long been used as a home- based treatment for managing and treating various diseases. Most of the benefits from this vinegar are derived due to the presence of acetic acid, potassium, polyphenols, etc.

In this post, we shall understand the relation between Apple Cider Vinegar and diabetes and how Apple Cider Vinegar can be used for effective diabetes management. So, read on “Apple Cider Vinegar and Diabetes: Is It Good for Diabetes?”

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Diabetes

Following are the different ways in which the Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV, as it is popularly known as, helps to manage diabetes effectively:

• As per a few types of research, ACV is successful in reducing the levels of A1c value in both type 2 as well as type 1 diabetes. For this purpose, it is of utmost importance that you consume ACV regularly.
• Besides, there has been strong evidence that when you take a couple of tablespoon of the drink just before going to bed, you will realize that you wake up with a 4 to 6 percent decreased levels of fasting glucose in your body.
• It is a well-known fact that ACV contains a good amount of potassium. Hence if you include it in your regular routine, it is possible to reduce the issues caused by increased blood pressure in the patient’s body. For getting the best benefits, you need to take one tablespoon of ACV a couple of times in a day.
• Having a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar just before lunch and dinner also assists in the process of losing weight. Weight loss, as we know, forms a very important part of managing diabetes, particularly if you have type 2 diabetes.
• The Apple Cider Vinegar is known to improve the sensitivity of the body towards the all-important hormone, insulin. It helps to improve insulin sensitivity because there is a reduction of blood glucose or sugar levels when one takes the ACV just before going to bed at night.
• Finally, Apple Cider Vinegar is also helpful in the treatment of acidity or heartburn which again is one of the complications caused if you have diabetes. For best results, just take a spoonful of Apple Cider Vinegar and add around 6 ounces of water to it. Have the mixture around 20 minutes before you have your meals.

Risks Associated with Apple Cider Vinegar for Diabete

There are a few risks associated with the consumption of ACV which you need to be aware of, particularly if you are diabetic. Some of the risks include the following:

• As per a few types of research conducted, there has been evidence that shows that Apple Cider Vinegar may not be helpful for people with type 1 diabetes. The reason being that, when a patient regularly intakes Apple Cider Vinegar, the rate in which the food, as well as different liquids, leave the stomach is really slow, thereby also slowing down the process of digestion. This, in turn, fails to stabilize the increased levels of blood glucose in a diabetic’s body.
• Sometimes, due to the regular consumption of Apple Cider Vinegar, the level of potassium is reduced to a great level. This hinders the smooth functioning of the different nerves and muscles of our body.
• Besides, you need to be extremely careful while you are taking Apple Cider Vinegar along with different types of medicines in order to control blood glucose levels. The reason being that Apple Cider Vinegar is known to interfere with the functioning of a few drugs, particularly those related to treating the heart and diabetes.

Thus, there are a few risk factors associated with taking Apple Cider Vinegar in diabetes. Having said that, if taken in moderation and with proper consultation, Apple Cider Vinegar could be helpful in the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Recommended Quantity of Apple Cider Vinegar for Diabetes

As seen above, if appropriate precautions are taken while consuming Apple Cider Vinegar, it can be helpful in the effective treatment of diabetes. As such, we need to know what is the appropriate quantity of Apple Cider Vinegar that is recommended for diabetes:

It is recommended that in order to stay away from any of the side effects that Apple Cider Vinegar may cause, you should always opt for organic and unpasteurized vinegar. Also, the recommended dose of the liquid for best results is 1 to 2 table spoons in a day. You can also add around 6 ounces of water to the beverage.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Diabetes?

As seen above, Apple Cider Vinegar does offer a few benefits for those who suffer from either type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, one has to be really careful while using the same. Some of the best ways of including ACV in the diet are listed below:

• You can use the Apple Cider Vinegar to make an iced tea by mixing it with drops of lemon juice.
• Besides, you can just dilute the Apple Cider Vinegar in water and drink a couple of tablespoons for best results.
• A few people do not take Apple Cider Vinegar because of the bad taste that it has. Hence, there are ways in which the taste can be improved. You can either add salt to the diluted Apple Cider Vinegar solution or you might even consider adding some honey to the Apple Cider Vinegar to get away with the bad taste.
• If you like eating chicken, next time marinate your chicken with vinegar.
• In order to get the best benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar along with some good taste, what you can do is mix ACV with water and some cranberry juice. Also, pour a few drops of lemon juice to get a good taste.
• You can use Apple Cider Vinegar as a dressing for various types of salads.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Diabetes: Do’s & Don’ts

Before adding Apple Cider Vinegarto your regular diet, it is of utmost importance to remember some of the recommended dos and don’ts of the same.

Do’s:

• You can use the recommended quantity of Apple Cider Vinegar as a home remedy for diabetes management
• Take Apple Cider Vinegar before a meal. That will help to reduce the increased levels of blood glucose or blood sugar.
• Take only the recommended amount of vinegar. Large amounts of the Apple Cider Vinegar can cause irritation in the stomach of the patient.
• Consider drinking Apple Cider Vinegar with a straw as that will avoid any type of contact of the Apple Cider Vinegar with the teeth.
• Check your blood glucose on a regular basis if you decide to add Apple Cider Vinegar as part of your daily diet.

Don’ts

• Do not take Apple Cider Vinegar beyond the recommended quantity. Too much of the beverage can cause nausea and dental problems.
• Do not take highly concentrated vinegar tablets. This is important as, if you take tablets which have very high concentration of acetic acid that has not been neutralized, you can even damage your esophagus.
• Do not use Apple Cider Vinegar as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle, proper diet, and regular physical exercise to effectively manage diabetes.

We hope that the above post has been helpful in making you understand the relation between Apple Cider Vinegar and diabetes. Although nothing has been precisely established, taking the recommended quantity of Apple Cider Vinegar along with a few precautions does help in the effective management of diabetes.