Is Vinegar Good for Diabetes? Find Out Here

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Vinegar has been used for centuries as traditional medicine, and it’s still used today to treat many health conditions. This popular food item has been used as a condiment and in recipes for centuries. It can be used to add flavor to meat, fish, and vegetables. Vinegar can be made from various fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, and rice.

As an ingredient in cooking, vinegar adds flavor to foods and has some health benefits. Vinegar has been a home remedy for many ailments. It’s known to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that can help fight infections and prevent or treat various diseases. It has also been found to have several health benefits like lowering blood pressure levels, weight loss, and more. Many diabetes patients have also been looking to vinegar to help lower blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of insulin produced.

In this article, we look at whether vinegar is good for diabetes.

When acetic acid is consumed as sodium acetate, it doesn’t have the same effect on blood glucose levels as it does when administered as vinegar. Vinegar is overall considered more effective and safe as it will enhance glycogen repletion in the liver and muscles and assist in many other home remedies for various conditions.

It is important to note that not every type of vinegar should be used for diabetes. There are many vinegar varieties with varying uses, ranging from white vinegar, red vinegar, balsamic, rice vinegar, and more. Therefore, it is important to know which vinegar to use for diabetes.

What Kind of Vinegar Is Best for Diabetes?

As mentioned, you can use various vinegar types, but apple cider vinegar is the most common, as it has been shown to help control blood sugar levels. The rice, red, balsamic, and white wine vinegar are also said to have anti-diabetes properties. Balsamic and rice vinegar are high in antioxidants.

Since vinegar is acidic, it can wear out the tooth enamel when consumed for a long time. You want to dilute your vinegar with a beverage of choice, like water or tea. When consumed by healthy adults, vinegar proved to have benefits like weight loss and improved gut health.

Vinegar is readily available in grocery stores, which makes it an inexpensive non-drug alternative to help lower blood glucose levels for people with diabetes. While some may not taste as good as others, the important thing is vinegar varieties do help with diabetes symptoms and are safe to incorporate into a diabetes diet.

Vinegar Nutritional Value per 100g

These nutritional aspects of vinegar help improve blood glucose levels by lowering the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.

Vinegar

Condiments

Keto Friendly

Key nutritional facts (per 100g):

Net carbs

0.93g

Total carbs

0.93g

Fats

–

Protein

–

Calories

21

Glycemic Index

15

Fiber

–

Sugars

0.4g

Vinegar Glycemic Index

Apple cider vinegar has a glycemic index of 15, which means it has much lower glycemic levels than other foods. This makes vinegar better for people with diabetes because higher-glycemic foods can cause blood sugar levels to rise, adversely affecting your health.

Vinegar’s acetic acid content has positive effects on lipid metabolism and diabetes management. Vinegar is also a good source of potassium, calcium, and other minerals and is praised for being low in sodium.

This condiment is also keto-friendly.

Does Vinegar Lower Blood Sugar Immediately?

Yes, vinegar moderates glucose concentrations in the body. Studies show that the effects of drinking vinegar on glucose control can be experienced within 30 minutes. 

In a study of healthy adults vs. diabetes patients, researchers used white bread to determine the effect of vinegar on diabetes control. The results showed that when people consumed white bread with vinegar, the postprandial responses of insulin and blood glucose were lowered, suggesting that the effects were immediate and long-lasting.

When consumed regularly, vinegar helps improve insulin sensitivity. However, the efficiency of the vinegar is determined by the quantity of vinegar and the type and amount of other foods you consume. In patients with type 2 diabetes, vinegar reduces postprandial hyperglycemia when taken with a high glycemic index meal.

Incorporate vinegar in your daily routine, preferably before meals or bedtime, since it moderates your waking glucose concentration. Adding vinegar to a starchy meal results in a delayed gastric emptying rate that improves blood glucose levels in healthy adults.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Lower A1C?

The glycated hemoglobin test, often known as A1C or HbA1C, determines the amount of sugar in your blood, where high levels could indicate diabetes. A study on normal and diabetic rats revealed that apple cider vinegar leads to a small but significant reduction in A1C levels over time. While this study has not been applied to humans, these findings show the potential effect of apple cider vinegar on A1C levels.

Is It Okay to Take Apple Cider Vinegar With Metformin?

Yes, people can take apple cider vinegar with metformin, which proves to be an effective therapy in improving glycemic control for diabetes patients.

Metformin is considered the first line of type 2 diabetes treatment; however, it has drawbacks like vitamin B12 deficiency and the risk of lactic acidosis for people who take it long-term.

It is important to know that there is a potential interaction between vinegar and metformin. Vinegar consumption can lower blood sugar levels by causing your body to absorb more glucose from food which may result in hypoglycemia, a dangerous condition for diabetes patients since they could fall into a diabetic coma. 

It is essential to consult a medical specialist to get the proper guidance and direction when combining apple cider vinegar and the drug. Apple cider vinegar should also not be used as a substitute for diabetes medication.

FAQs

Conclusion

Even as the hype surrounding vinegar for diabetes continues to grow, it is important to note that vinegar is not at all a cure for diabetes. However, it can help you with insulin resistance and regulate blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that vinegar can be helpful for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are trying to naturally control their condition rather than relying only on medication.

Therefore, take your time to understand the benefits of each and consult with your doctor before experimenting with it. A medical professional will also help you understand the best times and quantities of vinegar to consume for diabetes management.