4 Surprising Reasons Why Alkaline Water is Good for Diabetes

Is Alkaline water good for diabetics? The appeal behind alkaline water is its potential to counteract blood acidity in the body due to alkalinity.

Advocates suggest that reducing the body’s overall acidity through alkaline water hydration may offer numerous health advantages.

This notion has piqued the interest of those dealing with type 2 diabetes.

Throughout this article, we will examine various aspects of alkaline water that might appeal to individuals with diabetes.

From its potential role in blood sugar regulation to its antioxidant-rich composition, alkaline water’s purported benefits when paired with diabetes-friendly foods are captivating.

I acknowledge that while many anecdotal claims exist, lots of research is still needed to solidify them.

What is Alkaline Water?

Alkaline water or ionized water differs from regular tap water in its pH level (Level of acidity or hydrogen ions present).

While tap water typically has a neutral pH of 7, alkaline water boasts a higher pH, often ranging from 8 to 9 or even higher.

This elevated pH level is attributed to the presence of alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

The Connection Between Alkaline Water and Diabetes

A study found that one reason why diabetes patients were unable to control their blood sugar levels was boredom with medical drugs.

After a while, people get bored and start to reduce going to get insulin shots, which as you probably guessed, leads to spikes in blood sugar.

Ionized Alkaline water was introduced as a therapeutic alternative to this.

In a study carried out, the blood sugar in people who took alkaline water for a week was reduced by 18%.

You need to understand four things in the relationship between alkaline water and diabetes: Insulin, Free radicals, Oxidative stress, and Antioxidants.

This will help you understand how alkaline water can benefit diabetics.

Insulin

Insulin is a natural hormone produced by your pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar throughout the body, from your bloodstream to various cells and organs, through a linear process.

Factors such as obesity and lack of physical activity can affect this process, which leaves most of the glucose in your bloodstream, leading to blood sugar spikes.

Alkaline water may contribute to help regulate this process.

Free radicals

 

I’ll try to explain this as simply as I can. Stable atoms in the body are atoms with a full shell of electrons around them.

When an atom does not have these full electrons around it, it freely roams your system, trying to pair and interact with other atoms.

This is not particularly a good thing and the continuous process of this leads to oxidative stress.

Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but factors such as unhealthy eating habits and alcohol, to name a few can increase the rate of production of them.

Alkaline water may help with this too, and I will explain below.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are what regulate free radicals.

They donate electrons to atoms without becoming free radicals themselves, thus, reducing the reaction that leads to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress occurs due to the continuous reaction caused by free radicals.

To put it another way, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body causes oxidative stress.

This can lead to diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to name a few.

Alkaline water contains nutrients that have been speculated to help with this.

Now that you understand how each of these affects your body, you will properly understand why alkaline water may help diabetics.

Possible Benefits of Alkaline Water for Diabetics

Let’s clear the waters: alkaline water is not a magical elixir that can cure diabetes.

Instead, it’s a part of a broader conversation about diabetes management.

In case you don’t understand, the benefits I outline below all help in better blood sugar regulation, which is essential for diabetics.

So, Let’s dive in.

1. Alkaline water helps restrain free radicals in the body

Alkaline water contains antioxidants that help balance free radicals in the body, leading to reduced reactions that may cause oxidative stress.

A balance of free radicals contributes to preventing diabetes and regulates the insulin process which helps keep blood sugar levels stable.

2. Water helps increase the body’s absorption rate of glucose

Glucose as you know is a form of sugar obtained from the digestion of carbohydrates in the body.

Adequate hydration is required for the body to properly absorb glucose, leaving less glucose in the bloodstream.

Drink water!

3. Alkaline water may help improve insulin sensitivity

Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body. Too little of it is a problem, and too much of it is also a problem.

What we want is for our body to be more sensitive to insulin, allowing it to carry out its function effectively.

Alkaline water contains magnesium and antioxidants that may help improve insulin sensitivity.

4. Alkaline water can help reduce oxidative stress

The acidic and mineral contents of alkaline water have been speculated to combat excess production of free radicals.

This leads to reduced oxidative stress and, thus, reduction of blood sugar spikes.

Final Words

There you have it! The reasons that make alkaline water good for diabetic patients.

Alkaline water’s allure lies in its ability to counteract blood acidity, a notion that has captivated those dealing with diabetes.

While not a diabetes cure, alkaline water plays a role in managing the condition.

While further research is needed, its higher pH and speculated benefits like enhancing glucose absorption and improving insulin sensitivity, thereby contributing to more stable blood sugar levels, set it apart from regular tap water.