Diabetes type 2: A daily spoonful of a 29p ingredient ‘significantly’ lowers blood sugar

Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by unruly blood sugar levels. Blood sugar – the main type of sugar found in blood – is usually regulated by insulin. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, insulin production is severely curtailed, which leads to a rise in blood sugars levels. Consistently high levels have knock-on effects, so it’s vital to find alternative means of controlling them.

Fortunately, research has alighted upon a number of dietary interventions that lower high blood sugar levels.

One of the most promising is apple cider vinegar, which is made by fermenting the sugars from apples which turns them into acetic acid – the active ingredient in vinegar.

This is the conclusion of a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.

Seventy participants with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned into an intervention and control group in order to assess the effect of 20 ml apple vinegar per day using an eight-week parallel study.

Twenty ml of apple vinegar equates to four teaspoons.

The fasting blood sugar levels of the participants were measured at the beginning and end of the study.

Fasting blood sugar assesses average blood sugar levels after fasting for eight to 10 hours before the test.

The findings from the study suggested that intervention with apple vinegar could “significantly improve” fasting blood sugar.

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The researchers observed that the trial “provided some evidence that apple vinegar consumption may cause beneficial effects on glycaemic indices”.

Glycaemia is the medical term for the presence of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood.

Following the glycaemic index (GI) is a useful guide that can help you steer clear of the worst culprits for causing high blood sugar levels.

GI is a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates. It shows how quickly each food affects your blood sugar (glucose) level when that food is eaten on its own.

Carbohydrate foods that are broken down quickly by your body and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose have a high GI rating.

High GI foods include:

• Sugar and sugary foods
• Sugary soft drinks
• White bread
• Potatoes
• White rice.

Low or medium GI foods are broken down more slowly and cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time.

They include some fruit and vegetables, pulses and wholegrain foods, such as porridge oats.

Type 2 diabetes – do I have it?

Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. This is because symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

• Peeing more than usual, particularly at night
• Feeling thirsty all the time
• Feeling very tired
• Losing weight without trying to
• Itching around your penis or vagina, or repeatedly getting thrush
• Cuts or wounds taking longer to heal
• Blurred vision.

According to the NHS, you should see a GP if you have any of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes or you’re worried you may have a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

“You’ll need a blood test, which you may have to go to your local health centre for if it cannot be done at your GP surgery.”

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