Alkaline Water Lowers Blood Sugar in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
- Authors
- Satrio Adi Wicaksono, Dina Hisan Nabyla, Sulistiyati Bayu Utami
- Journal
- Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
- Year
- 2020
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Indonesia
- Health Condition
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Body System
- Endocrine
TL;DR
Drinking alkaline reduced water (ARW) might help lower fasting blood sugar levels in people with type-2 diabetes, but it doesn't seem to affect blood sugar levels after eating.
Key Finding
Alkaline reduced water decreased fasting blood glucose levels more than regular mineral water in patients with type 2 diabetes over 12 days, though the difference in post-meal blood sugar was not significant.
Summary
Researchers tested whether alkaline reduced water (water made alkaline through electrolysis) could help lower blood sugar levels in 30 Indonesian patients with type 2 diabetes. Over 12 days, one group drank alkaline water while another drank regular mineral water. The alkaline water group showed a greater decrease in fasting blood sugar (measured before eating) compared to the control group, but there was no meaningful difference in blood sugar measured two hours after eating.
Practical Takeaway
This small, short-term study suggests alkaline reduced water may help lower fasting blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, but the findings are preliminary and the study lasted only 12 days. The lack of effect on post-meal blood sugar and the borderline statistical significance of the final fasting glucose results suggest caution in interpreting these findings. Anyone with diabetes should consult their doctor before making dietary changes, as this evidence alone is not sufficient to recommend alkaline water as a diabetes treatment.
Abstract
Background: Alkaline reduced water (ARW) is an electrolyzed water with pH>7. It showed an antioxidant and an antidiabetic benefit, but the results still vary. Aim: To investigate the effect of ARW to fasting blood glucose (FBG) and two-hours post prandial glucose (2hPPG) in Indonesian patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: This was a randomized double blind controlled trial performed in September 2017-September 2018. Thirty patients that had been diagnosed with T2DM in one hospital in Semarang and met the inclussion criteria were determined by consecutive sampling. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: ARW group (pH 9) (n=15) and control group (mineral water, OMW) (pH 7) (n=15). Both were administered orally 1 liter per day for 12 days; FBG and 2hPPG were measured before and after 12 days treatment. Results: There were no differences in FBG and 2hPPG at pre-treatment, in 2hPPG at post-treatment, and in decrease beween pre-and post-treatment 2hPPG (∆2hPPG) between ARW group and OMW group. At post-treatment, there was a lower FBG in ARW group compared to OMW group, although it was not significant (214.8±12.66 mg/dL vs 225.1±15.44 mg/dL, p=0.056). There was a wider decrease of FBG (∆FBG) in ARW group compared to OMW group (19.4±1.68 mg/dL vs 14.3±3.64 mg/dL, p=0.000). Conclusion: ARW decreased FBG in patients with T2DM yet 2hPPG. These findings might have important implications for the management of T2DM.