According to a new study, certain antacids may help diabetics lower their blood sugar levels.

  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are antacids, appear to be safe in diabetics.
  • Long-term usage of PPIs, however, has been linked to health
  • problems such as nutrient deficiencies, cognitive decline, and an increased risk of kidney disease,
  • according to a previous study.

 

Certain over-the-counter (OTC) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a type of antacid, may improve blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, according to a study published this month in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

 

The meta-analysis evaluated 12 trials on glycemic control and diabetes risk and discovered that PPIs,

when used in conjunction with standard medication, were more successful at lowering glucose levels than standard therapy alone. However, PPIs did not decrease the risk of diabetes in healthy individuals.

 

PPIs appeared to be safe among diabetics, but previous research indicated that long-term use

of PPIs is linked to nutrient deficits, cognitive impairment, and a higher risk of kidney disease.

 

According to health experts, more research is needed to better understand

if and how PPIs could be used to lower blood sugar levels.

 

Dr. Marilyn Tan, an endocrinologist of Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto,

California, said, “Unless the patient has a gastrointestinal indication to be on antacids,

I would not recommend starting antacids merely in the hope that it will help diabetes.”

 

“The patient and the physician should feel comfortable initiating the PPI without worrying

that it may drastically affect diabetes,” Dr. Tan added if a patient with diabetes needs PPIs for gastrointestinal difficulties.

 

Certain antacids appear to reduce blood glucose levels in a safe manner.

 

The researchers looked at seven studies on glycemic control and five

studies on diabetes risk to see how OTC PPIs affected blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.

 

In individuals with diabetes, PPIs were found to reduce hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels by 0.36 percent and fasting blood sugar by 10 mg/dl.

 

When used in conjunction with standard medication, PPIs resulted in greater reductions in blood pressure than standard therapy alone.

 

PPIs had no effect on the risk of diabetes in persons who did not have it.

 

According to the findings, PPIs should be explored as an add-on medication to help diabetic patients improve glycemic control.

 

“The postulated mechanism is that PPIs increase gastrin levels, and gastrin may help lower blood glucose by improving insulin resistance and insulin responsiveness. However, further human investigations are needed before such a conclusion can be drawn,” Tan explained.

According to Dr. Tan, patients who participate in clinical trials have better glycemic control because they visit the doctor more regularly and are held accountable.

 

What experts have to say about taking PPIs for diabetes management

 

Even though the study showed that PPIs are safe in diabetic patients, health experts do not advocate that diabetics start taking OTC drugs to lower their blood sugar levels.

 

“PPIs have not been investigated in clinical trials for blood sugar lowering and are not FDA approved for blood sugar control,” Tan said. Although the findings are encouraging, Tan cautioned that connection does not imply causation.

 

According to Tan, meta-analysis studies like this one have several limitations, and randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the direct influence of PPIs on glucose levels in diabetics.

“The quality of the research included is not assured, and there can be various biases,” Tan said of meta-analysis reviews.

The bottom line is that Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a type of over-the-counter antacid, may help patients with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels, according to a new meta-analysis.PPIs appeared to be safe in diabetics, but previous research indicated that long-term use of PPIs is linked to side effects such as nutrient deficits and cognitive decline. More research is needed to better understand how PPIs can be used to control blood sugar levels; in the meantime, health experts recommend that diabetic people continue to take their regular medications while also making lifestyle modifications to enhance their glucose levels.