In a new study by Deakin University, 500mg of vitamin C taken twice a day can help type 2 diabetes sufferers by lowering excessively high blood sugar levels and preventing as many blood sugar spikes after meals.
This study has been published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. It also found an additional benefit to these doses of vitamin C; lowering blood pressure in type 2 diabetes affected people. There is therefore the suggestion of health benefits for the heart too.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Glenn Wadley reported that the participants taking the vitamin C experienced “a significant 36 per cent drop in the blood sugar spike after meals”. This equates to three hours less per day that they are in a state of hyperglycaemia. This is important, as hyperglycaemia increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease in those affected by type 2 diabetes.
The study found that the rate of hypertension halved among study participants, with blood pressure levels dropping dramatically.
The amount of vitamin C used in the study was approximately ten times the normal amount of vitamin C found in the diet.
Associate Professor Wadley stated: “Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties can help counteract the high levels of free radicals found in people with diabetes, and it’s encouraging to see this benefits a number of the disease’s common comorbidities, such as high blood pressure.”
These developments are crucial to the welfare of the 1.2 million Australians who currently have type 2 diabetes. More than 100,000 Australians developed diabetes in the past year alone.
Associate Professor Wadley advised that while the usual care factors such as exercise, good nutrition and diabetes medications still applied, sometimes managing blood glucose levels can still be a problem.
He expressed hope that studies such as his would find new ways to help improve the lives of people with type 2 diabetes, lowering the severity of symptoms and health complications.
With this study by Associate Professor Wadley, vitamin C has emerged as a potentially cheap and convenient additional therapeutic treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Australia CEO Professor Greg Johnson had this to say about the research:
“Managing type 2 diabetes, maintaining healthy glucose levels and good heart health is a struggle for hundreds of thousands of Australians. Every potentially effective addition to the treatment options is welcome and we encourage people with type 2 diabetes to discuss this with their health professional.”
People with type 2 diabetes should consult their doctor and treatment team before making changes to their medications or care plan.
