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apple cider vinegar or ACV

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Posted 2/10/2010 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
A couple of you say that you've had some lowering of your blood sugar after drinking water with a couple of spoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in.  I haven't tried this myself but how about if you post here how you drank it and when and what the effects were for you?  Did you test your blood sugar before you drank it?  According to some information online, this vinegar is not as acidic as we might think.  It's actually less acidic than cola.  And, it has potassium and some B vitamins.  Is it more effective before a meal or after?  Well, I've already eaten dinner and I'm not going to eat anything from now till breakfast, so I'll see what  happens.  smile  Please post your experience, ok?  I'll post my experience tomorrow morning.
Posted 2/10/2010 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
that is so interesting. I have a bottle of apple cider vinegar, someone told me to take it just for health but i had no idea it helped with the sugar levels. i too would like to hear more about this.
Posted 2/10/2010 1:05 PM (GMT 0)
I have 4 meters, all Bayer Contour, that use the same strips so I used all four last night and this morning.  I don't usually do that but I wanted to see the effects.  Anyway, the differences were all down: 22, 8 and two with 10.  Honestly though I haven't been checking my blood sugar at night before bed so I don't know if there was a dramatic effect in how much it was brought down.  My morning numbers were not too different than what I usually get though, 95, 88, 89 and 85.  My oldest meter, which takes 15 seconds, always records higher than the newer ones by sometimes 10 points.  I had a typical dinner last night, nothing I wouldn't normally have.  I'll check my before bed readings tonight without the vinegar to see how much of a difference that would be tomorrow morning.  Looking forward to reading how others are doing.
Posted 2/11/2010 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
I am interested to hear what you get.... For the first set of number you mentioned: 22, 8 and 10.. Do mean they were that many points lower than what they usually are?
Posted 2/11/2010 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Petunia, no I meant that those numbers were the difference between just before bed and the next morning (fasting).  So, over night my blood sugar dropped those points on the four meters.  As I said, I have four meters.  The three newer ones (all 3 years old or newer) are usually a few points different from one another but the oldest one (about 4 1/2 years old) is usually 10 points higher than the others.  I didn't drink any water with vinegar last night, and this morning, my blood sugar dropped even further than it did the night before.  This morning there were differences of 16, 20, 22 and 24 from last night.  I don't know if there would be that much of a difference during the day because I haven't tested that out.  Of course, we're all different and may react differently.  You have to be diligent about logging times, what you eat, etc.
Posted 2/11/2010 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lanie,

I've just started using the Apple Cider Vinegar. I took my bs before, then mixed 2 tablespoons with 1 glass of water. I waited an hour and took it again. My bs had gone down dramatically 50 points. At the end of 2 hours it was down another 50 points. This was before eating.

The other time I tried it: I took my bs before eating, made up the mixture, ate dinner and used the mixture as my beverage, took my bs 1 hour after I starting eating it was down 10 points. At the end of 2 hours it was down 65 points and at 3 hours it was down a total of 125 points.

Marburg
Posted 2/11/2010 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Wow!  shocked

But hold on!  How high has your blood sugar been running that it can decrease that much?  You're not on meds?

Posted 2/11/2010 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I'm on meds. My bs has been running really high due to a couple of minor surgical procedures and very stressful work situations. Always takes me about a month to get back down to my normal after endoscopic procedure something to do with the stuff they inject. Been in contact with doctors and nurses--for now they want to monitor since it is a pattern with me. Any kind of medical procedure (endoscope, colonoscopy, cardiac ultrasound always jacks my bs way high.

At least they're coming back down now.

Marburg
Posted 2/11/2010 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Aww gee, sounds like you've been through a lot of tests!  You know that stress can raise the blood sugar.  So can steroids so if you get cortisone shots, that's another reason the blood sugar rises.  I'm glad you're getting results from the vinegar!  smile
Posted 2/12/2010 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
I don't get quite the dramatic effects that others have reported but I do see improved (lower) readings when I take a swig (Ed. note: I love sour tastes :-) before eating. As I've mentioned before, I can tolerate 2 slices of bread a day (1 slice at noon, 1 after 5pm) so when I'm feeling particularly jaunty and want to have a whole, 2 slice sandwich, I'll sip a bit 'o vinegar before the meal. It seems to have the effect of neutralizing the extra carbs for me.

This is not very scientific but because of another medical problem, I've been drinking homemade, unsweetened lemonade and decaf tea with lemon (about 3 liters/quarts a day) and I believe I am seeing an improvement in my readings. I'm not ready to announce a cure yet but I'll let you know how it goes. There are some side-effects to this -- one being that you pretty much have to take up residence in the bathroom ;-)
Posted 2/12/2010 4:07 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Lanie,

I sure do know what stress can do.  The last 5 years have been nothing but stress at home and at work (lost both parents 14 months apart, had a cancer scare, had to rescue a family member several times from an abusive relationship, etc. etc. etc.).  ;-|

I do have a doctor's (my diabetes specialist) appointment tomorrow (yes Saturday) to follow up.  He will probably make some medication changes.

From what I understand the stuff they use for the tests can act like steroids and send my bs sky high.  Truthfully, in addition to having a bunch of tests over the past year, my numbers have also been going up since my hysterecomy 1 1/2 years ago.  My ObGyn said it is the body healing and getting adjusted to different hormone level (can take HRT) and this can go on for 2-10 years.  Now, I know I can't wait 10 years for my bs to come down. 

So it is time to look at meds and make some changes.  :-)  Until then, I will use AVC to help.

Marburg

LanieG said...
Aww gee, sounds like you've been through a lot of tests!  You know that stress can raise the blood sugar.  So can steroids so if you get cortisone shots, that's another reason the blood sugar rises.  I'm glad you're getting results from the vinegar!  smile

Posted 2/12/2010 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry about the loss of your parents and having to deal with other problems.  That's hard and I do understand.  Hang in there and keep taking care of yourself because you know what you need to do.  yeah
Posted 2/12/2010 4:23 PM (GMT 0)

I will Lanie.  That's what is so great about this board.  Everyone is so helpful and positive. 

I know I need to lose weight (that's another battle since my life long doctor (who passed away 4 years ago) had said I had metabolic syndrome (poly cystic ovarian syndrome, gastrointestinal issues and diabetes) makes it almost impossible to lose weight).  I am eating much better.  I do have some carbs (because my stomach doctor says I need to have some carbs to help with the gastritis issues) but try to keep it to 1/2 of a small baked potato, or 1 slice of bread, or 1/2 cup of cooked rice and only 2-3 times a week.  The rest of the time I eat chicken, seafood, lean meat, lots of veggies (lightly grilled with garlic) and some fruit or a carb balanced yogurt.

:-)

LanieG said...
I'm so sorry about the loss of your parents and having to deal with other problems.  That's hard and I do understand.  Hang in there and keep taking care of yourself because you know what you need to do.  yeah

Posted 2/13/2010 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Mahburg, Could u please tell me what diabetic meds are u on? I tried the ACV and I felt really sick, I don't know why, I have had it before when I was not on meds and had no trouble at all. But when I tried it recently, I felt breathless and even started sweating a bit. I am on Diamircon MR. do you think the ACV clashed with my med?
Posted 2/13/2010 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Javacassia, that reaction may not be because of the ACV.  Check the side effects of Diamicron MR.  If you are having those side effects, you need to tell your doctor.  Apple cider vinegar is used in salad dressings and not much different in acidity from regular vinegar.
Posted 2/15/2010 8:17 AM (GMT 0)
Lanie, It happened only when I had the ACV. Otherwise I have no side effects so far, but yes i will read about the side effects. Thanks.
Posted 2/15/2010 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm.  Well, aside from checking out the side effects for the med, I'd also tell the doctor because that's a side effect you don't want to ignore!  Good luck.
Posted 2/16/2010 6:28 PM (GMT 0)

Javacassia,

I am taking Janumet, Actos and Glipizide.  I agree with Lanie it might be your meds.  Also, if you are allergic to apples then ACV is not for you.  Did you check your bs before and after you took the ACV?  Could your bs have gone too low?

javacassia said...
Mahburg, Could u please tell me what diabetic meds are u on? I tried the ACV and I felt really sick, I don't know why, I have had it before when I was not on meds and had no trouble at all. But when I tried it recently, I felt breathless and even started sweating a bit. I am on Diamircon MR. do you think the ACV clashed with my med?

Posted 3/22/2010 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Update, I switched to Lantus Solostar and metformin. I'm doing so well now that I get to drop Janumet and Actos. I will keep Glipizde for now. Doctor said if in 6 months my numbers are still doing as well then I'll get to drop glipizide.

I made the switch primarily to get better control of my bs during stress, but also to lower the cost of my meds. Now instead of paying $160 a month with insurance, I get to pay about $40 with insurance covering only the Lantus and paying out of pocket (cheaper to pay out of pocket at Walmart than to use my insurance) for the Glipizide and metformin.

So, I'm happy. I'm seeing much better control of my bs. ACV used only during a heavy meal.
Marburg
Posted 3/23/2010 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
smile yeah  Great!
Posted 3/25/2010 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I am not going to tell you all the bad things I ate for lunch but, suffice it to say, my blood sugar shot up to 238 two hours after lunch!  I remembered this thread about apple cidar vinegar so I dug some out of the pantry, put 1 tablespoonful in about 1/3 cup of water, and drank it.  One hour later, my blood sugar was at 156 which is good for me when I get in these situations.  So, I think this does help lower blood sugar numbers.  Now, if only I could behave myself.....

 

Sherrine

Posted 3/30/2010 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherrine,

That's what I've also been seeing. I have a sinus infection right now and my numbers are running much higher than my normal, but the acv is helping to bring them back down closer to normal.
Marburg
Posted 4/2/2010 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I don't know a lot about how much ACV affects my BS numbers, but I do take it. Here's some wonderful info from others that use it for diabetes. You get it straight from the person's mouth! :)

janetlee

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/diabetes.html

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