The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
General Feedback
Posted by Saba (Mentor, Oh) on 02/14/2010
Question: Has anyone noticed a difference in blood sugar reading when testing upon waking in the morning, before and after brushing with regular toothpaste? Mine seems higher after brushing. I know the toothpast have sugar products in it but doesn't it take at least half to 1 hour for sugar to reach the bloodstream? Please explain.
General Feedback
Posted by Cynthia (Jacksonville, Alabama) on 04/19/2010
Most all toothpastes contain glycerin, even brands from the health food store. Glycerin is a kind of a sugar and stays on your teeth a long time. It actually breaks down the enamel. I found from the internet that using dissolved sea salt and water for brushing works very well and helps heal the teeth. My teeth used to be sensitive but the sea salt prevents that. It makes sense that toothpaste made with glycerin could affect someone's blood sugar.
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Citygirl27 (Richardson, Tx, Usa) on 10/07/2012
Expirement with peppermint tea. As a bonus you get the water intake you don't get with the oil. Peppermint is known to lessen appetite, could it be due to the influence on sugars?
Peppermint Oil
Posted by Ricky S. (London) on 01/24/2016
I fast once a week and use peppermint on my fast days to lower blood glucose, but also raise ketones... I stumbled on this by accident after getting strange readings on my monitor. Trying to work out why peppermint has this affect if you have any ideas?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mary (Md.) on 07/23/2018
What daily dosage of triphala & guggulu?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kelly (Catawissa, Mo, Usa) on 10/04/2011
In response to Cheryl above. In my beginning stages of adult onset diabetes 1, I had more lows than highs. I would eat and for about an hour or two, I'd have high #'s, then crash to the lows. So I'm not so sure the lows you are having are actually attributed to the ACV. You need to be sure you have a glucometer (most drs. give them for free or u can find them online for free) and test many times troughout the day.
Cinnamon
Posted by Richmond (Orlando, Florida) on 06/25/2009
Using Cinnamon to reduce Glucose Levels.
I have read much research on the internet that shows 3-6 grams per day of Cinnamon included in the daily diet will reduce Glucose levels. It consistently states that regular, daily intake of cinnamon improves glucose control and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. 3-6 grams of Cinnamon would be approximately the tip of a teaspoon.
I also saw that other factors can also raise or lower your Blood Glucose levels.
FOOD: Bread, pasta, rice, pastry, and some types of fruits and vegetables can all contribute to a rise in blood sugar. Research this on the internet to see what works for best you.
EXERCISE: Even the smallest amount of daily exercise can help to lower blood glucose levels. I suggest that you work a little exercise into your daily schedule - walk more, park your car a little further away from the store, use the stairs instead of the elevator.
SUNLIGHT: Low levels of vitamin D in the body have been linked to insulin insensitivity and lowered glucose tolerance. Sitting in full sunlight for 20 to 30 minutes, at least three times a week, can help maintain calcium levels and help lower blood glucose levels.
Hopefully one or two of these will appeal to you and you will use them.
Cinnamon
Posted by Gean (Salina, Kansas) on 06/26/2009
Does anyone know where Koritje cinnamon come from? Does it come from Sri Lanka? It's the only kind our health store carries, and I'm wondering if it's the right kind, with low coumarin levels. Thank you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rick (Sarasota, Florida) on 06/24/2009
Apple Cider Vinegar - and all other acidic drinks (e.g., orange juice and lemon juice) - deactivate an enzyme, amylase, in the saliva. Amylase in the mouth splits food starches into glucose molecules, which can enter the blood stream immediately. (Amylase is also released by the pancreas and enters the small intestine later when the food finally arrives there.) The deactivation of amylase in the mouth might account for the lowering of blood sugar in individuals who drink ACV BEFORE a high-carb meal.
However, if you achieve lower blood sugar levels by taking ACV AFTER a meal, then there is obviously some other mechanism at work.
Please e-mail me and let me know.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Curiosa (Miami, USA) on 06/25/2009
I also experience what feels like low blood sugar attacks when I take apple cider vinegar? I know I have low blood pressure and I alot of problems with my digestion. So yes iam lacking in the proper enzymes. Iread about someone else who got bloated when they take acv. That happens to me too! As soon as I take it I hear sort of bubbely sounds from my stomache and then within minutes I bloat?!! Itook the acv for six months. Another interseting thing that happens to me when I take the acv is I get a itchy scalp and hair loss. Ihave tested this on and off and it seems to be the acv?! I believe have a bacterial over growth in my gut and I know I am too acidic. Even when I take the acv with baking soda I still get the same reaction! To the person who said there might be other mechanisms involved please let me know. IF anyone else has suggestions or comments please fill me in!
Thanks in advance!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Miriam (Humboldt, Iowa) on 02/10/2010
I wish more people would be tested for H-Pylori. It's a bacteria in your stomach that causes bloating to many foods. It took twenty some yers and a very good Docter to find this out. A very simply test. I also was told I am very lactose intolerant, again a very simple test. Demand to be tested. H-Pylori is very common and much overlooked. I am diabetic too and have gone from very low numbers to high. I watch my diet like a hawk but don't know it all yet. What's high in sugar and what's not. Is natural sugar in fruit good or bad????
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Saba (Mentor, Oh) on 02/11/2010
I'm a diabetic too. I know sugar in a simple form or in fruit still needs to be watched. There are some fuits better than others like banana is very high in sugar vs. apples. The t-tapp excerise for me has been very effective to bring the blood sugar down as well as ACV. I watched a very educational show on diabetes yesterday on Operah here is the link if you care to read it.
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Diabetes-101-with-Dr-Oz-Dr-Ian-Smith-and-Bob-Greene
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lorane (Dayton, Ohio) on 09/02/2010
I also had bloating problem. It was caused by Giardia Lamblia, a bacteria found in western states produce fields and irrigation systems. Ask your doc to do a stool check for this. Ten little yellow tablets later you'll feel great if this is the cause. I had to give up on the ACV until after the antibiotics. If I have a flare up now I eat a massive quantity of Plain Yogurt. No problems since. Good luck.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Vinnie (Livonia, USA) on 05/15/2009
★☆☆☆☆
high blood sugar: my blood sugar runs between 170 to 205, I watch my diet and exercise and i drink acv mixed with lite (amt) honey and distilled water..I have seen no results with the ACV, what am I doing wrong. I take 2Tbl ACV with 1tsp honey in 8 ounces distille water...
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lisa (Venice Beach, California) on 05/16/2009
Try the remedy again without the honey. Honey made my bloodsugar spike too (I used to add it to tea a few times a day)... now I only use raw sugar, no more than 1 teaspoon at a time. But I suggest you try ACV without any sweetener unless it's something like stevia.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ash (London, Uk) on 10/16/2010
★★★★★
I have been taking ACV for some months and my fasting blood sugar is down to between 4-6 mmol - I have managed to reduce my diabetes medication. I never add Honey or sweetner and find it tastes great with sparkling mineral water - just add 2 Tablespoon and drink before meals and before bedtime. Ash
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Neena (Florida) on 03/09/2015
Hi, I have a question about the stevia. Do you buy the natural green stevia, or the one processed that comes like white sugar? Thank you
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 03/09/2015
Hello, Neena --- when buying Stevia one must be very careful. They mix it with these dangerous sweeteners that change their name every so often to fool the public. It does not have to be the green product but ask questions and see the print.
Just thought I'd warn you because when I got to know this, I was amazed at the way the consumer is cheated. Try a health store and good luck. Namaste Om
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/09/2015
Dear Neena,
I use Now Original Stevia Extract. It comes in a bottle with an eyedropper lid. It doesn't have anything extra in it. (You can buy it as an alcohol extract or a glycerin extract. I have used both.) And a drop or two is all I need in tea. A 2 ounce bottle lasts me a very long time.
The white powder stuff has other fillers in it and some people react to that.
~Mama to Many~
~Mama to Many~
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katherine (North Little Rock, Ark) on 10/22/2016
Try using the ACV without the Honey. Sometimes the honey can cause blood sugar spikes.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Fenugreek Tea
Posted by Joan (Vancouver, Canada) on 04/14/2009
★★★★★
I tried taking the vinegar in water and was disappointed as I had no change in my glucose reading. Yesterday I made a salad for lunch and dinner and added shredded Chicken, garlic and Ginger, with a dressing of Olive Oil and ACV. This morning my glucose was down from 11.5 to 7.8 [Canadian]. I haven't had a reading that low for many months. I hope this will continure. Oh, and in between meals I drank 1 cup of Fenugreek tea, and 2 glasses of water with Husks.
Hope this helps you,
Joan
Apple Cider Vinegar, Fenugreek Tea
Posted by Naima (Chaguanas, Trinidad) on 09/05/2009
★☆☆☆☆
I also used acv with no results but I am not giving up. I still use it every morning. I think that after reading all these mails, I may have been using too little so I will try it morning and evening. lately my sugar level has been really high, over 200. I am using my medication and diet but it is very frustrating. I do not want to go on insulin. any suggestions?
Apple Cider Vinegar, Fenugreek Tea
Posted by Jan (Boston, Ma) on 05/28/2011
Drink cinnamon tea it works.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dedubbya (North Carolina) on 02/21/2014
That's really interesting. I will have to check on that.. lol
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dianna (Austin, Texas) on 12/28/2008
★★★★★
I have tried apple cider vinegar in the past with mixed results. I have diabetes and take insulin. When I started taking ACV before I was taking 1 tablespoon and it really did lower my blood sugar - in fact, I had to make sure that I ate enough carbs or it would be too low - like in the 40's. also it was giving me very bad gas. I was taking it in a glass of water 2x a day and my teeth were becoming sensitive.
Well, I started taking it again - but this time in a much smaller dose. now i put it in a dropper bottle and take a dropper - approx. 1/2 - 1 teaspoon and i put it in the back of my throat so it doesn't touch my teeth.
This works much better for me and I do get some of the blood sugar lowering effects - but what I really noticed is that in the morning my face is not puffy. It also makes me pee a lot more and i just feel 'cleaner'. It seems like my body is 'clearer' or something. And at this dosage it isn't giving me gas. I do this 2 times a day and maybe i will be able to work up to more eventually - but for now this is helping me.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mel (Luray, Virginia) on 12/08/2008
I am new at this, after being overweight for about a 6 months I joined a gym to start working out. BUT..I found out today from my fasting blood test my sugar level was 285, thats scary. Since I am new at this does this ACV stuff really work? I plan to work at losing 50 lbs in the gym. I know it will be tough but I know I can do it. I just hope all these claims about ACV is correct.
Dandelion Root Tea
Posted by C (NY, NY) on 09/16/2008
★★★★★
2 remedies, 1 question
Dandelion root tea: 1 bag/1 cup a day to reduce blood sugar and control yeast
Ginger capsules: for nausea and vertigo. Take with a glass of water to reduce stomach irritation(1 cap every 4 hours)
Q: any remedies for chemical sensitivity? Synthetic fragrance makes me feel ill: headaches, nausea, woozy; avoidance is difficult.
Thank you
Small Snacks and Bourbon
Posted by Matt (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 09/04/2008
★★★★★
Morning Sugars: Used to take metformin. Had major heart attack and developed CHF. While in hospital, heart diet is exact opposite of diabetic diet. Insulin in hosp. couldn't bring sugar down. Glucagon pumps in liver running rampant. Can't take metformin anymore due to CHF. What to do?
I eat a small snack at bedtime, washed down by two shots of straight Kentucky bourbon. While processing alcohol removal, the liver shuts the glucagon pumps down because it can't do two things at once. Stops overloading pancreas with glucagon flood. Eat sensibly during day and move around, don't be a couch potato. Snack is essential to keep from bottoming out. Threw away the glimiperide, pancreas wasn't the problem. Good old alcohol! What do you think brings on a hangover? LOW BLOOD SUGAR!
Small Snacks and Bourbon
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 09/05/2008 490 posts
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
To Matt from Cincinatti: Your theory may be plausible, but hypoglycemia runs rampant in alcoholics, as does liver disease.
Walnut, Akrot
Posted by Hariom (Sampla[rohtak], Haryana INDIA) on 08/23/2008
★★★★★
These day I come a effective use of walnut which is called akrot in India. Take one walnut [akrot giri]. Kept it in water for overnight and eat in morning as a first food. Do not eat anything for one hour. It contol the sugar and good for so many other health problem.
Cinnamon
Posted by Wanda (Salem, Missouri) on 08/11/2008
★★★★★
My blood sugar was consistantly 126, which is high pre- diabetic. I read the results of several cinnamon trials and began taking three 500 mg. capsules of it around two years ago. My fasting blood sugar dropped to between 89 -103, and has remained at that level. I am tested at a local senior citizens center once a month. It is a finger-stick test. A serum test once was 106.
Avoid Sodas
Posted by Reid (Herrin, IL) on 08/06/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Sodas are made with High Fructose Corn Syrup. Corn is a GRAIN NOT a veg. They give corn to cows before slaughter to fatten them up. HFCS turns directly into fat, NOT energy like normal sugar. HFCS not only makes you fat it damages the liver and pancreas. It was linked to mine and 3-4 other friends' diabetes. I stopped all sodas diet or HFCS and my fasting sugar has went from 130 to 90.
EC: Sodas imported from Mexico (as well as many other countries) are made with sugar, so check your labels!
Turmeric
Posted by Pat (Or) on 07/29/2013
Thank you for your suggestion of turmeric. Unfortunately my medication of effexor blocks the effeciency of turmeric. (as per past information from this site) Is there any information I can get on the benefits/side effects of taking kratom.... or any other supplements that might help me lower my blood sugar? I am using coconut oil and Apple Cider Vinegar as well.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kp (Az) on 01/16/2018
I add the apple cider vinegar to baking soda. Does this nullify the effects by neutralizing the acid? Its sure much easier to drink. Thanks if anyone knows. kp
Cinnamon, Coenzyme Q-10, Chromium
Posted by AngelsLuv (Lake Ariel, PA) on 04/18/2008
★★★★★
It has been known for a long time that taking Cinnamon tablets,Coenzyme Q-10, and Chromium Picolinate lowers blood sugar in Diabetics... I have been a Type 1 Diabetic for 32 years, and have found this to be true after reading many articles as to their usefulness, and finally taking them in a quest to lower my blood sugars..
Cinnamon, Coenzyme Q-10, Chromium
Posted by Robert (Wayne, Michigan, USA) on 09/18/2014
How much of each pill do you take?
Book Recommendation
Posted by Patricia (Englewood, New Jersey) on 12/21/2007
★★★★★
I have used ACV for thh past 4 weeks and it is providing some help with my bp readings.I also contacted others from this site who were quite helpful. Now I want to suggest additional help ina book called "Good Calories Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes. The book provides an excellent explanation of how insulin effects the body metabolism. It also offers extensiive information about research sugar, obesity, and high carbo diets. Based on his research high carb diets are directly linked to obesity. The book provides an excellent explanation of hypertension, how it effects the body and also presents research on salt and hypertension. There are so many myths surrounding nutrition and heart disease that we all should spend time reading this book. No doctor will ever be so thorough in their explanation of how our liver handles fat and sugar. By reading this book I was able to create a diet which is helping to bring down my hypertension. I am/was insuline resistent.
Cinnamon
Posted by Gregg (Brigantine, new jersey) on 04/08/2007
★★★★★
I have been a type one diabetic for around 7 years and most of the knowledge I have about it has come from my curiosity about my ailment. I read an article about cinnamon in a diabetes magazine that suggested it helped blood sugar control, and I have been using about a table spoon in a half cup of apple sauce, and I have been finding that my waking blood sugars and throughout the day have become much tighter and I have lowered my insulin levels slightly because I simply don't need as much. I am still tinkering with the mix, but my blood sugar has definitely seen change for the better since I added some cinnamon
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Gail (Kingston, Ny) on 08/17/2017 10 posts
I tried ACV for various reasons; and I found it gave me pronounced gastric distress. I have had GERD forever, despite non acidic diet, lost my gall bladder to infection and developed Barrets syndrome; now healed thanks to cold pressed appled cider vinegar and low dose PPI's; Still, I cannot tolerate ACV: can anyone give me advice on how I can take it; my A1C is on the borderline and I believe I have been having sugar spikes and lows. Thank you, Gail
