Recent studies have found the benefits of Vitamin-C consumption in diabetes. The research published in the journal- Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism found that vitamin- C consumption lowered blood pressure in type-2 diabetic patients, thus benefiting heart health also. Nutrients play a vital role in maintaining good health and prevents us from many diseases. Vitamins are important for the normal working of body functions like- cardiovascular health ( vitamin- B1), Nervous system ( vitamin-B6 & B12), etc.

Vitamin- C:-

The other name of vitamin-c is ascorbic acid. It can not be produced in our bodies. And its requirements are fulfilled from the food- we consume. A normal adult male requires- 90mg of vitamin C per day. And normal female requires 75 mg per day. The requirement of vitamin-c varies with age and different stages of life. It plays a vital role in the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. For many body functions, like- formation of collagen, absorption of iron, proper functioning of the immune system, healing of wounds, and proper maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth- vitamin-c plays a vital role.

Diabetes:-

Diabetes is a chronic disease. It occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce the required amount of insulin. Or our body is unable to utilize the produced insulin. Insulin helps glucose get into the cells to produce energy. Moreover, diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. For more reading- How to reduce heart disease risk in diabetes? <<= click here. There is an app. 422 million people suffering from diabetes worldwide. Around 1.6 million people die due to diabetes every year.

Benefits of Vitamin-C Consumption in Diabetes.

As per research on the benefits of vitamin- c consumption in diabetes, done by the Associate professor, Glenn Wadley from Deakin University in Australia. He stated that:-

“We found that participants had a significant 36% drop in blood sugar spike after meals. this also meant that they spent almost 3 hours less per day living in a state of hyperglycemia this is extremely positive news as hyperglycemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people living with type-2 diabetes.”

“We also found that the proportion of people with hypertension halved after taking Vit-c caps, with both their systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels dropping significantly”.

He further said the dose used in the study was about ten times the normal daily requirement.

“While physical activity, good nutrition, and current diabetes medications are standard case and very important for managing type-2 diabetes, some people can find it tough to manage their blood glucose levels even with medications,” he said.

How patients with diabetes get the benefits of vitamin C consumption?

Unhealthy dietary habits, like- fast foods, inadequate carbohydrate and fat consumption, lack of seasonal fruits and vegetables in our diet, and sedentary lifestyle, etc are not only contributing to the deficiency of vitamin-c in our body but are also responsible for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. For more reading about- How a sedentary lifestyle affects people’s health? <<= Click here.

It is believed that free radicals cause damage to our body cells and tissues, which may lead to type-2 diabetes. Vitamin- C is an antioxidant and it is thought to have a protective role in diabetes by reducing the damage caused by free radicals.

As per research by Associate professor Wadley- It was found that vitamin-c works to counteract free radicals and improve disposal of blood glucose in type- 2 diabetic patients. It is due to the antioxidant properties of vitamin-c. This improves the capacity of muscles to remove substances that interfere with insulin actions.

The other ways to reduce damage from free radicals are quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake. Type – 2 diabetes can also be managed by making small changes such as healthy eating and regular exercise. Most diabetic patients may need oral medications or injectables for controlling their sugar levels. For more reading about- What are the early signs and symptoms of diabetes? <<= Click here.

Wishing all to be in a healthy state. For treatment please consult your healthcare provider.

(For awareness purpose only).

Surinder Bhalla

Blogger & Marketing Consultant with 40+ Years of experience in the healthcare industry.