Positive Effects of Alkaline Water on Diabetes

The Earth is made up of 71% water, 75% of a living tree is made up of water, our bodies are made up of 60% water, and the human brain alone is made up of 75% water. It is no secret to us that water plays a role in almost every aspect of the world and is vital for us to live a long, healthy lives. But, for those living with diabetes, water is even more important. Why? Those living with diabetes are more susceptible to dehydration, making water an even more crucial element to living a healthy life.

First things first, what is diabetes? Diabetes occurs when either your body does not produce enough insulin, or your body is unable to use insulin properly. Diabetes causes your blood sugar to rise far too high for your body’s natural functioning. High blood sugar causes symptoms such as: fatigue, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, shortness of breath, increased thirst, and increased urination. Two of these symptoms are the culprits of diabetics’ dehydration – increased thirst and increased urination.  

Staying hydrated can make a world of difference in a diabetic’s life. Lengthy and intensive studies conducted have found that diabetics who drink an average of 36 ounces or more of water a day are less likely to have high blood sugar than those who drink less than 16 ounces a day. How easy is that! Drinking enough water each day is one easy way diabetics, and non-diabetics, can ensure they are doing all that they can to keep themselves as healthy as possible!

When a person’s blood sugar is too high, our body’s natural reaction is to get rid of the excess glucose. The body does this by diluting the amount of glucose in the blood and tries to release it through urination. Meanwhile, the body also tries to rehydrate itself because of the excess loss of water in the body. For diabetics, it is not as simple.

Our bodies have a hormone called vasopressin. Vasopressin is an anti-diuretic that works with the kidney’s in determining whether or not to release or retain water. Vasopressin levels rise when our bodies are dehydrated. When vasopressin rises, it tells the kidneys to stop producing urine and tells the liver to keep releasing glucose. So, while our body is trying to rid itself of the extra glucose, our body is also preventing itself from a way to release the extra glucose! These are the kinds of situations that can lead to diabetic comas. Just another reason to drink enough water and stay hydrated to help regulate diabetes!

Drink more water! It sounds so simple right? You’re probably thinking, what’s the catch? While there is a catch, it has an easy solution! The catch is – quality water! While tap water and bottled water are healthier alternatives to soft drinks and other beverages, it has been found that many pollutants and useless minerals can be found in both of these types of water. Researchers have found that there have been 315 pollutants in America’s tap water since 2004. Many of these pollutants are also unregulated and can exist in ANY amount legally! It is also no guarantee that bottled water is any healthier. The only difference between bottled and tap water is the added minerals, which have no real health benefits.  

So what kind of water SHOULD we drink? Easy, alkaline water. Alkaline water is water that has a pH levels over 7. You’d be surprised by the number of great things alkaline water can do for you when incorporating it into your diet! Alkaline water is more hydrating than normal water. Alkaline water can also help your immune system due to its neutralizing acidity and since alkaline water is rich in helpful minerals such as magnesium and calcium, it also helps keep your skeletal system healthy.

Alkaline Water on Diabetes

Drinking alkaline water has many health benefits for diabetics. Since alkaline water is more absorbable, it helps keep the body hydrated longer preventing blood sugars to rise. Alkaline water can also help manage insulin production, therefore managing diabetes, because of its neutralizing acidity. So, if you are a diabetic looking for a simple solution to help manage  your diabetes, ditch tap and bottled water and try adding alkaline water into your diet. See the benefits for yourself!