Diabetes: Why is just a sip of water before a meal important?

For diabetics, controlling blood sugar after meals is always a problem. This is the time when blood sugar easily spikes. Few people know that even drinking a sip of water before eating can bring many benefits to people with diabetes.

Many studies have shown that drinking water can regulate hunger, slow down glucose absorption, and support kidney function in eliminating excess sugar, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

The habit of drinking water before meals will help prevent diabetes complications.

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The habit of drinking water before meals is important for people with diabetes for the following reasons:

Slows glucose absorption

When you drink a little water before a meal, your stomach is moistened, which slows down the movement of food into the small intestine. The small intestine is the main site of glucose absorption.

Prevents blood sugar spikes after meals

Scientific research shows that the speed of gastric emptying has a direct impact on postprandial blood sugar levels. Drinking water before meals will help slow this process, thereby limiting sudden increases in blood sugar. This is especially important for people with type 2 diabetes because postprandial hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.

Drinking water before meals slows down the absorption of starch, thereby helping to stabilize blood sugar after meals. This is a simple but effective measure to reduce long-term complications.

Supports glucose excretion

The kidneys play an important role in filtering and removing excess glucose from the blood, which is then excreted in the urine. If the body is dehydrated, the kidney's blood filtering process becomes less effective, increasing the risk of glucose accumulation and damaging blood vessels. Therefore, drinking even a small amount of water before meals can help improve the blood filtering process, reducing the burden on the kidneys.

Improve insulin sensitivity

Low insulin sensitivity is a major cause of type 2 diabetes. Several studies have shown that drinking enough water helps regulate the hormone vasopressin, which controls water and blood sugar balance, thereby helping to increase insulin sensitivity.

The appropriate amount of water to drink before each meal is 150-200 ml. This habit not only helps stabilize blood sugar but also supports the weight loss process, protects the kidneys and cardiovascular system. These are organs that are vulnerable to damage due to diabetes complications, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tieu-duong-vi-sao-chi-mot-ngum-nuoc-truoc-bua-an-cung-quan-trong-185250928142129475.htm