Apple Cider Vinegar for Gestational Diabetes and Lowering Fasting Blood Sugar

Taking apple cider vinegar for gestational diabetes is a fantastic natural remedy to lower fasting blood sugar with gestational diabetes. While there are limited studies on the effects of apple cider vinegar in pregnant women with gestational diabetes, plenty of studies demonstrate the beneficial effects of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar on high blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

For many women, the morning fasting blood sugar can be the hardest to control during pregnancy. When I had gestational diabetes, it was frustrating not to have control over my fasting blood sugar as it wasn’t directly related to the meal I just ate. I also had so many unanswered questions.

Did I not have enough insulin secretion, or was it the hormones glucagon and cortisol raising my fasting morning blood sugar? What were my insulin levels? And were they too high or too low, as this determines the type of diabetes a person has. But measuring insulin levels isn’t a standard process, so I never found out.

I understand blood sugar balance and the hormones involved. But pregnancy throws in many curveballs with additional hormones that affect insulin and blood glucose levels.

Regardless of what was going on, I did not want to take insulin overnight, which was initially suggested by the diabetic’s dietician. My blood sugar would drop well into the fasting blood sugar range 4 hours post meals and in the middle of the night.

For this reason, I wanted to manage my blood sugar through diet for fear of becoming hypoglycemic if I used insulin for blood sugar control overnight. I started to seek out the best foods for gestational diabetes to help improve insulin sensitivity. I am so glad I came across the health benefits of apple cider vinegar to lower fasting blood sugar.

How I Learned About Apple Cider Vinegar for Gestational Diabetes

When I was just diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, I listened to another mom’s story on youtube where she mentioned that taking 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar before bed helped lower her morning fasting blood sugar.

Through additional research, I learned that apple cider did help some women with gestational diabetes. It is acetic acid that helps to lower fasting blood sugar. I am so thankful that I came across other pregnant women that had used apple cider vinegar with success to lower blood sugar levels with gestational diabetes.

The healthcare professionals that I was referred to did not give me this information and only wanted to get me using insulin which was daunting as you need to use the correct amount of insulin combined with the right amount of carbohydrates. The last thing I wanted to do was count carbs and inject insulin. I was prepared to make all the lifestyle changes, such as daily light physical activity, which for me was walking while also eating a very healthy diet.

This information got me thinking about my gallbladder, as apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy to support the gallbladder and may help dissolve gallstones.

At 29 weeks, I also noticed tenderness under my right rib, where the liver and gallbladder are located. At first, I thought that the baby had its foot wedged up under my ribcage, as that is what it felt like.

Then I thought maybe my gallbladder was struggling and a bit inflamed, which is common during pregnancy. Thick sludgy bile can cause low bile flow, a fatty liver, and insulin resistance, which may be an underlying cause of my gestational diabetes and slightly elevated fasting blood sugar. 

I used apple cider vinegar to lower my fasting blood sugar when I had gestational diabetes. The daily intake of apple cider vinegar helped me to lower my blood sugar levels and bring my fasting blood sugar back into the normal range.

Within three weeks, I saw a significant reduction in my fasting numbers as I went from one of my highest fasting blood sugar readings of 5.8 to an average reading of 4.8-4.9. Within four weeks, I had my lowest fasting blood sugar level of 4.4 mmol.

How to use apple cider vinegar for gestational diabetes

Drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with water before bed was the primary intervention I implemented when I had gestational diabetes to lower my fasting blood sugar, which is the most difficult to control for many women with gestational diabetes.

I took apple cider vinegar religiously every night before bed and I swear the apple cider vinegar was a miracle remedy for helping me to lower my fasting blood sugar with gestational diabetes. I also sometimes took apple cider vinegar mixed with cinnamon and water before meals and noted that I had great postprandial glucose readings (blood sugar levels after meals)

The easiest way to take apple cider vinegar for insulin resistance is by mixing one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup. I took 1 tbsp of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with water before bed to control my fasting blood sugar during pregnancy. Taking the apple cider vinegar before bed and cleansing my gallbladder with beets helped me successfully manage my gestational diabetes and lower my fasting blood sugar.

My success with using apple cider vinegar for gestational diabetes inspired me to research the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Fatty Liver. It truly is a miracle remedy that is inexpensive and effective.

Beneficial effects of vinegar on fasting blood sugar and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes

A meta analysis of 6 scientific studies, including 317 diabetic patients, revealed that the use of vinegar resulted in significantly better fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1c. There is strong evidence pointing towards the beneficial effect of vinegar on glycemic control and fasting blood glucose; thus, it should be recommended as alternative blood sugar management advice for people with type 2 diabetes.

In another study, 20 ml of apple vinegar was administered daily for eight weeks and resulted in a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose levels.

While there are not a lot of studies on the use of apple cider vinegar in pregnant women with gestational diabetes, plenty of studies point towards the benefits of taking apple cider vinegar on a daily basis to help lower HbA1c, fasting blood sugar levels and post-meal blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics.

This apple cider vinegar drink with cinnamon is great for fatty liver and diabetics, especially if you omit the honey or substitute the honey for one of these non-nutritive sugar substitutes for diabetics. I also ate this beet and apple salad with ACV almost daily when I was managing gestational diabetes.

If you are struggling with gestational diabetes, I share all about how I managed gestational diabetes through diet, supplements and lifestyle changes 🙂

References:

Vinegar consumption can attenuate postprandial glucose and insulin responses; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

The effect of apple vinegar consumption on glycemic indices, blood pressure, oxidative stress, and homocysteine in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia: A randomized controlled clinical trial

A systematic review and meta-analysis: Vinegar consumption on glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

A review of the hypoglycemic effects of vinegar and its potential benefit in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)