Type 2 diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans and another 86 million have prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes wreaks havoc on the body, affecting everything from hearing and vision to mental health and sleep. It is the leading cause of blindness, amputations and kidney failure, and it can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke by three times.
People with type 2 diabetes are always looking for new ways to effectively manage their diabetes. Kombucha has become very popular as recent research and studies show it relieves diabetic complications, helps to control the fluctuating blood sugar levels and maintain cholesterol levels in diabetes.
Kombucha made with green tea may be healthier because it is high in antioxidant polyphenols. These antioxidant capabilities can help keep inflammation under control, faster metabolism, decreased belly fat (which is common in diabetics), better blood sugar control, and improved cholesterol profiles.
A big study of 300,000 people found that green tea drinkers have an 18% lower risk of diabetes, so drinking Kombucha made from green tea may be healthier choice.
The nutritional components available in Kombucha such as B and C vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and a high concentration of gluconic, acetic, lactic acids appears to have a positive effect on the metabolism and digestive system, which could in turn help stabilize blood sugar levels.
A 2012 study found that Kombucha helped to manage blood sugar levels in rats with diabetes. The findings revealed that Kombucha induced attractive curative effects on diabetic rats, particularly in terms of liver-kidney functions. Kombucha can, therefore, be considered as a potential strong candidate for future application as a functional supplement for the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
A 2018 study found that fermented foods like Kombucha could significantly reduce blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C levels, and increase insulin production. The study found that the supplementation of fermented foods significantly reduced the diabetic-associated health complications by increasing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity.
Another study done in 2009 found that Kombucha may be beneficial to patient suffering from renal impairment and may repair damage caused by environmental pollutants. Approximately 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes have renal impairment. Chronic kidney disease is common in patients with diabetes and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Kombucha components include polyphenols are known to help prevent and even regenerate the damaged beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells are cells in the pancreas that produce, store and release the insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating levels of glucose in the blood.
Because of its probiotic and antioxidant properties, Kombucha is something worth considering to add to a healthy diet and to boost overall consumption of healthy foods.
