Acid reflux is a persistent disease that occurs when your food duct becomes irritated from bile or stomach acid backs up into it. Is there a connection between acid reflux and diabetes? Yes there is. But first, what is acid reflux disease and what is the link between Acid Reflux Disease and Diabetes? Acid reflux diseases is also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
First, I just want to go over the basics of this scary, annoying, and uncomfortable condition. I’ve had indigestion before as I’m sure every human being has had at some point in their life. I will try and cover everything from the symptoms, avoiding, treating, and more about GERD.
Causes of Acid Reflux
There can be multiple factors involved that affect GERD. So what these “factors” do is help to aid in relaxing or weakening the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle which surrounds and acts as a guard to open or close an opening or tube to the openings of the stomach.
Your Diet
Eating garlic and onions, tomatoes and citrus fruits, which are acidic, spicy foods, chocolate, anything minty, fried and fatty foods drinking alcohol, coffee, energy drinks, colas and teas, just to name a few.
Your Eating Habits
I think we’ve all been guilty of eating too close to bedtime, eating too fast, and overeating at meal time. Don’t eat within a few hours of bedtime to give your stomach time to empty out and time enough for the production of acid to lessen.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol especially red wine is not a good idea. There’s a higher risk that acid from your stomach may back up. So cut back or avoid alcohol.
Smoking
Never good for any part of good health especially GERD. It weakens that sphincter (muscle) and increases reflux. There’s no plus side to smoking anyway.
Existing Medical Conditions
Fast weight gain, pregnancy, diabetes (discussed later), and hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia condition is when the upper portion of your stomach extends up above your diaphragm. A hiatal hernia is caused by unrelenting straining, coughing, physical exertion, and coughing. If you are pregnant or overweight, it can make the condition worse. There’s no treatment for it and it’s much more common in folks over 50.
Lose Weight
Of course losing weight would be an issue. You have a much higher risk of acid reflux with extra weight. Losing weight is always a good thing to do.
Posture
It’s important to be sitting or standing up straight. This will aid in acid and food to pass easier through the stomach and not back up into the esophagus.
Acid Reflux & Diabetes Connection
First off GERD is becoming more common which is not good. When it comes to anything that relates to your health you get concerned and want to take care of it any way you can. Diabetes is becoming a lot more common than ever before.
You can awaken in the middle of the night with that burning feeling in your throat or your chest and it scares the heck out of you because you don’t really know what it is.
Maybe you have bad or sour taste in your mouth or feel nauseous. Is your throat sore? Coughing? There could be many things going on here. I’ve had some of these symptoms after having a “rich foods” meal.
Since one third of Americans have GERD, it’s an alarming number. Treating it costs over $10 billion a year now. Here’s where diabetes and acid reflux connect. Because the facts are that the link between obesity and GERD are confirmed.
The fact of the matter is that overweight people are 50% more likely to have GERD. And obese people are 200% more at risk of having GERD than folks who are at a normal weight. It just makes sense to lose weight and maintain a healthy diet a with exercise to avoid the possibility of acid reflux.
So the connection is that type 2 diabetics is a risk factor without the weight so, being overweight just increases the chances of acid reflux. There have been studies done that 40% of diabetics have GERD. It’s even more common with people who have diabetes who also have neuropathy, a nerve damage that is a complication of diabetes that again is fairly common.
Watch the Video Below for More About Acid Reflux
Over the Counter Medications
Antacids
There are many well known antacid products available to help you with GERD. Some come in liquid form and help decrease some of the acid in your stomach by coating the lining of the esophagus. Providing quick acting relief and neutralizing stomach acid is what antacids like Rolaids, Tums, Mylanta, and Maalox can do. These will help reduce the GERD but not decrease inflammation of the esophagus.
Oral Suspension Medicines
These particular medications are used by consumers to treat diarrhea, ulcers in the intestines, throat, and stomach and treatment for indigestion and heartburn. Pepto Bismol and Kaopectate are very popular medicines for these ailments.
H-2 Receptor Blockers
They provide longer relief than antacids, but take longer to work so take them about thirty minutes before you eat or go to sleep at night. If you only experience mild acid reflux a couple of times a month, you can take these to help shut down the acid production in the stomach. The two popular ones are Zantac and Pepcid AC. I would choose these to help you.
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Anti-Gas
People who experience gas and bloating when they experience heartburn can take products that can relieve these symptoms. Gas-x, Phazyme, and Beano are excellent for the treatment of these symptoms.
Caution
It’s crucial that you keep a diary on what’s going on in your particular case. What your symptoms are, how severe the complications are and how often you experience them. Keep an eye on everything and record your conditions and treatments because you don’t want GERD to be untreated.
So most folks rely on over-the-counter medications for treating their condition by themselves. It’s what all of us do anyway for every ailment unless you’re the type of person who just runs to the doctor first choice for everything. There are so many products in the drug stores that can help so many issues that make it not necessary to see the doctor unless it it is or becomes a more serious problem.
Sometimes you have to make the decision and go with your gut. (no pun intended) Some products may work and some may not. Even if you do get temporary relief, it could return and then you’re just trying to fix a problem with a “band-aid.”
If you only have an occasional problem then these antacids could be your answer. But you always want to check and discuss with your doctor with whatever you do and don’t wait until GERD becomes an emergency, God forbid.
Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux
Start With Your Diet
You don’t want anything with acid in it or foods that create an imbalance of bacteria in the intestinal tract and stomach and worsen the acid reflux.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always the smart choice for any diet. The old saying goes, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” You may also want to add a pro-biotic supplement to your diet.
Organic Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a very common and beneficial for many things including colitis, diarrhea, upset stomach, and great for digestion and calming acid reflux.
Balancing Acid Levels
The first and easiest way to balance the body’s natural manufacturing of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is to increase it by changing the typical table salt that you use to a highly superior sea salt. You can use either Coarse salt or Himalayan salt. They contain many more minerals that the body requires and chloride as well.
Supplements
Melatonin is perfect as a sleeping support. There is some evidence that it may improve GERD symptoms too. Multivitamins can help protect against medications that are taken to treat acid reflux which leads to decreased amounts of magnesium, calcium, iron, and vitamins such as vitamin C and B12. They aid in fighting inflammation and removing toxins. By take caution as too much iron can affect your stomach.
Licorice
It’s been known to reduce symptoms of pain, belching, and bloating that relates to acid reflux. Again, take licorice in moderate amounts.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
They fight inflammation of the esophagus, but may interact with any medications you take for blood thinning.
Avoid Risks
Be extra careful with taking supplements and vitamins in larger dosages as there could be a conflict with medications. Excess alpha-lipoic acid may possibly increase your heartburn and make it worse than before. Stay in touch with your physician about anything you take. They are the professionals.
Raw organic apple cider vinegar. I take this everyday twice a day because it has so many health benefits. Mix one tablespoon with water or anything you like. The taste is very bitter so I take it with diet juice. It will help your acid reflux fast.
The Pritikin Diet
Developed by Nathan Pritikin in the 1970’s, it’s a high carb, low calorie, low protein diet that suggests a very low fat intake of no more than 10%. It can lower your chance of obesity, blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and lessen the chances of certain types of cancer and diabetes.
There are some restrictions so again, speak with your doctor if you are going to start this diet. Below is just a general list of what the diet consists of.
- Vegetables– 5 servings a day
- Fruits- 4 or more servings daily (avocados are high in fat content)
- Complex carbs- 5 or more servings a day
- Protein- up to 3 1/2 oz of meat a day
- Dairy- Two servings only of non-fat dairy products.
- Beverages- Water, coffee substitutes, or herbal tea generally.
Common Sense
I always believe that no matter what decisions we make in our lives that we always use common sense before we move forward. Only you know your own body and what feels right and what doesn’t so do what you “feel” is right in any health situation.
But no matter what you do, always discuss anything with your doctor. Since I have diabetes and I am treating it, I talk to my doctor first if I am going to add or subtract anything from what I take daily.
And Finally
So this is how Acid Reflux Disease and Diabetes are connected. Nobody knows everything but you can always learn from others. I hope that I have helped you in some way in learning more about GERD, acid reflux and diabetes, and general health. You’re never too old to learn something new especially when it comes to your health.
Acid reflux can be avoided, controlled, and you can live a happier healthier life. I don’t like to see any one person suffer and I’m sure that you don’t either.
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I love spicy food and sodas and never knew it would cause me to have a diabetes problem. Such a detailed article,I absolutely love it. I’m going to share it. You don’t need diabetes to eat right,with your article you can simply dodge the diabetes bullet. What a great read,I have gained some great knowledge on acid reflux and diabetes.
Spicy foods and the wrong foods can cause acid reflux. Nobody wants to suffer from acid reflux or diabetes. Everything comes down to what you eat and how you address your eating habits. You should be eating the foods that fight acid reflux and diabetes and not the ones that cause it. Healthy eating goes a long way!
Hi and thank you for a very interesting site. This topic interested me too because I’m dealing with omega oil on a daily basis. I picked Omega oil to be in my diet in October 2016.
The Omega equilibrium was 7.4: 1, which in itself is pretty good (recommendation 5.0: 1) and after 120yrk 2.8: 1 so the improvement is noticeable.
It’s about me, but let’s talk about your site. Very well written and clear text. I put this letter in the letters so that I can read your articles later on.
Thanks for this.
Jarmo
Omega 3 fatty oils are very beneficial for fighting acid reflux disease. They also have very many other health benefits. I’m glad that you have seen much improvement. Apple cider vinegar is also another tremendous benefit for acid reflux. Thank you for your comments. Eat healthy to fight acid reflex and also to combat diabetes.
I really like this post. Your explained how acid reflux works and did a great job explaining the different causes. I also like that you provided solutions to resolving this issue because that’s definitely important. You actually opened my eyes to some of the things I was doing, like eating to close to bedtime and my posture, that could cause acid reflux. So I will definitely start correcting those habits in my life.
Thanks for the information!
Ian J.
Yes there are many cause for acid reflux. But there are solutions and preventions as well. Eating anything too close to bedtime is never good. I stand my belief that Apple cider vinegar is a great choice against acid reflux disease. Stay healthy by making wise choices with foods that fight acid reflux.
Such a thoughtful and well presented article!
if a people stopped to take a look at their diets they would open their eyes to what damage they are doing to their health.
its very interesting to read that acid reflux can be linked to diabetes as I would never have thought that.
Thank you. Acid reflux is linked to diabetes and unfortunately many other things factor in. My daughter suffers from this acid reflux and when I told her about apple cider vinegar to help she jumped on it and it is helping. Apple cider vinegar has many benefits for your health. Go with the foods that fight acid reflux!
While there are many contributing factors such as genetics, diet, and exercise that contribute to diabetes, the number one cause of type 2 diabetes is obesity. We need to teach people how to eat properly to avoid adult onset type 2 diabetes. Good informative site. I did not know heartburn was related to diabetes but it makes sense because they are both functions of the digestive system – that is pancreatic secretion of gastrin to make more stomach acid.
Brad Boschma
I totally agree that obesity is the prime cause of diabetes. Acid reflux is just something that we do not need to experience. It is connected to diabetes. Stick with the foods that combat acid reflux and exercise daily. The best thing one can do is to stay away from foods that make acid reflux flair up.
Hey there
Thanks for the information!
My partner has started getting the acid reflux and I’ve been researching how to help him.
He loves spicy food and this does not help!
I have started changing the way I cook and what I use in cooking just so he doesn’t get bouts of heart burn and acid reflux!
I have some great ideas from reading your post!
Regards Hailey
I know how you feel. My daughter has the same problem. I had her look at my article to help her too. There are many foods and things you can do to help your acid reflux. It’s worse if you have diabetes. One of the best things you can take is apple cider vinegar. It does wonders for so many ailments. Thank you for your comments!
Wow that is great information to know. I did not know that being over weight had to do with acid reflux. I know people in my family that are overweight and they complain about these symptoms all the time. Do you think its because of their weight or because of what their eating? Please get back to me and let me know.
There are so many things that affect acid reflux. Being overweight is definitely one of them. They are eating all the wrong foods. You have to eat the foods that fight acid reflux not make it worse. So change the eating habits to start and you’ll see a big difference!
I had no idea that I had type II diabetes. I was diagnosed at age 50, after complaining to my doctor about being very tired. There is no family history of this disease. I’m a male and at the time of diagnosis, I weighed about 215. (I’m 6’2″)Within 6 months, I had gained 30 to 35 pounds, and apparently the diabetes medicines (Actos and Glimiperide) are known to cause weight gain. I wish my doctor had mentioned that, so I could have monitored my weight more closely. I was also taking metformin 1000 mg twice daily December 2017 our family doctor started me on Green House Herbal Clinic Diabetes Disease Herbal mixture, 5 weeks into treatment I improved dramatically. At the end of the full treatment course, the disease is totally under control. No case blurred vision, frequent urination, or weakness
Visit Green House Herbal Clinic official website I am strong again and able to go about daily activities. This is a breakthrough for all diabetes sufferers
Yes it is a shock when you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and you had no idea that you had it.
Acid reflux can be connected to diabetes and you might not know it either.
Getting on top of the diagnosis right away and getting treatment was a wise choice.
I’m glad that after five weeks you’ve got it under control. Bet you’re feeling good now!
Visit Green House Herbal Clinic official website w w w . greenhouseherbalclinic . com. I am strong again and able to go about daily activities. This is a breakthrough for all diabetes sufferers