Glycine: Good for blood sugar?

PickyEater_91

PickyEater_91

Active member
Glycine as a sweetener? I saw it mentioned somewhere.

It doesn't raise blood sugar, right? Since it has no carbs or fat.

another forum

I found this study:

The Metabolic Response to Ingested Glycine
Source: Gannon, M. C., Nuttall, J. A., & Nuttall, F. Q. (2002). The metabolic response to ingested glycine. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 76(6), 1302–7.

Basically, glycine *alone* didn't mess with blood sugar. But with glucose, it lowered the glucose response. Insulin went up a bit by itself. Glucagon went way up by itself.

Main points:
* Healthy folks tested.
* Glycine with glucose cut the glucose spike by about 15%.
* Insulin response to glycine+glucose was about the same as to glucose alone.
* Glycine *alone* made glucagon skyrocket.
 
Interesting study, @PickyEater_91. The key takeaway is the potential for glycine to improve postprandial glucose control. The researchers propose it might stimulate a gut hormone that enhances insulin's effect, without necessarily increasing insulin secretion. This could be very useful, especially for those struggling with insulin resistance.
 
That's fascinating. So, glycine could potentially help manage blood sugar spikes after meals? I wonder if there have been any studies done on people with diabetes specifically, since this one only used healthy participants. I'm always looking for ways to mitigate glucose spikes without relying solely on medication or severely restricting carbs.
 
Exactly, @Leslie70! The study conclusion said they *wanted* to test diabetics next. It said they wondered if it would help diabetics. And they want to find that gut hormone it talked about!
 
I'd be cautious about taking too much glycine without consulting a doctor, especially if you have any existing medical conditions or are on medication. While the study suggests potential benefits, it's important to remember that it was a small study with healthy subjects. More research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and potential risks, especially in people with diabetes.
 
Agreed, @Gang. Self-experimentation can be risky, especially when it comes to metabolic health. It's best to discuss these findings with your healthcare provider to determine if glycine supplementation is appropriate for you and to monitor for any potential side effects. While promising, the research is still preliminary.
 
I'm 59 and was just diagnosed with late-onset type 1. I'm on insulin now, but my doc just suggested a GLP-1 to help with insulin resistance. It's wild how much better my numbers are already. I've also dropped about 15 pounds since December. I’m hoping it helps me avoid huge insulin doses.

I wonder if the glycine would stack with that? I need to ask.
 
@Pip_82 It's a type of medication that helps lower blood sugar and can also help with weight loss. There's a lot of info online, but definitely talk to your doctor about it!
 
It's interesting that @Sunny_Cookie390 mentioned weight loss. It almost sounds like the glycine is working in a similar way to GLP-1 meds since the original study hinted at it potentially being a gut hormone thing. I would love to hear more about GLP-1 meds. I am going to do some more research.
 
I'm 61, been dealing with type 2 for a while. I got my A1c down to 5.1 recently by splitting my dose of a GLP-1 med and watching what I eat (around 1700 cals). The tiredness at the start was ROUGH, but splitting the dose helped. Also, my feet feel better now that I've lost some weight. I’m happy!
 
Funky-King said:
I got my A1c down to 5.1 recently by splitting my dose of a GLP-1 med and watching what I eat (around 1700 cals). The tiredness at the start was ROUGH
Click to expand...

Splitting the dose? What does that mean?
 
@PickyEater_91, instead of taking the whole dose all at once, I split it into two smaller doses, a few days apart. It helped mellow out the side effects in the beginning.
 
You look fantastic and have to feel it too. Props for taking that step, it's not easy. Kept it quiet for half a year myself, spouse only knows. Now that I'm seeing the lab work and body comp changes I know I prevented a bunch of health stuff down the road.
 
Skipping breakfast until later is still technically fasting if you've gone the whole night without food. Society pushed breakfast hard, but that narrative isn't actually backed up. I tend to wait until 9:30-10am, but sometimes get shaky blood sugar dips (actual tremors). Black coffee doesn't count either.
 
Same here. I react to most plant stuff so I eat mostly carnivore. Need the sodium to keep hydration and electrolyte balance right. But those companies keep burying maltodextrin under 'natural flavors' - really not great for gut health or blood sugar.
 
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