Does water dilute sugar in the blood?

If you are watching your sugar intake, you may be wondering does water dilute blood sugar in the blood? The short answer is that staying hydrated can help your body manage your sugar levels. However, the full truth is more complex and nuanced. 

Have you ever had a cup of tea or coffee that was too sweet? You likely found that adding more water helped to dilute the sugar, making the drink a bit less sweet. It doesn't work quite the same way in your body. Water doesn't dilute sugar in the blood in the same way as adding more water to a cup of tea that's too sweet. 

However, drinking water can impact your blood sugar levels. Let's take a look at how.

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Do Water Flush Out Sugar 

If you are wondering do water flush out sugar, unfortunately, the body doesn't work quite this way. If you consume a large amount of sugar or carbohydrates, drinking a few glasses of water won't go far in removing the glucose from your blood. This is because the water doesn't go directly into your blood stream, so it's not directly diluting the sugar. 

Blood Sugar Metabolism

First, it's important to understand how sugar is processed by the body. When you eat foods containing sugar or other carbohydrates, like grains or rice, your body will break it down into glucose, or sugar. 

Glucose enters the bloodstream, giving your cells the energy they need to function normally. When your blood sugar begins to rise, the body releases insulin. Insulin allows the sugar to be utilized by the cells. 

Excess sugar is stored by the body, and can be used when blood sugar levels drop. However, if your sugar levels go higher than is healthy, it puts strain on the body. Your kidneys will work harder to filter and take in the excess glucose. If they can't, they will allow the glucose to pass from the body in your urine. 

This is why people with diabetes may notice sweet-smelling urine. So, water doesn't directly flush sugar from the blood, but it does aid the kidney's ability to do so.  In this way, drinking water indirectly supports your body's ability to flush blood sugar. 

Effect of Hydration on Blood Sugar 

Dehydration can increase your blood sugar levels, because it causes glucose to be more concentrated in the bloodstream. It also increases cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone. One of the effects of cortisol is releasing stored glucose. If your body releases cortisol because you find yourself in an emergency situation, this response is essential. However, it is problematic when it's released due to dehydration, because the cortisol can increase your glucose levels. 

Dehydration also makes insulin less effective. When your body is hydrated, you have more insulin sensitivity. This means that the cells can absorb the glucose in the bloodstream efficiently, lowering the levels of sugar in your blood. 

Dehydration makes it harder for the cells to absorb the glucose, which means there's more glucose in your bloodstream. 

Another concern with dehydration is that the symptoms mimic the symptoms of high or low blood sugar. These symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.

It's important to note that if you have high blood sugar, your body will naturally require more water. This is because the body flushes itself to reduce the amount of glucose, particularly through the kidneys. You'll have a higher urine output, which means you'll need to replace the water you are losing. 

One research study found a direct link with dehydration and glucose regulation. The study followed men with type 2 diabetes. The men had reduced fluid intake, meaning they drank less water, for three days. Then they took a glucose tolerance test. The test revealed that the men had higher blood glucose levels when dehydrated. 

Another study followed patients for 6 weeks. The participants were asked to drink 1.5 liters of water a day, in addition to their typical water intake. The participants who had the lowest water intake at the start of the study saw significant glucose reduction. Those who already drink moderate to high amounts of water saw a small decrease.

Will Drinking Water Lower Blood Sugar Quickly?

According to Healthline, there's not enough research to know if drinking water will lower your blood sugar quickly. We do know that getting enough water every day helps prevent dehydration, which can help control your sugar levels. While drinking water if your sugar spikes won't hurt, you shouldn't rely on it to quickly lower your glucose. 

Does Drinking Water Lower a1c?

Water can have an impact on a1c, at least in men. A recent NIH study found that 1 cup of plain water led to a .04% lower A1c in men. It also led to 22% reduced risk of abnormally high a1c levels of 5.5 or higher.  

The study also found that other drinks didn't have the same effect, suggesting that plain water specifically has an effect. The study showed no decrease in A1c due to water intake in women. The reasons for this are not clear, and current research is lacking. 

How Much Water Should You Drink? 

Since we know the answer to "does water flush out sugar", how much water should you be drinking? 

How much water you need to drink each day will depend on several factors. If you live in a hot environment, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take diuretic medications, you may need more water than the average person. 

However, the general rule of thumb is about 15-16 cups per day for men, and 11-12 cups for women. This is significantly more than the 8 cups a day that we typically think of as adequate water intake. However, these numbers represent your total fluid intake. This means coffee, tea, milk, and juice also count towards the goal. Some foods also have enough fluid to be beneficial. These include watermelon, yogurt, and soups.

Other Ways to Lower Blood Sugar Levels 

In addition to staying hydrated, there are some other lifestyle changes that can help you lower your sugar levels and support your overall health. 

Exercise

Exercise is likely the best way to lower your blood sugar levels fast. Exercise makes your body more sensitive to insulin, which makes it more effective. In fact, exercise can improve insulin sensitivity for 24 hours or more. 

It's so effective that if you are prone to hypoglycemia or take insulin, you'll want to be on the lookout for low blood sugar during and after your workout. You should check your glucose levels. If they are below 100, eat 15 grams of carbohydrates. Check again in 15 minutes, and repeat until your sugar is at 100 or more. 

However, if your blood sugar is above 240, you'll need to check for ketones in your urine before exercising. If your body has ketones, exercise can actually raise your blood sugar rather than lowering it. 

Get Enough Sleep 

You might be surprised to learn that getting enough sleep can improve your blood sugar levels. If you don't get enough sleep, you are at a higher risk of developing high blood sugar and diabetes. Even one night of poor sleep increases your insulin resistance, which typically increases blood sugar levels. 

There are several reasons for this. Sleep deprivation increases cortisol, which in turn increases sugar levels. Poor sleep also decreases insulin sensitivity, which impacts your body's ability to utilize sugar normally. Sleep deprivation also increases c-reactive protein, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which are all linked to increased glucose levels. 

When it comes to sleep and sugar levels, it's not just about getting in 7-9 hours of sleep a night. The stages of sleep and length of time in each stage and the time of day when you sleep also impact your glucose levels.

Dietary Changes 

Dietary changes for lowering blood sugar go far beyond simply reducing your carbohydrate intake. Pairing your carbs with protein and a small amount of healthy fat can help slow blood sugar spikes. Increasing your fiber intake is also helpful, as fiber slows digestion, which also slows the body's breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose. Fiber can also help with portion control, because it makes you feel fuller. 

Bottom Line: Does Water Dilute Sugar in the Body?

Can drinking water lower blood sugar? Yes, with some caveats. It's unclear how much water can lower your sugar levels, or how much you need to drink to see a real impact. 

The best thing to do is to drink an adequate amount of water every day. This will support healthy glucose metabolism, reduce your risk of developing diabetes, and improve your overall health. 

While water may have a small impact on blood sugar immediately, it is not a substitute for insulin or medical treatment, particularly in emergencies. 

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