Diabetes Type and its precursor insulin resistance are looming as a major health threat to both young and old in the 21 st century. Nearly 100 million people are affected worldwide. In children especially, Diabetes 2 has increased by 1000% in the last decade. In the US it is predicted that 1 in 3 children born today will develop Diabetes 2 in their lifetimes! Shocking. Even more shocking is the fact that metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) and Diabetes 2 are entirely preventable lifestyle diseases. They are the tragic consequence of an unwholesome food environment, excess stress and sedentary lifestyles – our modern day reality.
The main cause of metabolic syndrome and Diabetes Type 2 is insulin resistance. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is the body’s way of getting the sugar from the blood to the cells. Insulin resistance develops as a result of long term rising and falling of blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels rise and fall in response to our diets. High glycemic loads, or refined- processed- sugary- starchy foods cause this problem. Dr. Ray Strand, who explains insulin resistance in great and interesting detail in his book “Releasing Fat” says that the extreme rise and fall of one’s blood sugar several times throughout the day and the resultant over stimulation of insulin are at the core of our present day health care crisis. We are eating ourselves sick!
Insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome associated with it, are often accompanied by weight gain, increasing central obesity, fatigue after meals, sugar cravings, high triglycerides, low HDL, high blood pressure, problems with blood clotting and increased inflammation. These conditions make the body vulnerable to a host of different diseases including Diabetes Type 2. Common complications of Diabetes 2 are heart attacks, strokes, amputations in the lower limbs, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes) can increase your risk of developing the above mentioned complications, as does a family history of obesity (especially around the belly), diabetes or early heart disease. Damage begins with even slight changes in insulin and blood sugar levels. So please stop giving your kids and grandchildren soft drinks, chips, doughnuts, sugary cereals and fast foods.
Go to Dr. Hyman’s blog http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/insulin-resistance to read a detailed description of 10 different tests your Dr. can do to detect for signs of pre-diabetes and Diabetes Type 2. Most of us are at risk for developing insulin resistance so early diagnosis is imperative.
Here is a quick summary of 5 tests. NB. Dr. Hyman stays on the low side of test results to encourage early preventive action.
- Insulin glucose challenge test: Blood sugar less than 80 fasting and never above 110 or 120 after one to two hours. Insulin less than 5 fasting and never above 30 after one to two hours. He recommends this test for everyone over 50 and those with any risk of insulin resistance, even children.
- Lipid profiles: An HDL or good cholesterol level under 50 and triglycerides over 100 should make you suspicious of insulin resistance. An HDL under 40 and a triglyceride level over 150 usually means diabetes.
- NMR lipid profile: Identifies the size of your cholesterol particles. With insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes, you develop small LDL and HDL cholesterol particles.
- High sensitivity C-reactive protein: M easures inflammation, one of the classic conditions that is both the cause and result of insulin resistance and diabetes. It should be less than 1. In fact, anyone with a high C-reactive protein has a 1,700 % increased risk of getting diabetes.
- Uric acid should be less than 6. Higher levels indicate problems with insulin resistance. This can lead to gout, which is related to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
Now for the good news: Diabetes 2 and insulin resistance are completely preventable and often reversible (the sooner you act the better) through aggressive lifestyle changes, supplements, exercise and stress management … more on that next issue. Enjoy this wonderful winter.
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