articles@ultrawellness.com.
Best regards
Mark Hyman MD
http://www.ultrawellness.com
Reverse Diabetes by Understanding the Causes of Insulin Resistance
Think diabetes is irreversible?
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Despite what the medical establishment tells you, you can
reverse diabetes -- without insulin or medication.
Today, I'd like to tell you about a new way of viewing --
and treating -- diabetes.
First, though, you need to understand why diabetes is such
a problem.
A Growing Epidemic
The disease has reached epidemic proportions: Type 2
diabetes (formerly called adult onset diabetes) now affects
nearly 100 million people worldwide, 20 million of which
are Americans.
And it's on the rise -- especially in kids. One in three
children born today will have diabetes in their lifetime.
That's because the path to diabetes starts very early.
The culprit is insulin.
When you eat a lot of sugar and other refined carbohydrates
like bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes, your body eventually
becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. It requires
more and more insulin to keep your blood sugar balanced.
High insulin levels increase your appetite -- and your
belly fat.
High levels of insulin can occur decades before you're
diagnosed with diabetes. They are warning signs of this
condition.
So are the other symptoms of insulin resistance, like belly
fat, sugar cravings, feeling tired after meals, high blood
pressure and triglycerides, and inflammation.
A family history of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and
even dementia can increase your chances of developing
insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.
And pre-diabetes is just as bad as full-blown diabetes. It,
too, can cause heart attacks, strokes, dementia, cancer,
and impotence.
So why is diabetes on the rise?
The answer is as close as the food on your plate.
Our bodies were meant to consume a diet that's high in
nutrients, fiber, and omega-3 fats and low in sugar. So
when we eat unhealthy foods -- like sugar, trans fats,
white flour, and processed foods -- we activate genes that
promote diabetes.
Yet type 2 diabetes is almost totally preventable. In fact,
in one major study, Harvard researchers found that
lifestyle and diet changes could prevent more than 90
percent of all type 2 diabetes cases.
Early Diagnosis is Key
Diagnosing type 2 diabetes early is crucial to its
management and reversal.
Because damage to the body can occur with even small
changes in insulin and blood sugar, doctors should diagnose
pre-diabetes as soon as possible.
The proof is in the research. One recent study found that
people whose fasting blood sugar was higher than 87 were at
increased risk of diabetes.
Yet most doctors don't worry until the blood sugar is over
110 -- or worse, over 126, which is diabetes.
Instead, I recommend early testing with anyone who has a
family history of type 2 diabetes, belly fat, or abnormal
cholesterol -- regardless of your blood sugar level.
Ask your doctor for these tests:
1. Insulin glucose challenge test with 2-hour glucose
challenge, 75 grams measuring fasting, 1 and 2 hour blood
sugar AND insulin.
Your blood sugar should be less than 80 fasting and never
rise above 110 or 120 after one to two hours. Your insulin
should be less than 5 fasting and should never rise above
30 after one to two hours.
I recommend this test for everyone over 50, and for anyone
with any risk of insulin resistance, even children.
2. The hemoglobin A1C is an important measure of glycated
hemoglobin, which can be an early indicator of sugar
problems. It should ideally be less than 5.5. Anything
over 6 is considered diabetes.
3. Lipid profiles are important. An HDL under 40 and a
triglyceride level over 150 usually means diabetes.
4. An NMR lipid profile identifies the size of your
cholesterol particles.
5. High sensitivity C-reactive protein is a measure of
inflammation, which is both a cause and result of insulin
resistance and diabetes. It should be less than 1.
6. Homocysteine is often abnormal in people with diabetes.
It should be between 6 and 8.
7. Fibrinogen measures your risk of clotting and is
associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. It should
be less than 300.
8. Ferritin is a nonspecific marker of inflammation
associated with diabetes. It should be less than 150.
9. Uric acid should be less than 6. Higher levels indicate
problems with insulin resistance.
10. Elevated liver function tests result from insulin
resistance.
These are tests any doctor can perform and are covered by
insurance. If you're at risk for diabetes, I urge you to
get tested.
----------------------------------------------------
Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional medicine,
practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak
preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available.
See The UltraWellness Blog for more on Testing for Insulin
Resistance:
http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/insulin-resistance
