A serious post. Blood sugar, insulin, and diabesity
We don’t kick it on the serious tip over here very often but occasionally we like to dabble in it. Today I just want to touch on a quick issue that troubles millions of people every day. Hopefully, a few of the tips will come in handy. If any of you have any comments or tips for the readers, please do not be afraid to share. Especially if you are a Doctor and thus much smarter than me.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where your body cannot produce or use the proper amount of insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. According to Medline Plus, insulin is produced in the pancreas and responsible for moving glucose (a type of sugar used for fuel) to the muscles and organs; where it is used for energy. There are three different types of diabetes; including:
Type 1 diabetes, which results in a failure of our bodies to produce insulin, resulting in the need to supply the body with insulin through daily injections.
Type 2 diabetes, which results in the cells in our body not being able to use insulin properly; this type is often associated with obesity.
Type 3, or gestational diabetes, can occur in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before.
Diabetes is a growing health issue for Americans, with over 20 million people being affected by the disease; type 2 is the most common type.
Your blood sugar usually stays within a normal range and assists in the operation of several organs and hormones. Diabetes may cause your body to produce too much or too little blood sugar. Too much blood sugar is called hyperglycemia and is characterized by extreme thirst, frequent urination, confusion, and weight loss.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, include headaches, dizziness, sweating, trembling, slurred speech, and heart palpitations. It is important to note that hypoglycemia can be life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Usually, juice, honey, or sugar can quickly correct mild hypoglycemic conditions.
Your blood sugar level also affects why you feel hungry, energetic, or tired; it also determines whether our bodies burn fat or store it. A surge of insulin can cause too much blood sugar to be taken out of our blood, letting our insulin levels drop. When this happens our bodies crave something containing high sugar content.
Regulating your blood sugar is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Making healthy eating choices and eating healthy, high fiber snacks is a great way to keep it under control. Try a few of these options.
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Handful of nuts
- Beef jerky
- Celery and almond butter
- Apple and almond butter
This helps keep your blood sugar level consistent and takes away that feeling of hunger.
Focusing on lean meats, vegetables, and healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and olive oil is an excellent option when trying to control your blood sugar throughout the day. One tip is to try a meat and nut breakfast. This will stabilize your blood sugar for an extremely long time while at the same time reducing appetite throughout the day. Try these breakfast options.
- Salmon and a handful of cashews
- Turkey burger and a handful of macadamia nuts
- 2-3 whole eggs and a handful of pistachios
Insulin resistance
Specific genes, smoking, stress, high-temperature cooking, age, low birth weight, excess weight, and lack of physical exercise are some of the many conditions that can least to insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity. (Link)
Some people’s bodies develop a resistance to insulin, or the pancreas stops producing insulin altogether.
Insulin allows glucose to enter and provide energy to your cells. The Mayo Clinic reports the more fat cells you have, the higher your risk of developing type 2 diabetes; your risk also increases when fat is stored in the hips and waist. People with type 2 diabetes may have to take insulin if their diabetes is not controlled. Insulin helps our blood sugar levels by moving glucose into our body’s cells. Our bodies use glucose for energy.
A healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular physical activity are important when managing type 2 diabetes; they may even reduce, or even alleviate the need for insulin shots and other medication.
Diabetes affects millions and is a great strain on our health care system. However, research is demonstrating that a healthy diet, healthy weight, and regular physical activity can reduce and even prevent diabetes in people of all ages.
Has diabetes, obesity, or any other ailments from poor nutrition affected you or your loved ones?