Type II Diabetes Basics

An overworked pancreas produces insufficient insulin allowing toxic levels of sugar to build up in the blood stream. by Dr. Eva Pietrowski D.O.

One hundred years ago, type II diabetes was the 100th most common disease. Today it is the 3rd most common disease. Diabetes is truly a modern disease, caused by unnaturally refined foods, lack of exercise, a poor understanding of nutrition and some genetic factors. The good news is that diabetes is preventable and manageable through diet and exercise.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Glucose, a sugar, is the body's source of energy. It is obtained directly through food or through conversion from compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. For the body to function properly, blood glucose levels must be kept within a narrow range. This is achieved by a number of organs through hormones they produce.

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. In diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cells cannot utilize insulin properly. As a result, blood glucose levels can rise and fall dramatically causing severe short term and long term problems.

High blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, causes severe damage to the body in the long run. High blood sugar impairs the immune system, which leaves diabetics more vulnerable to infection. It also leads to nerve damage and blood vessel damage. These problems can result in blindness and amputation of extremities. High blood sugar can cause increased arterial fat, blood vessel clotting, and high blood pressure - all causes of heart disease. Kidney disease, which affects 30-40% of Type II diabetics, is also caused by hyperglycemia.

Low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia, can cause neurological impairment, coma and even death.

In order to maintain proper blood sugar levels, diabetics may have to test their blood sugar with a monitor several times a day, and obtain insulin through shots or pills. They must also watch carefully what they eat and should exercise regularly.

Among the many causes of type 2 diabetes, such as genetic and environmental factors, the most important cause is the large amount of refined carbohydrates in the average modern diet. Many carbohydrates in their natural state are "complex" meaning that they are made of hundreds or thousands of bonded glucose molecules. These complex molecules are broken apart into individual glucose molecules by enzymes in the digestive system so that they can be absorbed into the blood stream.

Refined carbohydrates, found in foods such as white bread, pasta, cookies, candy, and soda, have been mechanically and chemically broken down from their natural state into simpler carbohydrates. The sugar in these simpler carbs is more quickly absorbed into the blood stream, which causes an unnatural and rapid increase in blood sugar levels. The pancreas reacts to this by rapidly producing high levels of insulin, which lowers the blood sugar levels.

Over time this puts a strain on the pancreas and causes it to no longer function properly. In addition, the cells of the body, which use insulin in the absorption of sugar, become desensitized to insulin and require more insulin. This is known as insulin resistance. These strains eventually lead to diabetes, an irreversible, but manageable, condition in which the body cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Foods that cause a rapid increase in blood sugar, such as soda and sweets, cause a rapid release of insulin. The insulin takes part in the process of converting the excess sugar, which is toxic, into fat. As your body consumes and expends energy, blood sugar levels drop over time. The stored excess fat is not easily converted back to sugar. This causes hunger and perpetuates a cycle of weight gain.

Being overweight, specifically having a large amount of abdominal fat, is one of the greatest risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart dieses and is a symptom of insulin resistance. This visceral fat is not underneath the skin, but under the muscles and surrounding the abdominal organs.

Type 2 Diabetes is preventable. Even people who are genetically predisposed to getting diabetes can avoid it through exercise and a healthy diet. The most important thing anyone can do to prevent diabetes is to cut out simple carbohydrates from his or her diet. Carbohydrates should be obtained mostly from fruits and vegetables such as beans. Only dense stoned ground whole grain bread should be consumed. It is also healthier to eat five or six small meals a day instead of the standard three. This is a "manual" way to control blood sugar levels and takes some of the stress off the pancreas.

Exercise is equally important in preventing diabetes. Regular exercise is known to reverse insulin resistance with time. Regular exercise also increases your metabolic rate, which helps you burn more calories (use up blood sugar) even when you’re not exercising. Regular exercise will help burn fat, which contributes to insulin resistance. The lifestyle changes made to help prevent or control type 2 diabetes are of benefit to all people.

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