By Debbie Haikal, The Common Sense R.N.
One in four Americans has Insulin Resistance. Insulin Resistance, also known as Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome X, and Pre-diabetes, is a precursor to diseases including PCOS, low thyroid, obesity, and hormone imbalances which affect the quality of your life. Most people don’t realize that Insulin Resistance causes several complex disease processes decades before you get diabetes, such as high cholesterol, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Damage to our bodies begins with even the slightest irregularities in insulin and blood sugar.
Some symptoms of Insulin Resistance are: fatigue, sugar cravings, inability to lose weight, inappropriate hunger, migrating aches and pains, and fatigue after meals. Surprisingly, 28% of adult patients with Insulin Resistance are within normal weight parameters. Many people with Insulin Resistance never get diabetes; however, the health risks are still severe.
I have heard Dr. Peterson use this simple analogy hundreds of times. “Your body’s cells need glucose for energy, growth, and repair. There is an insulin receptor site on every cell in your body. Let’s pretend the cell is like an old fashioned padlock. Insulin is the key that allows glucose through the receptor site and into the cell. If inflammation and oxidative stress create rust on the lock, the key (insulin) cannot fit and glucose is not allowed in. The cell will send signals that say ‘help! I need glucose for energy’. As a result, we crave carbohydrates and the body makes more insulin. Meanwhile, all of that unused glucose builds in your blood stream raising blood sugar levels. It is a vicious cycle.”
Every year more than 10% of pre-diabetics progress to a diagnosable diabetic disease category. Adult onset Diabetes (Diabetes Type 2) is when the body does not utilize or respond properly to the hormone insulin resulting in chronic to severe disease processes. We know the longer you live with Diabetes, the shorter you live. We know Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes is almost completely preventable and often reversible through aggressive lifestyle changes, supplements, exercise, and stress management.
What about children? Type 2 Diabetes has increased 1000% in children in the last decade. “Know any preschoolers? Cute aren’t they? Current research indicates that more than a third of those kids well get Diabetes in their lifetime, and their lifetimes will be a lot shorter because of it… Experts estimate a loss of 18 years can be expected.” Caroline Cederquist, M.D.
What are the keys to metabolic health? Take control! 1) Nutrition. Eat to balance your blood glucose levels. 2) Exercise. 3) Nutritional supplements to support the pancreas, liver detoxification, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. 4) Stress management. Avoid foods that are adrenal stimulants. These four keys to health are the foundation of Functional Medicine & Functional Endocrinology practiced at Wellness Alternatives.
I feel the medical community must aggressively diagnose and treat Insulin Resistance decades before diabetes occurs and chronic damage is done to your body. Our team at Wellness Alternatives specializes in Functional Medicine and managing health issues related to the ill effects of stress, hormone dysregulation, improper nutrition, and sedentary lifestyle.
For more information about reversing Insulin Resistance and controlling the quality of your life, call 636.227.4949 or see our website stlwa.com.