LifeCare Chiropractic

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insulin

MODULATION OF BETA CELL FUNCTION AND INSULIN SENSITIVITY (05-25-09)

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Distinctive postprandial modulation of ß cell function and insulin sensitivity by dietary fats

Preserving and improving beta cell function is arguably one of the more important things we can focus on, diabetic or not. As beta cell function drops, the likelihood of diabetes and insulin dependent diabetes, goes up. So anything we can do to improve beta cell function is a goal.

In this particular study, the authors determined that, as a patient moved from a poor quality fat diet (more saturated) to a more monounsaturated diet, their beta cell function improved. Combine this with exercise, no refined carbs and a high phytonutrient diet and our body’s handling of glucose can only improve.

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DAMAGING EFFECTS OF THE CLASS SULFONYLUREAS (05-04-09)

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Differential effect of sulfonylureas on production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in cultured pancreatic ß-cell line, MIN6

This is not the first study to find damaging effects of the class sulfonylureas on the beta cells of the pancreas. The information has probably been known for at least 5 years now, and yet this class of drugs for diabetes is widely used. How many diabetics were informed that the drug their doctor gave them will ultimately increase the risk for them to be on insulin? I can’t say I’ve ever come across one in my office or in the community. All of this points to the overwhelming conclusion that lifestyle changes are the ONLY answer to managing this deadly condition. Every pharmaceutical approach has risks that can outweigh the benefits. This is NOT the case with lifestyle changes.

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DO ANTIBIOTICS CONTRIBUTE TO TYPE 1 DIABETES?

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DO ANTIBIOTICS CONTRIBUTE TO TYPE 1 DIABETES?  The answer is likely yes.  We know that dairy may greatly contribute to destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas that are supposed to produce the insulin.  But what about antibiotic use killing off the normal, protective flora that help to balance the immune system, leading to autoimmune conditions like Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s dz and ulcerative colitis?

This article talks about using bacteria as an “immunization” to prevent Type 1 DM, but what if they aren’t killed off in the first place?  Then, we have to look at C-section babies, who don’t have the normal flora.  THEN, we have to assume that mom hasn’t used antibiotics w/o following up with probiotics, THEN we have to assume that mom was breastfeeding, which contributes to the proliferation of Bifido species of bacteria in the newborn’s gut….Seems like a long list, but this is the way babies were SUPPOSED to be brought into this world!!

Read entire article here.

ARE YOUR TRIGLYCERIDES ELEVATED?

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Triglycerides elevated? Statins AREN’T the answer. Time and time and time again I see patients come into my office that have been given a statin (Lipitor, Crestor, etc..) for their cholesterol. However, while most know their cholesterol numbers, few know their triglycerides. If the triglycerides are elevated and HDL (good) cholesterol is low, there is a very, very good chance you’re pre-diabetic.  And guess what? That drug will make your numbers look better, but will do ZIP to change your progression to diabetes.  Tens of billions of dollars per year and it ain’t fixing the problem…

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES TO REDUCE MEDICATION

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ATTN DIABETICS: DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DOCTOR’S GOAL IS FOR YOUR CARE?  Well, according to this overview, the goal of therapy should be to delay disease progression and eventual treatment failure.  Wow!!  Where do I sign up for such an opptomistic treatment plan?  How about reduced reliance on medication to eventual withdrawal from medication?

Really..if patients are willing to make the right choices, diabetes is not difficult to manage at all.  Exercise (which has to include strength training), no refined carbs, no artificial sweeteners (at ALL), shift from bad fat to good, high phytonutrient / low calorie, avoidance of chemicals like BPA in plastics and the use of supplements like niacin and fish oils if still needed.

In contrast, this article discusses how many things go wrong with diabetes and that we need to find new drugs to fix these problems.  Sure.  More band aids sounds like a great approach instead of improving the relationship between insulin and the cell.

DOES INSULIN USE IN DIABETES INCREASE RISK OF DEATH?

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Insulin kills? Recent study found increase in risk of death the more insulin a diabetic needs.  In my personal opinion from my experiences with patients, if someone follows the medical model they will never improve-it will be a slow decline to worsening control of glucose.

The ONLY way to properly manage diabetes is through aggressive lifestyle changes. Exercise (and NOT just walking), absolutely no artificial sweeteners, no refined carbs, minimize omega 6 fats, increase omega 3 fats, low calorie / high phytonutrient intake. We have seen aggressive lifestyle interventions in studies getting pts off insulin in 2 wks. It CAN be done.

Read entire article here

 

DIABETIC DRUGS LEAD TO CANCER

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Quite the shocking headline? Unfortunately, it’s true. There was only one diabetic medication that did not increase the risk of cancer.

First of all, let me reiterate just how incredibly dangerous the diabetic AND prediabetic states are for human physiology. There is arguable nothing more damaging to our health, even cigarette smoking. Yes–more dangerous than smoking. Of course, a smoker who is prediabetic or diabetic ought to just make sure they have their affairs in order.

The diabetic state is one that we constantly fight against. In reality, it is our protection against starvation and hardship. Sound strange? It is, looking at today’s society, where calories are in abundance and there is no metabolic cost to get them (compare walking to the fridge vs hunting a boar for days…). With the exception of the past 100 years or so, starvation was the norm. Our bodies are extremely well developed at surviving adversity, so we do well with this scenario.

This also smashes the “bad genes” concept. Those most prone to diabetes actually have the toughest genes–genes designed to store calories for a rainy day. But that rainy day never comes in today’s society because lots and lots of poor quality calories are found everywhere.

So back to this particular article. Based on increasingly strong links between diabetes and many types of cancer, the researchers looked at how much diabetic medications may be contributing.

Certainly, diabetes itself and the elevated insulin that accompanies it will increase the risk of cancer. Insulin is a proliferative hormone and causes cells to divide more. More cell division increases the risk of an error. An error may lead to cancer. You get the picture.

Diabetic medications, with the exception of metformin, doubled the risk of being diagnosed with cancer. If one of these diabetics that got cancer was on insulin, their risk of dying was 400% greater.

For anyone that thinks that diabetic drugs are lifesavers needs to read this article. The ONLY thing that is a lifesaver is to make the appropriate anti-diabetic lifestyle changes such as..

The list is actually quite endless.

However, for those of you thinking that maybe metformin doesn’t look to bad after reading this study needs to look at the cost comparison between lifestyle changes ($1100) and metformin ($31,300). Again, lifestyle wins hands down.

COMBINING THESE TWO FACTORS DOUBLES PANCREATIC CANCER RISK

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I think few would disagree that pancreatic cancer is one of the more devastating cancers someone can be diagnosed with. 5 year survival rates are virtually unheard of. Because treatment is so dismal, prevention becomes critical.

The research continues to support the relationship between pro-diabetic lifestyles and pancreatic cancer. This particular study further supports this relationship, but looks at it a little more in depth.

A diet that is full of refined carbs (high fructose corn syrup, enriched wheat flour, sugar) is known to increase the body’s insulin response. This is very consistent with a pro-diabetic lifestyle.

The researchers looked at the insulin load of the diets of the study subjects combined with the caloric intake, creating what they called the insulin index. The insulin index was not related to pancreatic cancer at first look.

However, when they looked at the patients who were both obese and inactive, the insulin index now doubled the risk of pancreatic cancer. Doubled as a result of the lifestyles that these patients had adopted. Given that the rates of pancreatic cancer have been increasing with the Westernized lifestyle, any increase in risk is a bad thing.

Bottom line is to adopt an anti-diabetic lifestyle without refined carbs, hydrogenated oils, processed foods and environmental chemicals (like phthalates, BPA and flame retardants) while increasing our activity levels as well as our intake of fruits and veggies, omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains in the context of a high phytonutrient, low calorie diet.

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