Finding an Even Keel

Finding an even keel

by Errol Lester, Vice President of The AIM Companies™

Balancing sugar and insulin levels is necessary in preventing diabetes

The body gets the energy it needs to function from the metabolism of blood sugar (glucose). Blood sugar is created during the digestion of foods and is taken into the blood from the intestines. After a meal, blood sugar levels rise sharply. The pancreas responds by releasing enough insulin, a hormone, to escort all the newly added sugar into cells where it can be used. Insulin bonds to receptor sites on the outside of muscle cells and other tissues and acts like a key to open a doorway into the cells through which the sugar can enter. When insulin is active, blood sugar levels fall. Excess blood sugar is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen and is converted to blood sugar and released as needed for energy. When the pancreas does not release enough insulin or when the cells do not accept it, blood sugar levels rise, resulting in a condition called diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes

The two most common types of diabetes are Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, most often occurs in children and young adults. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) claims that Type I diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of diabetes. Type II diabetes, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes, most often develops in overweight adults. It is the most common form of the disease. The ADA indicates that Type II diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of diabetes. It is also more common in people of Native American, Hispanic, and African-American descent.

The ADA also estimates that approximately 14 million Americans under the age of 50 (about 5 percent of the population) have diabetes. This number increases to 10 to 15 percent in those over 50. Unfortunately, as many as one-half of them are unaware that they have it.

The symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, fatigue, excessive thirst, weight loss, and increased appetite. If left untreated, it can damage or cause failure of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels, and other body organs.

Lifestyle habits

Sometimes called age-onset or adult-onset diabetes, Type II diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions due to an increased number of older Americans and a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

The typical American diet is one high in fats, refined sugars, and animal products, and low in fiber, fruits, and vegetables. When we eat simple carbohydrates, we receive a quick, intense but short-lived burst of energy due to the increase in blood sugar. This causes a large burst of insulin to enter the bloodstream. When insulin removes blood sugar from the bloodstream, the body believes that the energy is gone and that we need to eat and we feel hungry again. The result is a cycle of intense energy as blood sugar rises, a letdown as insulin is released, and then a feeling of hunger again. The amount of insulin needed to remove blood sugar and the intensity of the cycle can result in inefficiency in the system and lead to diabetes.

Preventive measures

Balancing sugar and insulin levels is necessary in preventing diabetes. While insulin tablets and injections are used in more severe cases, diet and moderate exercise can often support healthy blood sugar levels in those with mild, early, or late onset of the disease.

If we eat smaller amounts of food that are less carbohydrate-heavy throughout the day instead of the larger meals we are accustomed to, we will not experience energy ups and downs and will have energy all day.

Missing meals is just as detrimental as eating big meals. When we consistently skip meals, the body becomes accustomed to storing energy so that it has it for later when it thinks it will need it. This energy eventually becomes fat. Overweight or obesity is a risk factor for diabetes.

The body has a phenomenal capacity to adjust to its situation. However, over time, these adjustments become routine. When the body doesn’t operate the way it was meant to, problems such as diabetes arise. The good news is that just as the body can learn “bad” habits or ways of dealing with its situation, it can relearn the way it was meant to operate. Many Type II diabetics will experience benefits from weight loss, usually achieved through better nutrition and moderate exercise.

In one study, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that moderate exercise helped reduce the risk of developing Type II diabetes in those who are most at risk. By walking 30 minutes per day and losing 15 pounds, high-risk study participants were able to reduce their odds of developing Type II diabetes by 58 percent. Researchers in the NIH study chose participants whose glucose tests revealed that they were already improperly processing blood sugar. Those participants who exercised moderately for 150 minutes per week and lost 5 to 7 percent of their weight successfully prevented the onset of diabetes for at least 3 years.

AIM products

AIM GlucoChrom™ is specifically developed to provide strong nutritional support for healthy blood sugar management. It is the ideal product for those seeking to maintain their good health and to support the natural blood sugar balance of the body.

Copyright © AIM International, Inc. Used with permission.