Atkins and Diabetes
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Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans, children and adults alike. There are two major types of diabetes. Type I is a result of the body’s inability to produce insulin, a hormone that allows the body to convert sugars, starches and other food into energy. Type 2 is associated with insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. Unfortunately, most Americans are on the road to this type of diabetes due to a diet of highly-processed, rich foods. However, there are simple detours one can take to manage, delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes.
To begin with, Type II diabetes is a disease that is a direct result of insulin resistance. This means that the body can no longer produce sufficient insulin to lower blood sugar levels. In youth, our bodies were able to digest and metabolize food more efficiently. A then-healthy pancreas worked to produce and release adequate amounts of insulin, no matter how many carbohydrates or sugar we ate. Of course, there may have been other consequences of unhealthy eating habits such as weight gain or mood swings but it didn’t matter that much at the time.
We are able to more readily digest these foods as children, because our bodies function more efficiently in our youth. There may have been side effects, like weight gain and mood swings, but they didn’t stand out. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more prevalent. The nation-wide obesity epidemic is a result of high-carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels.
Many people who are overweight are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas gets over worked and it releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This results in the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.
In addition, as we age insulin resistance becomes more pronounced and aggravated. Long term damage can occur to the heart and circulatory systems even in the pre-diabetes stage. There are warning signs and tests that can be performed by a family doctor to determine if you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes. In most cases, gaining control of your blood sugar levels is the first step in effectively preventing or delaying the onset. Studies show that low-carb diets such as the Atkins can help an individual achieve stable blood-sugar levels by decreasing the spike and valley pattern.
In the Atkins diet, proteins are emphasized more in the plan. Proteins have little affect on blood-sugar levels. Therefore they help maintain a more steady balance in the body’s system. Low-glycemic index carbohydrates are incorporated as an energy source. While these still raise blood-sugar levels, it is at a much slower rate than highly processed, refined sugar and carbohydrates.
The Atkins diet directs a person through three stages that will allow them to regain control of their blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and weight problems. These include the Introductory Stage, Ongoing Weight-loss Stage, and the Pre-maintenance/Maintenance Stage. Good carbohydrates or low-glycemic index carbs are used to supplement the program and provide energy to the individual. The result is a manageable, healthy eating plan that does not lead Americans to obesity or other serious health risks.
Your body will work the way it was designed to. Who wouldn’t want that?
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