Diabetes and Stress

Warning of diabetes exploding onto the scene. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is at the highest level ever recorded in the United States, with the number of new cases averaging 798,000 each year. In 1997, an estimated 15.7 million Americans had diabetes, nearly 6% of the U.S. population. And more than one third of the cases (5.4 million) are undiagnosed. World wide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in less than 25 years -- by the year 2025 -- the number of people with diabetes mellitus will double from 130 million to 260 million. In general, it is stated that diabetes is caused by lack of or by dysfunction of insulin, a hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas.  Type 1 is known as juvenile Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 2 is known as adult onset non-Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases. Patients with type 2 diabetes often do not respond as well to the hormone insulin whose function is to clear the blood of sugar after a meal and deposits it into cells throughout the body to use as energy. Insulin resistance or Syndrome X is a condition in which the body begins to ignore the hormone's commands, and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes. The cells in many systems basically starve when the insulin function is impaired.

The population is consuming ever-greater amounts of sugar, now 240 lbs per person per year. Eating refined carbohydrates, with pasta as the base of the food pyramid, is an obvious challenge that ultimately fatigues the pancreas, etc. Our culture should be focusing on avoiding all refined carbohydrates but not eliminating all carbohydrates. Refinement does not enhance a food but strips it of nutrients for reasons of shelf life. And the synthetic and/or sugared soft drinks do not satisfy the water need for us to be functionally 60-70% water. The large quantities of refined carbohydrates disrupt digestion, challenge the body's limited supply of vitamins and nutrients while providing empty energy. Sugar and pasta also acidify the system, which will inhibit the recycling of the antioxidant glutathione, the great organ protector. With diabetes, there is a general failure of pancreas, liver, kidney, circulation, nerves, etc. 

Trans Fats, NOT Saturated Fats, Increase Diabetes Risk. Researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition June 2001;73:1001-1002, 1019-1026 report that the type of fat found in cookies, cakes and other processed foods can raise the risk of diabetes, while polyunsaturated fat in certain types of fish and vegetable oils appears to lower the risk. Substituting foods rich in trans fat with those that contain polyunsaturated fat could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by about 40%. Americans consume about 3% of total calories from trans fat, which is produced when liquid fat such as oil is processed in order to make it solid at room temperature. Margarine, for example, is a major source of trans fatty acids. Investigators reviewed medical and dietary data from more than 84,000 women who did not have diabetes, heart disease or cancer when the study began in 1980. Results show that intake of total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat found in nuts, seeds and avocados did not influence diabetes risk. But a 2% increase in calories from trans fatty acids raised the risk by 39% and a 5% increase in calories from polyunsaturated fat lowered the risk by 37%. The message is - do not mess around with trans fats. They are one of the worst things that one could be eating, no matter how good they taste. Fortunately, cleaning up the diet and exercise are the key to eliminating type 2 diabetes in the vast majority of people.

Vaccinations and Diabetes Citations: Classen JB, "The diabetes epidemic and the hepatitis B vaccines," N Z Med J, 109(1030):366 1996 Sep 27 and Classen JB, "Childhood immunization and diabetes mellitus," N Z Med J, 109(1022):195 1996 May 24. (How does a young system overreact?)

"Severe Stress May Cause Graves' Risk", Medical Tribune, January 16, 1992;10. A study by Swedish researchers of 208 patients with Graves' disease, compared to 372 controls, found that people who develop the disorder had 6 times as many stressful life events in the 12 months preceding the diagnosis as people who did not have the disease.  The risk of Graves' disease increased 30% for each negative point on the life-event survey.  (Thyroid seems locked on for prolonged stimulation for emergency energy levels.)

How stress would foster Syndrome X. The normal fight-or-flight response raises sugar levels for immediate muscle and brain function to handle the emergency. This immediacy of shifting of energy away from the endocrine, digestive and immune systems, shutting down digestion, repair, healing, is meant to be temporary in order to save the organism. But it isn't in so many instances. The system does not return to normal function. The raised sugar calls for raised insulin yet the system somehow inactivates this increased sugar lowering insulin because the perceived emergency has not been resolved - A Syndrome X result.

"Syndrome X: Medial Nutrition Therapy," Roberts K, Dunn K, Jean SK, Lardinois CK, Nutr Rev, May 2000;58(5):154-160. Syndrome X presents with a group of symptoms, including dyslipidemia, resistance to insulin, obesity and elevated blood pressure. This syndrome can increase atherogenic risk and contribute to coronary artery disease. Overeating and physical inactivity play a significant role in the development of Syndrome X. According to the CDC, obesity and physical inactivity are also strongly tied to an increased risk of this disease. The Western diet, which is high in fat and refined carbohydrates and low in fiber, can induce insulin resistance and precede other aspects of Syndrome X. Epidemiologic data suggest that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and high-fiber complex carbohydrates is associated with a lower risk of chronic disease. A public health recommendation to increase fat consumption at the expense of dietary carbohydrate in an effort to reduce insulin resistance and prevent Syndrome X is premature. The authors suggest consuming a diet low in refined carbohydrates and high in fiber. Regular physical activity, working stress out of the system, can prevent insulin resistance and help protect against Syndrome X. Consuming alcohol in large quantities suppresses fat oxidation, elevates insulin and free fatty acid concentrations and increases concentrations of substances, such as lactate, that can influence hepatic glucose production. Cigarette smoking appears to be a strong contributor to Syndrome X. Smoking reduces insulin sensitivity. Selected nutrients that may be beneficial in Syndrome X include alpha-lipoic acid, which can improve blood glucose control; arginine, which promotes blood vessel health and improves insulin action; chromium, which improves blood glucose control and insulin action; coenzyme Q10, which reduces elevated blood pressure, improves blood glucose control and improves insulin action, as well as improves blood lipid profiles and reduces oxidative stress; magnesium, which has been shown to reduce blood pressure, improve blood glucose control and improve insulin action; omega-3 fatty acids, which can improve insulin action and improve blood lipid profiles; selenium, which can improve blood glucose control, improve insulin action and reduce oxidative stress; vanadium, which can improve blood glucose control and improve insulin action; vitamin C, which promotes blood vessel health, reduces elevated blood pressure, improves blood glucose control and improves insulin action; and vitamin E, which promotes blood vessel health, improves insulin action and reduces oxidative stress. Arginine may be beneficial as a stimulator of nitric oxide, which is known to mediate insulin's vasodilating effects on the endothelium. Arginine-derived nitric oxide has been shown to enhance nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion. Cover most recommendations with ADHS and Bio-Cardio Paks, or Glucobalance or BioGlycozyme Forte.  

Lithium has insulin-like effects. Dr Min Hu, MD clinically used lithium to treat a patient suffering from both diabetes characterized by severe insulin resistance, and hyperthyroidism, resulted in great success. Experiments in vivo demonstrate that lithium has little effect on insulin secretion, but does have an effect on reduction of insulin resistance. It promotes glucose uptake and glycogenesis in adipocytes and in hepatocytes and inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase gene expression, which can lower the blood glucose. Lithium has some antioxidative effects, which can enhance insulin action in target cells. Lithium increases DNA replication, polyamine content and insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells in rats. Diabetes Mellitus & Lithium, Clin Pearl,Dec00. Consider Li-Zyme Forte.

Polymyalgia rheumatoid arthritis (PMR) affected by intestinal health. An 84 year old patient's PMR number was 22 and recently kept creeping up one to two numbers a month on her monthly blood draw. Normal range is 0-12. It had begun six years prior after an episode with pneumonia and a reaction to antibiotics. She then had shingles and severe muscle aches identified as PMR. Her medical doctor believed that while cortisone to be the only thing that would work, couldn't proceed because of low bone density. On recommendation in a phone consult with us to treat it like leaky gut syndrome (Nutri Clear, Livotrit Plus, Beta TCP, and MCS), in only three weeks her number dropped from 22 to 12. She is amazed and her chiropractor, Dr John O'Shany, is pleased. She is continuing for 90 days at the current level at which time she can lower to a maintenance level. Lactozyme (DDS-1) would be beneficial also.