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Disease Profile: Diabetes mellitus (type 2)
Description: One of the fastest growing
diseases in the western world, the condition of diabetes type 2 occurs
when the body’s cells
become resistant to the pancreatic hormone
insulin, resulting in sugars not becoming oxidised to produce energy. Symptoms
include
thirst, loss of weight and the excessive
production of urine. Hyperglycaemia, or an over-accumulation of glucose
in the blood
(unregulated by insulin), can lead to
diabetic coma.
Phillip Day: Sugars contained in natural,
whole foods are easily metabolised by the body. Nature has ensured that
fructose, for
instance, obtained when we consume fruits,
has the necessary vitamins and minerals accompanying it to allow this type
of simple
monosaccharide sugar to enter the bloodstream
and become directly metabolised by our bodies for energy. Vitamins and
minerals,
which accompany fructose, are essential
for these complete assimilation and conversion processes to occur.
The problems with diabetes can begin with
how our bodies process foods that break down into another vital sugar –
glucose.
Refined sugar, or sucrose, hydrolyses
into glucose and fructose after consumption. Fructose, as previously mentioned,
is metabolised
directly to produce energy. Abrupt intakes
of glucose into the bloodstream however provoke a massive secretion of
insulin, the
pancreatic hormone responsible for regulating
blood sugar levels and storing excess glucose as fat. The result of this
over-production of insulin is a sudden
drop in blood sugar, which, as I discuss in The Mind Game, can bring on
mood changes and
behavioural upsets.
Now we have low blood sugar, we can get
that wobbly sensation and become growly. What are we craving? Sugar! So,
in go the
doughnuts, Twinkies, Ding-Dongs and Bear
Claws; up go the blood sugar levels again; out squirts all that insulin
to regulate the
glucose, and down come those blood sugar
levels again with a thump. This spiky, chaotic pattern of blood sugar in
the body will
eventually cause our cells to become resistant
to all that insulin, resulting in the condition of type 2 diabetes.
Sucrose and massive insulin secretions
have long been known to cause type 2 diabetes. This condition usually occurs
in adults, who
have had years of food abuse to render
their cells insulin-resistant. Type 2 can be controlled with a combination
of diet and exercise.
People with the condition not only lose
their sensitivity to insulin, which regulates the build-up of blood sugar,
but this repeated
overload of insulin and glucose can lead
to an increase in systolic blood pressure, fainting and diabetic coma.
Excessive consumption of refined, high-glycaemic
carbohydrates, including items like white bread, white flour, chocolate,
sweets,
pastries, white rice, breakfast cereals,
as well as alcohol drinks, especially wine and beer, will all yield excessive
sugars into the
bloodstream with the predictable, aforementioned
insulin effects.
Another problem is physical and emotional
stress. This triggers what is known as Fight or Flight Syndrome. When we
become
agitated, stressed or physically threatened,
the body prepares for combat or flight by generating powerful shots of
adrenalin. This
provokes the releasing of stored glucose
into the bloodstream for energy to fuel explosive physical action. This
in turn causes a surge
of insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
Notice how, in previous eras, the Fight/Flight response would resolve itself
with explosive
physical action (either Fight or Flight!),
which in turn would burn up the sugars.
What about today? When we are stressed
with money, relationships, hardships or work pressures, or simply getting
our kicks
watching the FA Cup or playing video games,
this Fight/Flight response still occurs and may endure for days or weeks.
Consequently, the amount of insulin produced
by the pancreas in today’s stressful sugar-laden environment is substantially
higher.
This excess energy does not tend to discharge
itself through physical action. The results of this insulin response also
can be diabetes.
Dr Joseph Mercola clarifies type 2 diabetes:
“The overall concept of insulin for Type
2 diabetes is absurd and makes absolutely no sense if one understands the
way the body
is designed to work. However, since nearly
all traditional physicians don't comprehend basic human physiology with
respect to
diet and health, it is not surprising
that they could come up with the prescription for disaster of giving someone
who is already
overloaded with insulin more of what caused
the problem.
The main reason most adult onset (type
2) diabetics have diabetes is that they have too much insulin. This is
usually a result of
having too many grains. The solution in
nearly all of these individuals is to consume a proper low grain [gluten]
diet and to
exercise one hour per day.” (www.mercola.com)
Those with type 2 diabetes would do well
to change their diets to incorporate high-fibre vegetables, pulses, legumes
and nuts,
avoiding traditional western processed
foods (processed meats and dairy products), especially the high-glycaemic
carbohydrates,
such as grain products, bread, pasta,
pastries, alcohol (beer and wine) and excessive amounts of potatoes, all
of which yield glucose
as they break down. Water only should
be drunk – 4 pints or two litres a day. Small amounts of low-glycaemic
fruits, such as pears
and apples are OK, along with their seeds.
For the full facts on diabetes, how to
avoid it, and what to do if you have it, please obtain the following resources
from the
Credence global bookstore:
Health Wars
Food for Thought
The Mind Game
www.credence.org
or call your local office:
Credence UK & HQ: (01622) 832386
Credence EU: +44 1622 832386
Credence Ireland: (053) 58107
Credence USA: (208) 524 1571
Credence Australia: (03) 5762 1299
Credence New Zealand (09) 575 7071
Credence Singapore/Malaysia: (02) 6336
7987
Credence Germany: (089) 17095483
Credence India: (011) 4629083/4655418
Credence Other Zones: +44 1622 832386
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