Saturday, December 20, 2008

Diet Resources - Atkins and Diabetes

By Jonas Milkei

The Atkins diet principles lay the foundation for a healthy, more balanced way of eating the standard American diet. His emphasis is on the proper use of carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat every day. The average American eats many processed foods that have been hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates. This has put most Americans on the path to diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions. What is sad is that diabetes is a series of predictable stages and can be easily recognized.

The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index with regards to the level of insulin reaction they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

We are able to assimilate more easily these foods as children, and our bodies function more effectively in our youth. There may have been secondary effects such as weight gain and mood swings, but not highlighted. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more frequent. The nation-wide epidemic of obesity is the result of a diet high in carbohydrates and instability in the levels of blood sugar.

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.

With age, blood sugar and insulin more difficulties compounded. The condition is called "hyperinsulinism" and is a precursor of type II diabetes. It is usually accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides. After years of using a high-carbohydrate diet, you are finally in full diabetics. Insulin is the principal organ of the fat and creator pounds usually accompany late-onset diabetes. Conditions of pre-diabetics, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

However, there are easily identifiable signs of diabetes that appears earlier. Your family doctor can perform tests insulin levels that will let you know if you are at risk for pre-diabetes conditions, and studies show that low-carbohydrate diets, such as Atkins can help. Controlling your blood sugar is one of the most effective ways to monitor the conditions pre-diabetics.

The Atkins diet helps effectively control blood sugar. The combination of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates will keep your body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity as well as type will help limit the insulin spikes. This will let your pancreas work in the way that it was meant to be, and it will decrease the likelihood of your developing pre-diabetic conditions. It's a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively it produces stable blood sugar throughout the day and helps you stay off the road to diabetes. - 15255

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