Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Diet Tips - 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 what is called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are quoted on the index with regard to the degree of response of the insulin they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce large amounts of glucose). Carbohydrates and refined sugars which make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

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 resistant to insulin. Insulin resistance means that insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood. The pancreas is working and that releases large amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times higher than the body really needs. This translates into the blood sugar to fall to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the problem blood sugar.

With age, blood glucose and insulin more difficulties worsened. The condition is known as "hyperinsulinism" and is a precursor to type II diabetes. It is usually accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides. After years of using a diet rich in carbohydrates, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the principal organ of fat and pounds usually accompany creator too late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

However, there are warning signs easily identifiable with diabetes appearing early. Your family doctor can perform tests insulin levels that will allow you to know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic conditions, and studies show that a diet low in carbohydrates like Atkins can help. Controlling blood sugar is one of the most effective methods for the control of pre-diabetic conditions.

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. - 16463

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