A spoon full of insulin makes the sugar go down

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into the cells where it is either used for energy or stored. In Type 1 Diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin while in Type 2 Diabetes, the body can’t effectively use the insulin it does make.

Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, muscle tissue and other organs. 

Pre-diabetes occurs when the blood sugar is higher than normal, but is not high enough for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. 

Diabetic Symptoms:

• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• frequent urination
• blurry vision
• extreme fatigue
• sores that don’t heal 

Different types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes

is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made.

Functional and Lifestyle Medicine is making huge strides in both the management and reversal of auto-immune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes.

The massive global rise in Type 2 diabetes can be attributed mainly to increased body fat (obesity) and inactivity. Nutrition, body weight and exercise are key in treating and preventing type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin (insulin resistant), and sugar builds up in the blood as a secondary consequence. Insulin resistance occurs when insulin is unable to unlock the receptor site on the cells in order for sugar to move from the blood into the cells where it is needed. Many people mistakenly think that only diets high in refined sugar are the cause of Type 2 diabetes. However, it is now understood that diets higher in omega 6 or inflammatory hydrogenated and transfats damage the insulin receptor sites on the cells, causing a rise in blood sugar.

In the past three decades, total fat intake, particularly saturated fat, as a percentage of total calories has continuously increased in Western diets. The intake of omega-6 fatty acid has significantly increased while omega-3 intake has decreased, resulting in a large increase in the omega-6/omega-3 ratio to 20:1 or even higher. A higher omega-6/omega-3 ratio is INFLAMMATORY to the body.  For health, wellness, energy and vitality, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio should be 1:4.

This detrimental change in the dietary intake of fatty acid ratios  parallels a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.  There is an increased risk of obesity as the level of dietary omega-6 fatty acids increases. Experimental studies have suggested that omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids produce opposing effects on body fat gain through mechanisms of adipogenesis, browning of adipose tissue, lipid homeostasis, brain-gut-adipose tissue axis, and most importantly systemic inflammation.

A balanced omega-3/omega-6 ratio (4:1) is imperative for health.

Foods rich in omega 3: 

Foods high in Omega 6

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes:

Diabetes risk factors are controllable. Most diabetes prevention strategies involve making simple adjustments to your diet and fitness routine.

Your blood sugar level rises or falls based on the types of foods you eat. Starchy or sugary foods make blood sugar levels rise rapidly. Protein and healthy fats cause more gradual or very little increase in blood sugar. You therefore need to limit the amount of refined or processed carbohydrates you eat each day. Getting the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs can help you control your blood sugar. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with pre-diabetes, here are a few things you can do to delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes:

• Get your BMI into normal range
• Restore and Optimize Gut health
• Reduce excess abdominal fat (hormone producing)
• Get at least 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling.
• Cut saturated & hydrogenated fat, trans fats & heated oils, along with refined carbohydrates out of your diet.
• Eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains nuts and seeds (rainbow of foods every day).
• Eat smaller portions.
• Hydrate well every day
• Get quality and quantity sleep (7-9 hours uninterrupted)
• Increase vagal nerve tone or HRV

Complications associated with Diabetes include:

• Heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
• Kidney failure
• Vision loss
• Hearing loss
• Foot damage such as infections and sores that don’t heal
• Skin conditions such as bacterial and fungal infections
• Depression
• Dementia 

October 2021

By Chantal Du Chenne, Functional Medicine and Lifestyle Practitioner , Founder of the DripBar and owner of a Kombucha brewery.

BIO:

Chantal is a B.Sc.Hons allied health with an international certification in Functional & Lifestyle Medicine. Chantal is a passionate Gut Health advocate, specialising in the management of inflammatory conditions associated with leaky gut and dysbiosis (imbalance) of the gut microbiome. These include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, auto-immune conditions, cancer, type 2 diabetes etc.

Over her 25 year career, Chantal has held various positions within the health and wellness industry – including 10 years as the Executive Head of Vodacom’s corporate wellness & mobile health programs. Chantal is the owner/ founder of the DripBar which offers vitamin and mineral drip therapy in improving micronutrient deficiencies. She is also the founder/owner of a Kombucha brewery which produces the brand of ‘booch’ called theFarmacy.

Chantal is a competitive cyclist, a plant strong vegan and mom to two grown up girls.