Diabetes Information

Low-Carb: The Role of Insulin


There are three basic units the body uses for energy:

1. Fats

2. Proteins

3. Carbohydrates

All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly causing quick spikes in the body's blood sugar levels. These spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create and release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to normal.

Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers our blood's glucose levels is released into the blood as soon as the body detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.

Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs the body's fuel storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood insulin will signal the body to store it in the body's fat cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by the body as energy.

Since this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy, insulin very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher the body's insulin levels, the more effectively it prevents fat cells from releasing their stores, and the harder it becomes to lose weight. According to many authorities, over the long term, high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause serious health problems like the ones listed below:

1. Raised insulin levels and insulin resistance

2. Lower metabolism leading to weight gain

3. An increase in fatty tissue and reduction in muscle tissue

4. Accelerated aging

5. Increased food allergies and intolerances

6. Overworked immune system

7. Increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer

Carbohydrates, especially simple carbs like sugar and starch, are quickly turned into sucrose by the body entering the blood stream quicker thereby causing the release of large amounts of insulin. The fewer carbs are eaten, the less insulin is produced by the body, and the fewer calories are stored as fat. Less fat storage equals less weight gain and fewer carbs eaten equals less insulin in the blood and the body using its fat stores for fuel.

The premise behind every low-carb diet plan is that a body that produces less insulin burns more fat than a body that produces lots of insulin. Some plans encourage a period of extremely low carbohydrate intake so that the body will enter a state of ketosis and more quickly burn fat stores - These are usually called induction periods.

Beverley Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse - Free health, diet and fitness articles and weekly newsletters


MORE RESOURCES:

Real-Life Stories of Diabetes Success
MarketWatch - 5 hours ago
The December issue of Diabetes Forecast, the consumer magazine of the American Diabetes Association, features the personal triumphs of people with diabetes ...


Sydney Morning Herald

Genetic Screening for Diabetes No More Useful than Traditional Methods
eFluxMedia - 13 hours ago
By Anna Boyd Genetic testing to see someone’s predisposition to type 2 diabetes is not significantly better than an assessment based on traditional risk ...
Genetic Screening May ID Diabetes Risk WebMD
Gene testing for diabetes risk is not useful Los Angeles Times
Egg consumption may raise risk of type 2 diabetes Food Consumer
That Happened! - Melbourne Herald Sun
all 53 news articles


Initial Survey Findings on Diabetes Awareness Released by ...
MarketWatch - 19 hours ago
BATON ROUGE, La., Nov 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Patient Assistance releases initial findings of a survey on diabetes awareness amongst the predominantly ...


Children of centenarians live longer, healthier
Reuters - 8 hours ago
Meanwhile, diabetes was newly diagnosed in just over 5 percent of the comparison group, but only 0.8 percent of the centenarian group. ...
Children of centenarians live longer: Study Hindu
Children of Centenarians May Follow in Parents' Footsteps MedPage Today
Hormone linked to falls in older diabetic adults Reuters
all 30 news articles


Valley seniors' rates of chronic disease rising
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 6 hours ago
New research from the University of California, Los Angeles shows the rate of diabetes and other chronic diseases is rising among seniors in the San Joaquin ...
Many Elderly California Residents Have Chronic Health Conditions ... Kaiser network.org
all 22 news articles


Technology Helping Diabetes Patients | KXNet.com North Dakota News
Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck, ND - 2 hours ago
That can be said for diabetes patients as well. November is American Diabetes Month and those who battle the disease do so now with better tools than ever ...


Type 2 diabetes may slow mental processing speed
Reuters - Nov 20, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research shows that among the mental abilities that are affected by type 2 diabetes, the speed at which the brain processes ...


Phoebe Putney combats diabetes
WFXL Fox 31, GA - 3 hours ago
By Jenna McWilliams Diabetes a disease that impacts over 23 million people in the United States and a third of them don’t even know it. ...
How is your blood sugar? WALB-TV
Phoebe Putney purchases Albany Endoscopy Center WFXL Fox 31
all 3 news articles


ABC News

Diabetes or Cancer. The Same Drugs for Both?
NBC Chicago, IL - 10 hours ago
Scientists are finding links between medications used for diabetes and cancer. In several cases, drugs for one disease are helping to control the other. ...
Northeast Ohio Health and Medical Consumer News The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com
How to prevent Alzheimer’s disease – part 1 Food Consumer
Ginkgo biloba doesn't prevent dementia, study finds Los Angeles Times
I Really Should Study - PR Web (press release)
all 555 news articles


Parade Magazine

a Diabetes-Friendly Thanksgiving
Parade Magazine - 6 hours ago
We asked the lifestyle expert, who has cooked and cared for people with diabetes, to share some of her Thanksgiving survival tips for people living with the ...
Thanksgiving Recipes Made Easy Examiner.com
all 2 news articles

Diabetes - Google News

home | site map
© 2006