INSULIN RESISTANCE & DIABETES

As promised we continue our discussion around diabetes but this week we will focus on Insulin resistance which may be one of the key drivers of many — if not most — of today’s chronic diseases.

SO HOW SHOULD IT WORK?

Insulin is an important hormone that controls many bodily processes and challenges with this hormone are at the heart of many modern health conditions.
Insulin resistance, in which your cells stop responding to insulin, is incredibly common.
Simple lifestyle measures can dramatically improve this condition.
Insulin is an essential hormone that controls your blood sugar levels.
Insulin is made in your pancreas and helps move sugar from your blood into your cells for storage. When your pancreas senses high blood sugar, it makes more insulin to overcome the resistance and reduce your blood sugar.

INSULIN:

+ Regulates glucose balance in the body
+ Controls fat metabolism
+ Signals for the processes that move glucose into the cells for energy purposes
+ Causes any excess glucose to be stored in adipose tissue as fat
+ Suppresses glucagons & growth hormones, which regulate the burning of fat (stored fats)

INSULIN RESISTANCE is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don't respond well to insulin and can't use glucose from your blood for energy. ... Over time, your blood sugar levels go up. Insulin resistance syndrome includes a group of problems like obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes is the condition of having abnormal levels of glucose, or sugar molecules, in the blood; insulin resistance refers to the mechanism by which one develops that condition.

They're not two different conditions; they're cause and effect — insulin resistance is a prediabetes state
Insulin resistance might develop into type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and Type 2 diabetes can be managed, and in many cases reversed, by the right lifestyle changes. Medication may also be prescribed.

BALANCED HEALING is able to assist you in improving this condition with simple lifestyle measures, nutritional advice and natural supplementation. PREVENTING INSULIN RESISTANCE may be among the most powerful ways to live a longer, healthier life.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM INSULIN RESISTANT?

Raised insulin and blood sugar levels are key symptoms of insulin resistance. Other symptoms include excess belly fat, high blood triglycerides, and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

THE EFFECTS OF INSULIN RESISTANCE:
+ extreme thirst or hunger.
+ feeling hungry even after a meal.
+ increased or frequent urination.
+ tingling sensations in hands or feet.
+ feeling more tired than usual.
+ frequent infections.
+ evidence in blood work.

Classic signs and symptoms that suggest you've moved from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes include:

+ Increased thirst.
+ Frequent urination.
+ Fatigue.
+ Blurred vision.

Read more about INSULIN SENSITIVITY VS RESISTANCE & RELATED CONDITIONS @ https://zurl.co/Um6g

RELATIONSHIP TO HEART HEALTH:
Insulin resistance is linked to various ailments, including heart disease, NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome), Alzheimer's disease, and cancer.

NATURAL SCIENCE-BACKED WAYS TO BOOST YOUR INSULIN SENSITIVITY.
+ A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP
+ EXERCISE MORE
+ REDUCE STRESS
+ CONTROL YOUR WEIGHT
+ EAT MORE SOLUBLE FIBRE
+ ADD MORE COLOURFUL FRUIT & VEGETABLES TO YOUR DIET
+ ADD HERBS & SPICES TO YOUR COOKING
+ ADD A PINCH OF CINNAMON
+ DRINK GREEN TEA
+ TRY APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
+ CUT DOWN ON CARBS
+ AVOID TRANSFATS
+ REDUCE YOUR INTAKE OF ADDED SUGARS

TRY A SUPPLEMENT
Chromium, berberine and magnesium supplements are linked to increased insulin sensitivity. Resveratrol appears to increase insulin sensitivity, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes.

As with all supplements, there is a risk they may interact with your current medication. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER before commencing any other natural treatments.

DIABETES TYPES & MYTHS

November is an action-packed month with many focal points within Healthcare namely – DIABETES, ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS AND “MOVEMBER” – Campaign focusing on Male Cancers & mental health. So stay tuned for our weekly articles.

During week one we’ll touch base on the different types of Diabetes and some myth busters & natural ways to manage the disease process. Week 2 will focus on Insulin Resistance the pre-cursor to type 2 Diabetes and my personal favourite on how to manage lifestyle and supplementation.
Diabetes Types

Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make. Ideally, there should be a balance between blood sugar and insulin in the body.

+TYPE 1 DIABETES is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack. About 10% of people with diabetes have this type. This type of diabetes is chronic and long term.
+TYPE 2 DIABETES occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood.
+PREDIABETES occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
+GESTATIONAL DIABETES is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking hormones produced by the placenta cause this type of diabetes.

Diabetes is a complicated disease. If you have diabetes or know anyone who has it, you may have questions about the disease.
There are many popular myths about diabetes and its management. Here are some facts you should know about diabetes.

DIABETES MYTHS

MYTH: No one in my family has diabetes, so I won’t get the disease.
MYTH: I will likely develop diabetes because I am overweight.
MYTH: I eat a lot of sugar, so I am worried I’ll get diabetes.
MYTH: I was told I have diabetes, so now I’ll have to eat a special diet.
MYTH: I have diabetes, so I can never eat sweets.
MYTH: My doctor put me on insulin. This means I am not doing a good job managing my blood sugar.
MYTH: It is not safe to exercise with diabetes.
MYTH: I have borderline diabetes, so I don’t need to worry.
MYTH: I can stop taking diabetes medicines once my blood sugar is under control.

For the facts read article @ https://zurl.co/jOAd

NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR SUPPORTING TYPE 2 DIABETES:

+ BERBERINE
+ CURCUMIN
+ GINSENG
+ FENUGREEK
+ PSYLLIUM
+ CINNAMON
+ ALOE VERA
+ BITTER MELON
+ MILK THISTLE
+ HOLY BASIL

While many of these supplements show promise, IT IS WISE TO CONSULT WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER before commencing as Herbal supplements have side effects and can interfere with other medications.

Work with your health care provider or BALANCED HEALING to develop a meal plan that works best for you and that you will be able to follow consistently over time. A healthy and balanced meal plan with a healthy lifestyle will help you manage diabetes.

PARENTS & EXAM STRESS

How stressed is your household during exam time?

What do you do as a parent to alleviate the tension and support your child with revision and studying?

Look no further, BALANCED HEALING can offer support for the entire family from nutritional planning, supplementation for concentration & focus, through to supportive therapy for anxiety and ADD/HD and much more.

So how can you as a parent channel your anxieties and support your child better during exam time?

1. Identify your child’s best way to learn

Try to identify how your child enjoys studying best, and adopt strategies around that. They may be – kinaesthetic learners like to learn via movement such as dancing, counting fingers, gestures or even acting; Auditory learners absorb information the best through sounds such as songs and recordings, OR visual learners study best through picture stories, shapes, mind maps and even paintings.

2. Create a great learning environment

A good atmosphere and comfortable learning space can lead to productive learning and revision. Ensure your child has what they need to thrive, whether it’s sufficient light and quiet, or a comfortable chair and the necessary stationery.

3. Get them to teach

A good way to get children to understand what they are learning, or to just practice their revision, is for them to “teach” you. Ask your child to pretend they’re the teacher, and go through a mock “lesson”.

4. Spread out revision

It’s difficult for anyone to concentrate on learning for long periods of time, so ensure your child is taking short breaks between revision bursts.

5. Support them

Studying is not always fun or easy, so praise your children when they are working hard. Encourage rather than threaten, If they do get stressed, try to respond to their emotions by listening, reassuring them, or hugging them. Once they’ve calmed down, you can deal with practical solutions, such as setting up a revision timetable or getting the necessary help they might need.

6. Ensure they’re sleeping sufficiently

Sleep is important to not only give children mental and physical rest but to consolidate what’s been learnt during the day. Ensure their room is dark as light interferes with melatonin (the hormone needed for sleep) production. The blue light emitted by tablets and phones can also be disruptive to sleep.

7. Set up rewards

Incentivise studying and exams not necessarily through material rewards or “prizes”, but through fun activities that children can look forward to after a series of revisions or after an exam. Incentives can include a dinner out at a restaurant, or watching sport or series together. Or better yet, ask them what they want to do the most.
"Parents needn’t feel alone with their children’s curriculum and revision. The key is to ensure a personalised and powerful learning experience which can also be achieved through technology interventions," (Parent 24)

Below is a survey conducted in the UK on how exam stress affects moms & dads.

Read full article @ https://zurl.co/Z4o7