Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome & Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a spectrum. It starts with insulin resistance, moves through metabolic syndrome and ends with full blown diabetes. Within each of these states there is, again, another spectrum. I point this out, simply, because most medical physicians treat diabetes more like a switch. Either you have it or you don’t. That can be deceiving because up until you have diabetes, you are most certainly moving towards it. The good new is, you can turn back at any time
The number of people in the US population suffering from insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or type II diabetes is startling and it is just getting worse. A recent Forbes article reported that an estimated 50% of Americans have prediabetes (metabolic syndrome) or diabetes and the study doesn’t estimate the impact of insulin resistance, the initial stage of what will eventually become diabetes.
In this day and age, with the billions upon billions of dollars spent on medical research and pharmacology, it’s crazy to think that we don’t have a cure for diabetes. But wait! We do!! Actually, we know exactly how to reverse the spectrum of disorders related to type II diabetes. “Why is the cure not known in wide circles?”, you ask. Well that, my friend, has just a bit to do with cold, hard cash.
You see, we can and have reversed diabetes through dietary interventions. Simply put, if we go back to eating as we were meant to, low carb, high fat whole food, this major disorder, this ever-growing pandemic of disease, well… it disappears. While this is an incredible life changer for many people affected by this disorder, it is very bad for the pharmaceutical industry. As a result, they are not motivated to help us get healthy.
This is why it is so very important that we take responsibility for our own health by researching the evidence and questioning the so called standard of care.
3 Ways to Lower Blood Sugar Naturally
#1 - Ketogenic Diet
If you’ve read other articles of mine, highlighting the ketogenic lifestyle as a mechanism for reversing chronic disease, including type II diabetes, isn’t a surprise.
The Ketogenic Diet involves eating foods that are low in carbohydrate, very high in fat and moderate in protein. The end game of approaching your macro consumption in this manner is to achieve ketosis, a state in which your cells (including your brain) makes the switch from using sugar for energy to using fat.
We (humans) have been eating this way for, literally, millions of years. We have evolved and even survived because of our physiological ability to spend a significant amount of time burning fat for fuel. It has only been in the recent 500-ish years or so that we have significantly deviated from this lifestyle. If you’ve wondered why we are so severely trending up in most chronic diseases over the past 50 years or so, look no further than to the change in the food industry.
So, what is low carbohydrate? Well, everyone is different so how low you must go to achieve this state is dependent on many things, but primarily on where you fall on the spectrum of insulin resistance (see above graphic). I have a Free Ketogenic Jump Start Guide & Sample Meal Plan with your name on it, should you be so kind as to subscribe to our community here.
The free bonus offer is designed as a companion to my article Improve focus, boost mood and lose weight through Diet & Nutrition (so read it first). I encourage you to grab a cup of coffee, preferably Bulletproof, and settle in for a fairly long read.
#2 - Berberine
If you have type II diabetes, then you’ve likely heard of the pharmaceutical drug Metformin. It is all the rage right now for it’s effectiveness in managing blood sugar. Is almost seems like miracle drug, with slightly fewer side effects than it’s counterparts, but rest assured, taking it does come at a price.
Side effects of Metformin include:
Minor
- heartburn
- Stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- bloating
- gas
- diarrhea
- constipation
- Weight loss
- headache
- Unpleasant taste in mouth
Signs of a more severe problem
- Lactic acidosis
- anermia
- hypglycemia
- extreme tiredness
- weakness
- fast or slow heartbeat
- muscle pain
- feeling cold
- dizziness
Make no mistake, Metformin works. But what if you could get the same level of efficacy from a natural, plant based source? Keep reading to find out more.
Berberine Plants
Berberine is a well studied, plant alkaloid found in several species including goldenseal, barberry, goldthread, Oregon grape, tree turmeric and phellodendron. It has been used for an estimated 5000 years in Chinese medicine. Real evidence shows that berberine produces the following benefits.
- Anti-aging
- Diabetes reduction/control
- Assist in the healing of Gastrointestinal infections
- Reduces Heart disease
- Helps control cholesterol
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) management
- Supports Immune challenges
- Reduces Joint problems
- Weight loss
At the risk of getting technical, berberine works by activating a cell switch called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is like a switch, regulating metabolism, within many cells, even organs, including the brain, muscle, kidney, heart and liver.
One of the best things about berberine is that it comes with minimal side effects. They are primarily related to digestion and include cramping, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation and stomach pain.
As with any new supplement, I suggest stepping into the recommended dosage by taking it once per day. Then, increase the dosage every few days until you’ve received the recommended amount. This will likely minimize side effects.
You can get a high quality, but reasonably priced, berberine supplement here. The recommended dosage is 500mg, three times daily.
#3 - Cinnamon or Cinsulin
The health benefits of cinnamon are beginning to become widely known in mainstream arenas. As it pertains to metabolic syndrome, cinnamon appears to attack it from at least two angles.
- Direct blood sugar control
- Reduction of inflammation in the body
The complete mechanism for how cinnamon reduces blood sugar is not known but is suspected to be related to the impact of polyphenolic compounds on a certain protein, Sirtuin-1 (Sirt-1), a deacetylase in the insulin signaling pathway.
It is suggested for type II diabetics to test the impact of using cinnamon by testing your blood sugar before consumption, then again 2-3 hours later. One of the downsides to the current research is that they use a broad dosage range making it difficult to know how much is needed to produce positive results
In addition to being anti-diabetic, there is a long list of other suspected health benefits including:
- Antioxidant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antimicrobial
- Anticancer
- Lipid-lowering
- Cardiovascular-disease-lowering compound
- Anti-neurological disorder, specifically Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases
Introducing Cinnamon into your daily diet is suggested. I use it regularly to spice up my Bulletproof coffee, in the morning, along with a few drops of organic vanilla extract. Who needs Starbuck’s anyway!
Cinnamon has a very particular flavor, making it challenging to use all year round. Because of this, I like to keep a supplement stocked called Cinsulin. In addition to water extracted cinnamon concentrate, it includes a good amount of Chromium and Vitamin D3.
Try taking the Cinsulin and Berberine supplements together for maximum benefits!
Thank you, as always for taking the time to read this article!
*Remember to check with a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, including the introduction of supplements.
Research & Expert Opinions
Half Of Adults In The U.S. Have Diabetes Or Pre-Diabetes, Study Finds
Berberine: The Plant Alkaloid that Treats Diabetes & Digestive Problems
Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Side Effects of Metformin: What You Should Know
Berberine – A Powerful Supplement With Many Benefits
