Atkins and Diabetes

 

The principles of the Atkins diet lay the foundation for a more balanced, healthier way of eating than the standard American diet. Their emphasis is on using good carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein.

This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The average American eats a lot of processed foods that have hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates.

This has put the majority of Americans on the path to diabetes and prediabetic conditions. The sad thing is that diabetes has a predictable set of stages that are easily recognized.

The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are classified in this index with respect to the level of reaction to insulin they produce.

Foods that have a high glycemic index will cause the pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

We are able to digest these foods more easily when we are children, because our body works more efficiently in our youth. Side effects such as weight gain and mood swings may have been present, but they were not highlighted.

However, as we age, these symptoms begin to grow and become more frequent. The nationwide obesity epidemic is the result of high carbohydrate diets and unstable blood sugar levels.

Many overweight people are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that insulin is not doing its job of removing glucose from the bloodstream.

The pancreas works too hard and releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This causes blood sugar to drop extremely low. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to the release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.

With age, difficulties with blood sugar and insulin become more severe. The condition is called "hyperinsulinism" and it is a precursor to type II diabetes. It is usually accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides.

After years of using a high carbohydrate diet, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the main creator of fat in the body, and extra pounds often accompany late-onset diabetes. Prediabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

However, there are easily identifiable warning signs of diabetes that appear early. Your GP can perform insulin level tests that will let you know if you are at risk for prediabetic conditions, and studies show that low-carb diets like Atkins can help.

Controlling your blood sugar level is one of the most effective ways to control prediabetic conditions.

The Atkins diet helps to effectively control blood sugar. The combination of protein, fat and good carbohydrates will keep your body satisfied without the roller coaster effect. Controlling carbohydrates in quantity and type will help limit insulin spikes.

This will allow your pancreas to function the way it should and will decrease the likelihood that you will develop prediabetic conditions.

It is a vicious cycle that, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is followed effectively, it produces a stable blood sugar level throughout the day and helps you avoid diabetes.