The links between diabetes, obesity, and inflammation
Southern California isn't the only thing that was on fire last week. Your cells and tissues may have been smoldering as well, without you even knowing it. Chronic, low-level inflammation is often referred to as "the fire within," and is linked to a wide array of diseases, including heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and depression and diabetes.
There's also a definite connection between inflammation and obesity. Fat cells produce inflammatory chemicals at a far greater rate than other tissues, so youare at greater risk of inflammation and inflammation-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease if you are overweight. Losing weight generally reduces inflammation (and risk of disease) but losing weight may not be enough to put out this particular flame.
New research posted on DiabetesHealth.com shows that even lean diabetics appear to have elevated levels of inflammatory chemicals in their blood, which increases the risk of complications from their disease. If you have diabetes, it may be worth asking your doctor to test your CRP levels to gauge your level of systemic inflammation--even if you are maintaining a healthy weight and blood sugar levels.
If your CRP levels are high, an anti-inflammatory diet can help. In addition to regulating the glycemic load of your diet (which you are hopefully already doing ), try to get most of your daily fat allowance from foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and/or monounsaturated fats. Spices like curry, ginger, and garlic also have natural anti-inflammatory properties. (See also our help page on Inflammation).
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Posted by: Paul R | Oct 29, 2007 3:04:07 PM
Because of my medical condition, I’ve been reading a lot about diabetes and its other health complications. Inflammation is connected to diabetes, but so are other more serious issues. There is a connection between diabetes and heart disease, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and over-consumption of food. That connection in called the Metabolic Syndrome. The Metabolic syndrome institute http://metabolic-syndrome-institute.org/ has some interesting presentations summarizing international research in this area. One of the underlying issues for the metabolic syndrome and these other health complications is INSULIN RESISTANCE.
In my opinion, the question as a diabetic should be, how can I decrease insulin resistance? The first recommendations, you’ve all heard, loose weight, (I’m trying), exercise BUT the last recommendation does not seem to be discussed a lot, consume more ANTIOXIDANTS. No, I don’t mean vitamin pills. One big cause of insulin resistance is oxidative stress. And natural antioxidants CAN decrease oxidative stress. We might all have our favorite sources, but what I’ve read points to a diverse supply of antioxidants, not just big doses of a couple. Some antioxidants are very potent at reducing oxidative stress.
One place I found good information on antioxidants and insulin resistance was www.healthydiabetics.com. They provide references and clinical information, not just vague “try this it’s good for you” statements. For us diabetics consumption of antioxidants is more important than other because high blood sugar causes even more oxidative stress and inflammation. Keeping blood sugar levels near normal and eating plant based antioxidants can help us all.
Posted by: Ellen Snyder | Mar 5, 2008 9:24:33 PM
The right kind of antioxidants seem to be key. I've been hearing a lot of buzz lately about xanthones in the whole mangosteen fruit. I read a lot about it on mrsjuice.com
Diabetics can drink this juice without having it interfere with their insulin levels. I know one woman who has insulin-resistant diabetes, and it's helped her a lot!
The site again is: mrsjuice.com
