I wonder how my life would be different if I my diabetes had been detected earlier, early enough for me to do something about it. To lose the weight I needed to lose BEFORE it impacted my life. To not have to take four pills a day.

Do you know someone who might be at risk and who should get tested? Let them know that a diagnosis of pre-diabetes is not a life sentence. It is fully reversible with diet and exercise!

Check out my article here.

Having blood sugar between 100 and 125 is considered by the medical establishment to be “prediabetes,” and 126 or over is “diabetes.” This delineation is based on diagnostic criteria that were set with agreement from an international community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and many insurance companies. In other words, it is a contrived and arbitrary number than roused a lot of agreement.

It ‘s a good point for administrative and payment decisions, and a rally point that seems to work as far as when to diagnose and treat. However, all things have good points and bad points. The bad thing about a specific number is that your body doesn’t know anything about numbers.

And having a “pre-diabetic” condition is just as damaging, and over the ten or fifteen years that your body lingers with elevated glucose levels before tripping into the diagnostic danger zone, your kidneys, eyes, nerves, pancreas, and heart are still suffering chronic degeneration and failing because of high blood sugar. You just don’t have the courtesy of a diagnosis that comes with medication, monitoring, testing, and lifestyle education for those with type 2 diabetes.

Why did the number of 126 become the “standard” of delineation? This is the place where damage to the retinae (backs of the inside of the eyeballs) starts to be noticed. It is an indicator. In fact, many people who don’t have other symptoms are quite shocked to find out they have diabetes or diabetic-like problems when their optometrists or ophthalmologists refer them for testing when retinopathy (damage to the retina) is found on a routine eye examination!

The point is, with or without medications, there are some things you can do proactively to avoid or delay progression of high blood sugar concerns into full blown type 2 diabetes. Eat right, lose weight, exercise. We know these things.

Specific to high blood sugar, there is a nutritional supplement that I have found to be very supportive, called “GluControl,” available only from health care professionals. It contains several constituents that are beneficial to let your body be supported in naturally adjusting blood sugar and using it effectively rather than letting it collect in the blood stream unused by the cells.

You can read about it, and order it at: http://www.cpmedical.net/drlizziebennettrn , the item number is CP1980

Autacoids are locally acting inflammatory mediators. They are released from the cells during an acute inflammatory process like a microbial infection, a physical trauma to the body, an inflammatory reaction to a toxin that was ingested by the body or an encounter with a proinflammatory food like Trans fats or rancid fats. One of the best known autacoids is histamine a well known chemical compound associated with allergies and an acute allergic reaction. Another common autacoid is serotonin (yes, the neurotransmitter serotonin associated with depression), as well as cytokines and eicosanoids. 

What’s interesting is that Autacoids can act as neurotransmitters affecting our mood during an acute or chronic inflammatory process. So during an acute or a chronic inflammatory process, macrophages and dendritic cells in the blood, are the first line of defense and release these autacoids which can in-turn act as neuromodulators and neurotransmitters and play a role in a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, so called “cytokine sickness”. When released, these inflammatory cells cross the blood-brain barrier and go to the brain and tell you “you feel awful!” I have many patients who get very emotional during a bad cold and making people feel depressed. So could chronic depression as well as many other chronic mental diseases be a result of over-growth of gut bacteria? Absolutely…

Source: Dr. Roundtree Lecture notes, 1/31/013

Photo source

How Do I Know If I have Insulin Resistance?

The first clue you will have that you may be suffering from Insulin Resistance or related disorders (Pre Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome X) is that traditional diets will not work for you no matter how tenacious you are in sticking to them! 

Let me tell you I have been there done that – NutraSlim, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Lite ‘n Easy, even the very controversial HCG diet –  and all manner of ‘at home’ diets, and none of them worked for me.

Generally in the first week or so I would lose a pound or two (miraculous for someone with IR!) I would  be encouraged and think this was the diet for me. Week two I may lose marginally and after that it would be all downhill. The reason for this that that you will almost always lose some water weight early on in a diet. That’s what your initial loss is on these diets that seems so enticing.

Other signs of IR are:

* High Triglycerides

* Cravings for carbohydrate rich foods

* Weight Gain (Concentrated around your waist)

* Skin Tags

* PCOS

* High LDL, Low HDL Cholesterol

* High Blood Pressure

* Afternoon Fatigue

* History of Blood Clots

* Abnormal Glucose Tolerance test results

* Significantly Overweight

* High Uric Acid or Gout

*Hypoglycemia Symptoms (headaches, jitteriness, nausea that is relieved by eating)

(Taken from ‘The Insulin Resistance Diet‘ by Hart & Grossman)

What Exactly IS Insulin Resistance?

‘After a person eats a meal, digestive juices in the small intestine break down starch or complex sugars in the food into glucose, a simple sugar. The glucose then passes into the bloodstream.

When the concentration of glucose in the blood reaches a certain point, the pancreas is stimulated to release insulin into the blood…The activation of the insulin sets in motion a series of signals that allow the cells to take in the glucose and convert it to energy.

If the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or the insulin receptors do not function properly, the cells cannot take in the glucose and the level of glucose in the blood remains high.

In the early stages of insulin resistance, the pancreas steps up its production of insulin in order to control the increased levels of glucose in the blood. As a result, it is not unusual for patients to have high blood sugar levels and high blood insulin levels (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia) at the same time.’ – The Medical Directory Dictionary.

So, to summarise, your insulin either:

a. Doesn’t work as it should (by converting your glucose to energy to be used by the body) or

b. You aren’t producing enough insulin for your body to be able to convert the glucose to energy

Either way, your glucose is not being used for energy as it is supposed to be and instead is being converted to fat, since the body has no idea what else to do with it!

This is a very simplified version of what’s happening, but it covers the basics that allows you to understand why you are getting fat when you are dieting and exercising!

How Do I Fix My Insulin Resistance?

There are a number of ways to work with your body to help it become more sensitive to insulin and allow it to do the job it was supposed to do:

* Exercise – Even just 30 minutes a day of walking will help. The more exercise you do, the more sensitive your body becomes to your insulin

* Medications – Metformin is hailed as a wonder drug for those with blood glucose issues. I tried it and found though my blood glucose levels were markedly lower, I was craving sugars and it messed up my stomach. I decided it was not worth it and chose lifestyle changes instead.

* Diet – Staying away from high carb foods like white flours, pasta, simple sugars that will raise your blood glucose is necessary. However, even complex carbs like whole grain breads, fruits, brown rice and potatoes are carbs and need to be consumed with a protein to balance out your bodies response (avoid a blood glucose spike so your body doesn’t have to deal with it).

Diet is the primary focus of this site and Facebook page. I hope to guide you on the journey of managing your insulin resistance while living as normal a life as possible. Not having to live ‘on a diet’ forever (my original fear) and taking control of your health, allowing you to feel the best you can feel!

Have questions? Drop me a line here or at eatthinlifestyle@gmail.com

You have prediabetes when your blood glucose level is higher than normal but not at the level defined as full-blown diabetes, meaning that it is between 100 and 125 mg/dL. For the nine-month study, 240 adults with prediabetes were randomly assigned to two groups, with 116 given six daily capsules of a placebo, and the remaining group taking six capsules of 250mg of curcuminoids every day. Curcumin is the main curcuminoid compound derived from the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa) – a member of the ginger family.

The results were that 19, or 16.4%, of the placebo group developed type 2 diabetes, whilst no one from the curcumin group developed the disease. The researchers surmised that this was because curcumin appeared to improve the function of beta cells, which are the cells in your pancreas that release insulin. Curcumin has certain anti-inflammatory properties, and so this may the reason why it protects beta cells from damage.

Due to these results, the researchers concluded by saying that, even though they’re not sure exactly why curcumin helps to prevent type 2 diabetes, ‘because of its benefits and safety, we propose that curcumin extract may be used for an intervention therapy for the prediabetes population.’ This could ensure the wellbeing of millions of people who have prediabetes, as the condition not only progresses to type 2 diabetes, but also increases your wellness risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, if you are interested in adding curcumin to your supplement schedule, you should not rely on it alone. The American Diabetes Association advises that you can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes by 58% if you lose just 7% of your body weight, and you should also be getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. Remember to get your curcumin supplement from a reputable company that has been verified by an independent testing lab, or else simply look online for recipes that contain the spice.

Mr Divabetic Stage Show

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic brings his dynamic stage show to the the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Expo in New York. Enjoy glamour, games and giveaways compliments of Level Foods, dLifeTV and Dr. Beverly S. Adler. This ‘wellness with a wow’ main stage presentation promises a new attitude in diabetes outreach featuring special guests: Catherine Schuller, Lorraine Brooks and Carla Cravens. 

Mr. Divabetic has presented outreach at Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs (Tampa, FL, Washington, DC, Raleigh, NC, San Diego, CA, Tucson, AZ), ADA Expos (New York, NY, Hartford, CT, Pittsburgh, PA), All About Women Conferences (Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, TN) and more!

The ADA Expo is FREE and includes health screenings, cooking demonstrations, product and service exhibitors, as well as leading experts talking about diabetes management and prevention. Get the latest information on preventing and managing diabetes and its deadly complications to help keep you and your family healthy.

• Hear motivational speaker and Founder of Team Type 1 (http://www.teamtype1.org/) Phil Southerland talk about Diabetes, his book and more!
• Watch the finale of a live cooking challenge the NEXT CHEF where NYC public school students will compete to see whose diabetes friendly recipe reigns supreme.
• Hear Biggest Loser Runner-Up and Healthy Living Advocate, Frado Dinten’s Story.
• Participate in a conversation with Dr. Ronald Tamler, Director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center and people who turned back the clock on diabetes.

On the Healthy Eating Stage YOU WILL SEE:

• Bobby Deen, host of Cooking Channel’s “Not My Mama’s Meals,” along with his brother Jamie Deen, host of The Food Network’s “Home For Dinner” will demonstrate diabetes-friendly cooking and discuss their work with Novo Nordisk and Diabetes in a New Light®.
• Top Chef Season 1 Contestant and Natural Food Chef, Andrea Beaman, present “What Can I Eat Now” and share with the audience how to eat natural and whole foods for wellness.
• Charles Mattocks, the “Poor Chef” demonstrate how to cook healthy and delicious diabetes-friendly meals on a budget.
• Dmitri Verteouris, former Food Network “Fat Chef” participant, owner of three restaurants in Brooklyn, and founder of Knockout Obesity (koobesity.com) go over Portion Sizes and sample some of his favorite recipes.
• All of the presenters share samples of their presenting recipes!

About the Active Living Stage:

• The active living stage will feature: Thai Chi, Yoga, Bootcamp, Gospel Aerobics and Zumba demonstrations.
• Consultations with fitness instructors on how to get started with exercise and basic workout tips will also be available.

About the Cultural Pavilion:

• Workshops in Spanish, Panjabi, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin and one geared to the African American community will occur here.

About the Kids Pavilion:

• A pavilion with fun activities, and hands on demos will be coordinated by the YMCA for children at the EXPO.

About the Older Adult Area:

• An area dedicated to the Association’s Senior Program and information on healthy living with diabetes as an older adult will be sponsored by VNSNY.

Visit the American Diabetes Association EXPO/New York and Join the Millions℠ in the fight to Stop Diabetes®. Learn how to live healthy, be active, and change the future of diabetes for you and your family.

Mr. Divabetic Stage Show – ADA Expo

Saturday, March 9, 2013, 1 – 1:45 PM

Jacob Javits Convention Center- North
655 West 34th Street (entrance 39th Street and 11th Avenue)
New York, NY 10001

Expo Hours: 10 AM – 4 PM

First and foremost, contact your local hospital to book yourself into the class for people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes. Not only will this allow you to meet others in your situation, which makes the road less lonely, but what you learn in that class could end up saving your life. Developing diabetes can mean you develop a whole host of other diseases and ailments, including blindness, loss of limbs, kidney failure, and cardiovascular problems, so taking action now can give you a good chance of never having to face these outcomes.

When it comes to diet, the first thing you have to learn is to control your blood sugar level. Your pancreas makes the natural insulin that your body uses, but when you wolf down a bar of chocolate, this causes your blood sugar to spike and put stress on your pancreas. The more you take care of it, the longer it will take care of you, and you may have to avoid certain foods to achieve this.

Though apples and oranges are natural, apple and orange juices are very sugary and low in fibre, so you should eat them in their original form where possible. You should also avoid sugar in any form, and instead opt for artificial sugar substitutes, or pure, unpasteurized or even organic honey. However, there are too many variations of food and drinks to cover, but the internet is a great resource for your own research. Eliminate foods that are obviously risky for prediabetics, and take a list of the foods you think you can’t do without to a nutritionist or your family doctor.

Finally, exercise is vital to managing your prediabetes. You should be aiming for 30 minutes to an hour of cardio-vascular exercise at least three times a week, which can be as taking a walk in the park. You can also feel the benefits of weight lifting or high impact sports, but you don’t have to start out any higher than in your own comfort zone. Just start somewhere, stick with it, and build on your success. You’ll be looking and feeling better before you know it.