Type 2 Diabetes – why and how.

4 min read


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Diabetes (Type 2) is one of the top causes of death all over the world.  It is a metabolic disorder caused by insulin resistance. This condition occurs when the body cannot effectively use the insulin produced by the pancreas. Therefore, reducing insulin resistance is one of the treatments.

Before talking about insulin resistance, let’s understand how insulin works.

  • When we eat something like carbohydrates, proteins, etc., they break down into glucose molecules and our pancreas secret insulin to transport the glucose from the blood to the cells.
  • Insulin levels in the blood are directly proportional to glucose levels in the blood. It increases or decreases based on the blood glucose levels.
  • Glucose is stored in three tissues – those of adipose (fat cells), muscles, and liver. These three are important for the storage of nutrients. 
  • The glucose that is not utilized owing to insulin resistance gets stored in fat cells (adipose).
  • If the fat cells are not metabolized, insulin levels increase to utilize the glucose but it cannot go into the cell, as it has already become insulin resistant. Moreover, the glucose that is stored in the fat cells makes us consume more fats. If the fat stored in the cells is to be reduced or utilized, then the high insulin in the blood needs to be brought down.

(Imagine your cells as a bank locker, insulin as the banker, and glucose as yourself. If you want to open the locker you cannot do it by yourself, you need to open it with two keys (yours and that of the banker) right? The same goes for your cell when glucose has to enter the cell to produce energy, it cannot do so by itself, it has to be accompanied by insulin. But when cells become resistant to insulin, insulin cannot enter the blood and, consequently, the glucose also cannot and stays back in blood.

What is insulin resistance?
If a person is suffering from diabetes i.e. his/her pancreas or cells in the pancreas (beta cells) do not function the way they are meant to function i.e. secret insulin when there is a spike in blood glucose levels. When that happens, the pancreas may secret insulin but the muscles and cells become resistant to insulin (do not allow insulin entry), hence cannot utilize the glucose for energy production.
When insulin is not produced adequately, or if the cells become resistant to insulin, glucose in the blood becomes high, which can be checked through a diagnostic test for blood glucose. Further, when there is excess glucose in the blood it gets excreted in urine leading to fatigue, frequent urination, and excessive thirst.

Causes of insulin resistance:

  • Type-2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes that is caused by several factors such as a modernized lifestyle, urbanization, and adoption of a western diet which contains high amounts of glucose.
  • When excess sugar is consumed, insulin is also secreted in excess. Due to the high amounts of both glucose and insulin, the cells stop their intake. When this continues to happen for a long period, the cells stop to take even the required amount of insulin and glucose, hence leading to insulin resistance.
  • You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are not physically active besides being overweight or obese.
  •  Extra weight sometimes causes resistance and is common in people with Type 2 diabetes.
  • Extra belly fat is linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

If not treated on time, it can lead to several complications in the body.

When a person develops insulin resistance, the glucose leftover in the blood goes to the other organs and starts tissue damage. Managing blood glucose levels through medicines for a long period of time can also damage vital organs leading to cardiovascular diseases and retina damage, while its long-term complications include kidney failure and nerve damage, besides also slowing down wound healing due to impaired circulation.

The treatment combines diet and lifestyle modifications which can cut down medicine intake, and treat the root-cause instead of the symptoms. Doing so can help in reversing Type -2 diabetes.

How to do a proper diagnosis of diabetes:

Insulin resistance can be effectively assessed by checking the insulin levels in the blood. A test that is, shockingly as well as surprisingly, neither prescribed by doctors nor are the people aware of it.

So, next time you want to have a proper diagnosis of your diabetes, do the following checks:

  • Fasting insulin
  • The severity of insulin resistance through HomaIR – calculate as below:
    • HomaIR= Fasting insulin (X) fasting sugar (/) 405 mg/dl
    • Optimal insulin sensitivity <1
    • Early insulin resistance > 1.9
    • Significant insulin resistance>2.9

Treatment:

Reducing insulin resistance through lifestyle modifications and dietary intervention.

Dietary interventions such as regularly consuming the proper amounts of nutrients such as carbohydrates, protein, good fat, fiber (fruits and vegetables), Vitamins D and Vitamin C, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory foods, besides keeping yourself well hydrated.  

Thank you,

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Author

Dt. Anjali Khandale (M.Sc., Nutrition & Dietetics)


 *Disclaimer: The diet plans, remedies, and other health-related suggestions published on this website are a collation of information on directions and advice from experts (dietitians and others) provided by the respective expert mentioned as the author of an article and, as such, are sourced from reliable and competent sources. However, both the experts themselves as well as the site owners/promoters request readers to consult their family doctor/physician before using the information on this site and also to exercise caution as necessary. By visiting this site and, by virtue of accessing any information from the site, site users indemnify, by default, the site owners/promoters, dietitians, experts, and affiliates, of any potential damage caused (in any form whatsoever). 


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