Sunday 19 October 2014

Options On How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

By Patty Goff


The hormone insulin plays a central role in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Disorders associated with the hormone are associated with serious complications. Insulin resistance means that the hormone can no longer facilitate the entry of glucose into cells. Consequently, glucose accumulates in the blood stream and often leads to diabetes. There are a number of ways on how to reverse insulin resistance that can be considered.

The options that are available can be used singly or in combination. It has been shown through research that outcomes are better when several strategies are employed simultaneously. Dietary modification, engaging in regular physical exercise, reducing psychological stress and the use of nutritional supplements are all commonly used strategies. Although each of them works differently they all help in reducing inflammatory changes in the body, detoxifying the liver and reducing oxidative stress.

The general idea is to identify the kinds of foods that you need to cut on and those that you need to eat more often. The main problem in insulin resistance (and by extension, diabetes), is disordered metabolism of carbohydrates. All carbohydrates are normally broken down into glucose which is subsequently taken up by body cells. When this process is hindered, there is accumulation of sugar in the body.

Cutting down on carbohydrate intake helps reduce the amount of glucose produced from metabolism and lowers the risk of progression to diabetes. Carbohydrates fall in the category of foods that are regarded as being highly glycaemic. Proteins, fruits and vegetables, on the other hand are low glycaemic. These are the foods that should take a larger proportion of the diet.

Physical exercise has a major role to play. As we exercise, the energy requirements of individual cells and the body as a whole increase. Effectively, more glucose is used up and this serves to reduce its levels in circulation. Exercise has also been shown to help in the redistribution of adipose tissue and this helps in weight control. Small amounts of intense physical exercise are better than low intensity endurance routines.

Psychological stress is another important cause of hormonal resistance and diabetes. The hormone cortisol is usually produced in stressful situations. Cortisol is a pro-metabolic hormone that causes an increase in the amount of circulating glucose among other things. If the levels of cortisol are elevated for long periods of time, the risk for hormonal resistance increases significantly. Engaging in relaxation exercises helps reduce this risk.

Supplements are said to help in some situations. Magnesium is said to increase insulin sensitivity and to facilitate the digestion of fats. All these help in reducing the amount of glucose in circulation. Other supplements that have also been in use include calcium, vitamin B complex and chromium. Many of their mechanisms of actions are not yet clear.

Pharmacotherapy options are often considered when the natural options fail. There are many different classes of drugs available for the condition all with varying degrees of successes. Commonly, drugs from different classes are combined to enhance their effect. The common denominator in all their actions is a reduction in the amount of blood glucose levels.




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