Diabetes Is Not a Blood Sugar Disease

You might be surprised to learn that type 2 diabetes is not a blood sugar disease!

In the case of type 2 diabetes, elevated fasting blood sugar (126 or higher) is only a symptom of the disease. The real problem is the body's resistance to insulin. However, current medical treatments focus on controlling the blood sugar, not making the body more sensitive to insulin.

That is why current medical treatments for type 2 diabetes, which work to control blood sugar with pills and insulin shots, have not been shown to slow down the degenerative effects of type 2 diabetes on the eyes, kidneys, nerves, veins, heart, and so on.

Controlling blood sugar levels might give patients a false sense of security, keeping them from making necessary dietary and lifestyle changes!

Note: Here we are discussing type 2 diabetes not type 1 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, and patients must receive insulin daily. Without it, they risk coma and death.

What Your Doctor Might Not Tell You About Screening for Type 2 Diabetes!

The US Preventive Services Task Force, a government agency that reviews current medical practices, makes the following recommendations for screening and treatment for type 2 diabetes:

1. For those with diabetes symptoms-such as extreme thirst, frequent urination, or retinal damage-and who have blood pressure greater than 135/80, screening for diabetes is recommended. In such cases, diabetes accelerates the vascular damage caused by high blood pressure. The Task Force recommends keeping the blood pressure at or less than 135/80. However, the Task Force makes no recommendations about controlling blood sugar with medications or insulin, because no studies have shown these effective in delaying or stopping the damage caused by diabetes.
    

2. For those with no diabetes symptoms and blood pressure at or less than 135/80, the Task Force does not recommend testing for diabetes because knowing you have it might cause worry and anxiety and lead to ineffective treatments. Of course, not testing does not mean not taking care of yourself. It just means that because there is no effective treatment for those without symptoms yet, there is no point in knowing you have diabetes!

Here's a summary of their recommendation.

So if you have type 2 diabetes or want to avoid it, what can you do to become more sensitive to insulin?  Ron Rosedale, MD, is a metabolic specialist who has treated thousands of diabetic patients with proper diet. He explains what you can do here.
 

His book, The Rosedale Diet, explains more about how you can make your body more sensitive to insulin. The book is well written and includes delicious recipes. I differ with him regarding the inclusion of Splenda in the diet. Although Splenda does not raise blood sugar, it is a chemical sweeter of questionable safety. You can learn more from his website.

What is most important here is to take proper dietary action to prevent or treat diabetes. If you add regular exercise with weights, that will also help to make your body more sensitive to insulin.

Stay informed. Stay well.

Fred Amir