Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Diet Resources - Atkins and Diabetes

By Jonas Milkei

The Atkins diet principles lay the foundation for a healthy, more balanced way of eating than the standard American diet. Its emphasis is on using good carbohydrates in balance with adequate protein. This is in stark contrast to what most Americans eat on a daily basis. The average American eats lots of processed foods that have hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates. This has put most Americans on the road to diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions. What is sad is that diabetes has a predictable set of stages and that they can be easily recognized.

The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are ranked in this index over the level of reaction that produce insulin. Foods that have a high glycemic index of stars will make your pancreas to release a large amount of insulin to decompose the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce large amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars which make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

We are able to more easily digest those foods that children, because our bodies function more effectively in our youth. There may have been some side-effects such as weight gain and mood swings, but they do stand out. As we age, however, these symptoms begin to grow and become more frequent. On the national epidemic of obesity is the result of a diet rich in carbohydrates and unstable blood sugar levels.

Many people who are overweight are also insulin resistant. Insulin resistance means that the insulin is not doing its job in removing glucose from the blood stream. The pancreas gets over worked and it releases massive amounts of insulin, sometimes 20 times more than the body actually needs. This results in the blood sugar dropping to extremely low levels. This sets off a chain reaction in the body that leads to a release of adrenaline to correct the blood sugar problem.

With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties become more aggravated. The condition is called "hyperinsulinism" and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is normally accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides. After years of using a high-carbohydrate diet, you will finally become fully diabetic. Insulin is the body's primary fat creator and extra pounds usually accompany late onset diabetes. Pre-diabetic conditions, if not treated effectively, will lead to diabetes indefinitely.

However, there are warning signs easily identifiable with diabetes appearing early. Your family doctor can perform tests insulin levels that will allow you to know if you are at risk for pre-diabetic conditions, and studies show that a diet low in carbohydrates like Atkins can help. Controlling blood sugar is one of the most effective methods for the control of pre-diabetic conditions.

The scheme allows Atkins to effectively control blood glucose. The combination of proteins, fats and good carbohydrates keep your body met without the effect of roller coasters. Controlling carbohydrates in the quantity and the type will help limit the peak of insulin. This will ensure that your pancreas work in the way he wanted, and it will reduce your chances of developing pre-diabetes. It is a vicious circle which, if left unchecked, can lead to diabetes later in life. When the Atkins diet is monitored effectively, it produces blood sugar stable throughout the day and helps you to stay off the road for diabetes.

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