Insulin: The big player in your diabetes and your health!

First up, Insulin! We talk a lot about insulin in type 2 diabetes. Insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, avoiding or having to take insulin for blood sugar control.

Insulin has many roles. Its’ big overall goal is to keep you alive. It is the survival hormone. Without it, we would not be able to absorb and use the nutrients from the food we eat.

Back in the day when we went from feast or famine, insulin would store the extra fuel as fat in preparation for the next famine. It works by getting blood sugar or glucose out of the blood stream and into the cells where they can use it to do their work.

When you have too much fuel on board, the system goes a bit haywire. The cells close and lock their doors because they can’t take any more fuel. Because there is still too much glucose in the blood stream, your pancreas keeps working to put out more insulin. Eventually, the pancreas can’t make any more insulin and then you must get it from external sources.

Insulin is also known as the fat hormone. When there is too much glucose in the blood stream, insulin directs the excess glucose to be stored as fat. Most of this fat is stored in the abdominal cavity and is known as visceral fat. This fat causes trouble because of where it is located and the substances it gives off which add inflammation to organs close by.

You want your body to be flexible enough to use which ever type of fuel is available, either sugar (carbs) or fat. With this flexibility, your fat stores can be broken down and used for fuel or if you are working (walking) right after a meal, the sugar in your system can be used right away by your muscles.

So what can you do to support the work of insulin?

1. Keep your blood sugar levels steady and stable. This will help keep your insulin levels stable. Do this by decreasing the amount of carbohydrates you are eating and drinking. Start with the obvious stuff like cake, cookies, bread, potatoes, sodas, any sweet drink. Stick with nutritious veggies with lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

2. Increase your physical activity – walk more, ride a bike, dance, swim. This is important for more than your diabetes but will definitely help reduce insulin resistance which leads to and maintains diabetes. A short walk after your meals will make a big difference in keeping your blood sugar levels steady.

3. Take care of the microbiome (bacteria) in your digestive tract. Your microbiome is responsible for your immune function, some neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in your brain) and how much of the food you eat is digested and absorbed. You can take probiotics and or eat fermented foods like kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and kimchi.

Dr Elaine

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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