When Diabetes Ignorance is NOT Bliss
A new CDC study shows that close to half (40%) of the adult population of the USA are now expected to develop diabetes during their lifetime.
Diabetes is on the rise and being proactive with your blood work in addition to taking action can be more than helpful in saving you from a life of having a chronic medical condition.
I hear you saying, “BUT my doctor is checking me annually for diabetes markers!”
Well, maybe and maybe not.
Your physician is most likely checking your fasting glucose level on a yearly physical and if he or she is proactive they are measuring the glycosylated hemoglobin A1C, which measures what your blood glucose is averaging over the previous 3 months.
However, the A1C lags far behind what is happening in the pancreas. How is that possible?
It all boils down to the beta cells in the pancreas or the cells that produce the insulin which regulate your blood glucose levels.
If you are consuming more carbohydrates than your body can handle the beta-cells are working overtime to keep your blood sugar normal AND by the time your blood sugar is elevated, guess what? At least 30-40 percent of the beta cells are gone, which puts you in the pre-diabetes or diabetes range.
So when a health care provider says you are safe and your A1C is 5.7, in actuality you are at the top of the range and it is likely there is significant beta-cell damage.
“Beta cells are like a bank and you can only make withdrawals, not deposits.”
Therefore, if your blood sugar is normal it does not mean you don?t have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
So what steps can you take to be proactive?
Ask your physician to measure your insulin, and c-peptide levels, which will show more of the picture of what is happening in the pancreas. Monitor your fasting blood sugar each year and if it is over 90 and rising it means you are moving towards diabetes. Keeping your A1C less than 5.0 is optimal so ask to have that measured at least yearly.
If you have diabetes in your family consider going to a doctor who specializes in insulin resistance or diabetes to be monitored.
If there is no history of diabetes in your family it does not mean you are in the clear, since as a society we are consuming far more carbohydrates than most of our metabolisms can handle which in itself causes the beta-cells to work on overdrive.
To take a proactive role in preventing diabetes:
- Have your blood parameters measured regularly
- Consume a diet that is balanced with respect to adequate protein, moderate amounts of carbohydrates coming from real food sources and healthy fats
- Engage in daily exercise and stay active and moving throughout the day
- Get adequate sleep and rest
BLISS is knowing your levels, and taking action now so you can enjoy the sweetness of having good health.
