Prevalence, Diet, and Supplementation for Diabetes and Prediabetes

The increasing prevalence of diabetes maybe reaching a plateau, according to a new study published in JAMA. That being said, the estimated rate of diabetes among U.S. adults was 14%, and the prevalence of pre-diabetes was 38% in 2011 and 2012.  This means that about half of the U.S. adult population is either diabetic or pre-diabetic!

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Diabetes, a major cause of death and other illness, continues to remain a significant problem in America. The medical costs associated with diabetes are substantial: the American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that managing diabetes for just one year costs an average of $6,649 per person. This doesn’t even include the many complications associated with the disease.

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Even though obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to be major clinical and public health issues in the United States, the good news is that we can improve insulin resistance and even heal it through proper diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes.

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Insulin resistance is not only preventable, but it is also many times even reversible through aggressive lifestyle changes, supplementation, adequate exercise, and stress management. Weight loss through diet and exercise have shown to be the best treatments for restoring the body's insulin response. 

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Even losing a few pounds can help to control glucose levels in the blood and help prevent other health problems. Exercise can help prevent diabetes by lowering blood sugar and helping one to lose weight. It also assists in improving the cells’ sensitivity to insulin. 

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Diet

Watching carbohydrate intake, as well as focusing on a diet high in fiber and low in sugars is crucial. Previous research has shown that insulin resistance has a microbial component that alters the caloric extraction from ingested food. This relates to the importance of dietary fiber and insulin resistance. This is also seen with short chain fatty acids (SCFA) on patient stool analyses. Low levels of SCFAs tend to be linked to low levels of beneficial bacteria. When patients begin taking prebiotics or increase their dietary fiber intake by eating vegetables and fruits, the beneficial bacteria and SCFAs both increase.

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Eating a diet of healthy whole foods helps prevent and reverse diabetes and insulin resistance. A healthy diet promotes an optimal metabolism, activates the right gene messages, and prevents insulin resistance and diabetes.

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It is important to eat protein daily with every meal and to consume small protein-rich snacks. A breakfast high in protein has been shown to improve weight management. I recently came across a study that demonstrated how skipping breakfast promoted unhealthy blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes. More and more people are skipping breakfast, which is probably due to busy lifestyles and the intermittent fasting movement. That being said, skipping breakfast is probably not the best solution for those who struggle with stabilizing their blood sugar levels. Research published in Diabetes Care and presented at the American Diabetes Association meeting in Boston in June 2015, shows that fasting until noon triggers significant spikes in blood sugar and impairs the insulin responses of type 2 diabetics throughout the remainder of the day.

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Supplementation

There are several nutrients that can help to improve insulin signaling, including zinc, chromium, carnosine, alphalipoic acid (ALA), and inositol. Supplementation with ALA has shown to increase the insulin sensitivity by about 20% to 30%. While essential fatty acids are beneficial for overall health, most individuals with insulin resistance are deficient, so it is even more crucial for these individuals to supplement. Fish oils can also help to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. Omega Max and PostBio Max (my new short-chain fatty acid supplement) are available online and in office to help promote optimal blood sugar stabilization.

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