Insulin is a powerful hormone produced by the beta cells in the pancreas. Its primary function is to assist the movement of glucose in the bloodstream into the cells of the body to provide energy. Often overlooked is the fact that insulin also directs fat cells to convert glucose and fatty acids in the blood into fat for storage. This is the starting point of the rollercoaster ride of balancing blood sugars and excess body fat. By taking a look at the two types of diabetes it is easy to see how this hormone functions.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune dysfunction of the body in which the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin, are destroyed by the body. The result is a lack of insulin to properly facilitate the journey of glucose into the body’s tissues. This causes blood sugars to remain dangerously high while the cells are literally “starving”. The lack of insulin also results in the body’s inability to store fat. Therefore a type one diabetic before diagnosis will in most cases remain rail thin due to the lack of insulin regardless of how much they eat.
Type 2 diabetes that accounts for up to 95% of people with diabetes has just the opposite foundation, one of insulin resistance. Over time the cells for some reason no longer respond to the insulin trying to get in. The body responds by producing more and more insulin. The body of a type 2 diabetic can produce as much as three times the amount of insulin as that of a normal healthy adult. The result is for an extended period of time until diagnosed and under control the body suffers the adverse effects of both high blood glucose levels and high insulin levels. Though the primary insulin function of moving glucose into the cells is no longer working properly, the function of fat storage triggered by insulin is in full force hence 95% of type two diabetics are overweight.
We all know the added danger of being overweight as far as general health is concerned. In type two diabetes it is even more exasperated because of the additional dangers of excess insulin in the bloodstream or hyperinsulinemia. This condition highly raises the risk of heart disease because of the hormones shifting the fat metabolism in the body. It’s not just the fat around your middle but in short more fat is also circulating in the bloodstream and converted into LDL or “bad” cholesterol while the HDL or “good” cholesterol is lowered. As a fatter body is more insulin resistant it becomes a vicious and dangerous cycle of using more insulin to control blood sugars resulting in more fat stored because of the insulin used.
So insulin or the “fat hormone” must be reduced in the body of the diabetic. Reduced by proper lifestyle that includes plenty of exercise, a stress reduction program and a diet tailored to reduce the amount of insulin needed by the body. It doesn’t matter if the insulin comes from the pancreas or from injections. A lifestyle must be adopted that will decrease insulin resistance. My experience has shown a synergic adoption of yoga practices that include asana, meditation, breath work and mindfulness offer the perfect foundation for taming insulin resistance. Once insulin levels have decreased it will allow for that ever-elusive weight loss and a reduced risk of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.
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