EVERYONE HAS heard about insulin. It is a popular drug used by many diabetics to control their blood sugar levels, and when used properly it has saved the lives of many patients. Sadly, I regularly see patients who are suffering (and sometimes dying) from insulin poisoning.
MORE ON INSULIN
Insulin is a hormone. A hormone is a substance normally produced by the body that in extremely small amounts exerts powerful effects on our bodies. What distinguishes insulin from other hormones is that you do not have to take injections or pills to have dangerously high levels of it in the system. Just eating the typical, modern diet, containing large amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates will result in the over production of insulin.
INSULIN AND DIABETES
Medical research has found that high levels of insulin are usually present in the bloodstream several years before the obvious signs of diabetes develop. Contrary to popular belief, many diabetics suffer from too much, and not too little, insulin. For these patients, the practice of taking drugs to make the body produce more insulin, or even worse, giving insulin by injection, is like trying to extinguish a fire with gasolene.
Many of the complications of diabetes are due to or are exacerbated by excess insulin. A common sign of insulin poisoning is when the blood sugar level falls too low, an all-too-frequent occurrence in many people. The reality is, diabetes is primarily a diet-related disorder and it requires nutritional solutions.
INSULIN AND THE HEART
Insulin is hazardous to the heart. Individuals with high insulin levels have an increased risk of heart disease, as do patients taking insulin injections. It appears that insulin affects the cells lining the walls of the blood vessels and contributes to high blood pressure, heart attacks and circulatory problems.
INSULIN AND CANCER
There is substantial evidence to support the fact that high levels of insulin increase the risk of colon, liver, pancreatic, breast and uterine cancer. High insulin levels are common in cancer patients. Experiments have also shown that insulin injections increase the growth of cancer in animals.
INSULIN AND AGEING
Insulin stimulates the multiplication of cells and activation of genes. Prolonged exposure to high levels of insulin actually changes the genetic behavior of cells, making them act like older, rather than younger cells. It is believed that every cell in the body is programmed to multiply a certain number of times. By accelerating cell multiplication, insulin speeds up this process, thus resulting in the creation of biologically older cells in a relatively young or middle-age body.
INSULIN AND OTHER DISEASES
Several studies have linked elevated insulin levels to damage to the nervous system. This is common in diabetic patients. Memory and thought impairment, dementia, and even Alzheimer's disease are also associated with insulin overload.
THE BOTTOM LINE
In the right amount, insulin is essential to good health. In excess, it is a poison. Each person can do a lot to prevent the problems mentioned above by drastically reducing your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates. These precautionary measures, if practised, will control your insulin levels. The average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar every year! We in Jamaica are not far behind.
Email Dr. Tony Vendryes at Vendryes@mac.com or visit the website www.anounceofoprevention.org You may also listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on Power 106 FM on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.
