Diabetes is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Even more chilling, it is the first leading cause of death for children. The rising rates of obesity in this country have also led to rising rates of type II diabetes (also called adult onset diabetes). Today, one in 12 adults are afflicted with the disease. This means that over 16 million people have the disorder, with 6 million of them walking around undiagnosed and unaware of their sensitive insulin condition.
Type II diabetes is created by increased aging, obesity, poor nutrition, high stress and physical inactivity. All of these conditions can be traced back to one source high acidity. Over-acid lifestyles and food choices have negative impacts on health, which is shown by the rapidly increasing diabetes rates in the country.
Diabetes is an old disorder. It has been known about for thousands of years and yet it is only today that it has become an epidemic. Part of the problem is that the nature of diabetes is a mystery, even to educated adults. People do not understand what insulin does in the body and how the insulin metabolism affects the health. Even current medical science has some misconceptions about the true nature of the disorder.
While exact causes of diabetes are not clear, there is speculation concerning obesity and diabetes. It is the classic cyclic question, which comes first. As an individual’s weight increases as result of poor nutrition, over indulgence and an inactive lifestyle, the body responds less and less to its natural metabolic processes. It fails to convert glucose into fuel for the cell. As a result, the glucose is stored as fat, contributing to the existing weight problem. It is acceptable to state that reduction of weight can assist in prevention or management of the disease.
Another speculation regarding the cause of diabetes is raised levels of pH, or acidity in the body. Studies have found that when a person consumes certain foods or drinks with high acidic value, the liver, muscles and fat cells are over-stimulated. The overstimulation signals these cells to release whatever glucose they contain into the bloodstream. This causes high blood sugar levels. The body responds by releasing fat to neutralize the pH levels. When things return to some form of normal, the body stores the fat to protect cells from future blood sugar elevation. As time goes by, the repeating process can lead to other serious health risks, including diabetes. Elevated levels of pH can cause inflammation and damage to the cardiovascular system, endocrine system and circulatory system to name a few.
Furthermore, the role insulin plays in the metabolic process is not fully understood. The common belief is that insulin is needed to regulate blood sugar levels in the body. The term “insulin dependent” was coined in the 1950’s. It gave to the impression that muscle and fat required insulin to unlock the cell, allowing it to convert the glucose. However, current studies conclude that many different cellular bodies transport glucose. Cells need glucose for their cellular respiration process, regardless of insulin presence.
The nature of diabetes is very individual. While it may manifest itself in the form of different symptoms, the illness is dependent upon management and proactive measures. Balance is of the essence in combating diabetes. Balance of hormones in the endocrine system, weight management and activity levels. Nutrition and fitness have been found to effectively prevent the onset of diabetes, as well as control its progression once diagnosed. Nutritionally, incorporating alkalizing foods, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates (as opposed to simple carbohydrates) helps to restore the body’s natural balance. With an increase in physical activity, pre-diabetes and diabetes can be successfully prevented or managed.
