Diabetes is an modern day epidemic and according to the American Diabetes Association, it affects over 23 million Americans . They also claim that almost 79 million are PRE-Diabetic and on the verge of a diabetic diagnosis.
This disease has gone from almost being non existent at the turn of 20th Century, to now affecting millions of men, women and children. In fact, so many children are being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes they had to change the name from “Adult onset” diabetes.
Why does this disease continue to rise despite our medical and dietary efforts? According to the American Diabetes Association we spend approximately 174 Billion on this disease annually!
So what is it? Why can’t we get this very PREVENTABLE disease under control?
I believe it is because we completely ignore the underlying true cause of it and therefore it only gets worse.
Most people understand that diabetes has something to do with glucose and insulin. Exactly what, they are often clueless.
I recently was speaking to one of my diabetic patients about this and he indicated that his diabetes was “his body’s inability to convert glucose to insulin resulting in too much glucose and an insulin deficiency”. When I asked him where he learned that, he told me that is “what his doctor told him”.
Now, I don’t honestly believe that his doctor told him this (which, by the way, is completely false and way off the mark), but I don’t doubt this is what he truly believed to be the explanation of his condition. It, of course, made perfect sense to this patient that the need for MORE insulin to be added to his body was the treatment he needed.
I bring this up because it is the classic misunderstanding of this disease that has allowed so many people to not only acquire it, but make it worse when they are diagnosed.
The TRUE mechanism of diabetes is insulin resistance.
When you eat food with sugar in it (glucose), your body must move it out of your blood and into a cell where it can be used for energy or stored for energy at a later time. The pancreas secretes the hormone insulin to go attach itself to the glucose and carry it to the cell. On the cell there are receptors specific for insulin that allow the glucose molecule to be transferred from the blood to inside the cell.
This process occurs every time you eat something with sugar. Individuals who eat LOTS of sugar, however, begin to make their pancreas overwork. Unfortunately, insulin can only carry one glucose molecule at a time, so if you eat TOO much sugar your pancreas will have to make lots of insulin. Do this often enough and long enough and your pancreas eventually can’t keep up.
In addition, the receptors on your cells become less sensitive to insulin (insulin resistant) and the ability to transfer glucose in the cell is decreased.
This results in glucose left in your blood, and when tested by your doctor, you are diagnosed with diabetes.
Now, what was the true cause of this condition. Was it a lack of insulin, or was it too much sugar?
Too much sugar! Your pancreas was producing insulin just fine until it just couldn’t keep up anymore.
What then would be the best thing you can do to bring your glucose level down and give your pancreas a rest?
Eliminate sugar of course!
Now, I will be honest and say most people understand that diabetics should reduce their sugar intake. What most struggle with is understanding how much sugar is in EVERYTHING and in most cases fail to eliminate it enough.
The second key and the one most missed by doctors and patients is the need to eliminate GRAINS!
In fact, most diabetics get put on a low sugar, low fat, and high carbohydrate diet.
This is a recipe for disaster and why most diabetics fail miserably when trying to control their diabetes “with diet”.
What most don’t understand is that sugar is present in Grain. Amylose is the sugar found in grain (more in white) that causes the pancreas to release insulin as if you were eating a spoonful of white sugar. When you eat a diet high in grain you are essentially eating a diet high in sugar.
We all know sugar makes diabetes worse, and so does grains! If you are ever going to “control” your diabetes or allow your body to heal you must eliminate BOTH!
A common misconception is that as long as you “limit” your starches and and sugar that you can control your diabetes. This is as false as saying that playing on a broken or sprained ankle will not produce any additional damage and allow the body to properly heal. Everyone knows that you must allow complete rest in order for it to heal properly. The same is true for your pancreas and insulin receptors.
We often find that patients, who eliminate both grains and sugar, allow healing to occur in their pancreas and the need for their medication is eliminated.
So, if you are currently struggling with diabetes or pre-diabetes, eliminate both sugar and grains from your diet. this will allow an opportunity for healing to occur and a possible reduction or elimination of your medications.
About the Author: Dr. Tunis Hunt Jr is a healthcare professional serving the Charlotte, NC area. His Bio-Nutrition program is an new and unique approach to health that searches for the “true” underlying causes of disease and symptoms. Utilizing the latest diagnostic labs and protocols, Dr. Hunt helps patients with a variety of symptoms and concerns. In addition, Dr. Hunt lectures throughout the community of a variety of health topics. To reach Dr. Hunt or to learn more about his Bio-Nutrition Program visit his website at: www.HuntForWellness.com.
