Blood Sugar Levels Effects Girl

T his is an excerpt from the ebook While the factors listed above (as well as any I might have overlooked) are certainly involved in influencing our genes toward crossing the threshold that gets us into diabetic territory, a big question that comes to my mind is: what are the stages of progression that culminate in type 2 diabetes? It seems that in all my reading over the years, I have not come across a detailed identification of the stages of progression on our way to full-blown diabetes. Sure, at a very high level, we know how we get there, but I needed to know more. Fortunately, I finally came across a research article by Gordon C. Weir and Susan Bonner-Weir published in the December, 2004 Diabetes journal called “Five Stages of Evolving b-Cell Dysfunction During Progression to Diabetes. You can read the study . This is exactly what I was looking for. In fact, it seems to validate some of my own findings. The stages listed are:   1. Compensation In this initial stage, the pancreas secretes additional insulin to meet the elevated demand, thus making it seem like nothing is wrong. The beta cells of the pancreas, which produce and store insulin, have increased in mass. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), which represents the insulin response within three to ten minutes of glucose (food) exposure, is normal. 2. Stable Adaptation By this stage, a person is in upper range or just above normal in terms of blood glucose. GSIS has diminished; beta-cell mass has been reduced and function disrupted. The pancreas can no longer compensate for the high levels of blood sugar. A person can remain in this stage for many years. Loss of gene expression is suspected here.   3. Unstable Early Decompensation There appears to be rapid entry into this stage as some threshold in pancreatic function is crossed. The stage doesn’t last long; it is transient in nature. Blood sugar rises relatively quickly as one enters stage 4. Glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity (irreversible damage from chronic levels of glucose and free fatty acids), occur respectively on key organ tissues. The liver, muscle, and fat are possibly affected.   4. Stable Decompensation There is severe loss of beta-cell function, or it is neutralized. Still, enough insulin production exists to remain in this stage, which is more stable than in stage 3. Blood sugar numbers are typically in the 285 to 350 range. Post-mortem studies confirm that beta-cells have been reduced to 50 percent mass in stage 4. Chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) induced stresses are suspected of causing cell death.   5. Severe Decompensation At stage 5, there is extremely severe loss of beta-cell mass and function. Typical in type 1 diabetes is blood glucose of more than 350. The diabetic is completely dependent on insulin therapy for survival. The condition progresses to ketoacidosis (burning of fatty acids) at such a level that it sets off chain reactions culminating in coma and/or death if left untreated.   Apparently, movement back and forth between stages 1 through 4 is entirely possible. This is something I have confirmed to some degree during my time experimenting and putting this information together. I recorded blood sugar numbers that fluctuated between 100 and 350 until I had a solid plan—after which I seem to have settled down to the low 100s and at times down to the 90s: perfectly well within normal range. About stage 2 the Weirs (2004, S18) wrote, “treating type 2 diabetes with diet, exercise and drugs, individuals can quickly return to stage 2 and remain in that stable range for a considerable amount of time as long as they continue the treatment and have no further decline in B-cell mass.” (B-cells are the beta cells in the pancreas that actually produce and store insulin). So, if you’re reading this, are a type 2, on (or not on) medication, are unhappy with your glucose control and believe that you’re stuck in that place, I ask that you consider the possibility that you can influence for a positive outcome. But don’t take my word or any scientist’s word for it; find out for yourself. My sincere hope and expectation is that you take the information in this book and apply it. But back to the stages. The article notes “even changes in caloric intake and exercise should allow individuals to move in and out of stage 3 (Weir & Weir, 2004 S19). Not that you want to move in once you’re out, but all of this is encouraging to me, and I hope to you as well. The way I feel is that unless I am in stage 5 (where I possibly could be at the point of no return), I don’t have to accept what is happening to me as long as I take the necessary steps to reverse type 2 diabetes. My 5Rs are those steps. They can lead you to success (along with the required foundational knowledge), but if and only if you take repeatable action. Nothing less.