Risk factors for diabetes – Watch out for the signs of metabolic syndrome

Warning sign #1 Metabolic syndrome

Today, an increasingly common state in developed nations is now known as the Metabolic Syndrome (formerly called Syndrome X).

This state is related to insulin resistance, where your body produces insulin, but the cells don’t react correctly. Metabolic syndrome has many health hazards connected with that. It can lead straight to type II diabetes, a disorder that takes a whole host of really adverse health hazards and is now a national outbreak. If you’re heavy, you might be heading down the path of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The great news is the fact that, if you can correct this, your weight problems will be addressed by you along with your wellbeing.

In the event you have metabolic syndrome, do you know? If you’re heavy set, well, you’re a great candidate. Should you take much of your extra weight around your midsection, have cravings for sweets or carbohydrates, have high blood pressure, or high triglycerides, you almost definitely have some level of metabolic syndrome. Luckily, you can merely treat yourself for metabolic syndrome, and it’ll probably be valuable for you. The common denominator of the state is blood sugar (glucose) levels. And keeping glucose levels constant and low will most likely boost your wellbeing.

Related: The ultimate proactive diabetes fitness guide-don’t give up fight back!

I was fanatical about measuring my blood sugar when I was diabetic. It’s to get anything like that, or it assessed yearly. Blood sugar goes up and down through the day, and I liked to realize my blood sugar levels reacted to the various foods and tasks encountered during the day. Now that I am diabetic, I continue to monitor my blood glucose. Why?

To begin with, being diabetic gets me at high risk for being diabetic later on. So assessing my blood sugar often lets me understand if I start getting into trouble. But it’s considerably more than simply this. By keeping my blood glucose as low as possible, I optimize my health and weight loss, probably the same for you.

Be proactive: Start tracking blood sugar.

It may appear extreme; however, there are excellent reasons for you to begin tracking your blood sugar. First, if you show any other signals of the metabolic syndrome or are overweight, the advantages of monitoring blood sugar could be significant.

Second, glucose meters are now broadly accessible.

Third, they aren’t overly high-priced if you examine them frequently, even though the test strips may add up. Third, if you’re able to correct your lifestyle to maintain your glucose levels constant and low, the result might be better wellbeing, longer life, and lower body weight.

Your blood sugar will probably be kept between 70 and 100 mg/dL. Degrees will tend to peak after meals, especially if sweet or starchy foods are consumed. Should you be eating the kinds of foods that cause blood sugar to spike considerably higher than this, then at this point, you have a tool to give feedback about how your wellbeing, as well as your waistline, is impacting.

If you locate your blood sugar going after meals above around 140 mg/dL, it becomes crucial to address this. Not only is this currently preventing you from slimming down, but it’s beginning to impact your wellbeing, and you’re on the path to more severe complications, including diabetes. So I cannot overstate how much you really might be enhancing your health by correcting your lifestyle to keep this from happening.

Eating fewer animal products, whole foods, more fiber, eating frequently, and introducing exercise will likely boost your glucose levels. In this instance, lifestyle changes are somewhat more significant than ever. But do contemplate addressing this state without assistance from an excellent doctor. Diabetes is a life-threatening illness. Measuring at this point enables me to understand what my peak amounts are. Then I know I’m on top of matters if I can keep my summits under control.

Obesity is a considerable risk factor

In the first initial phases of metabolic syndrome, you can create extra insulin to compensate for declining effects. However, you’re likely to find more distinct peaks and valleys in your glucose levels when you’ve got this state. So, in case your blood sugar seems fantastic, but you’re still struggling with weight problems, you might want to have a physician measure indeed your fasting insulin levels to make sure they’re not high. Either way, you may always reap the benefits of living the same lifestyle that encourages blood glucose levels that are lower.

With this state, some of you can worry about having blood sugar going low. The truth is, you might have concerns that this is the reason why you need that soda pop, and your blood sugar drops too low at specific stages in the day. It’s extra insulin that’s causing this to occur, and that soda pop, while it might cause you to feel better for a little while, is just the sort of food option that’s making you feel this manner.

Removing sweets certainly will remove this feeling and make your blood glucose levels more constant. However, unless you’ve got an uncommon health problem, the sole means you’ll have issues with low blood sugar is that the state is corrected the same way you correct high blood sugar and create an excessive amount of insulin.

We’re all distinct. No one enjoys poking at their finger as a way to draw a drop of blood. But then again, no one enjoys expiring at a young age and being overweight. There’s no magical cure for diabetes, but you can restore your health. There are no promises, but there are people out there that have been able to reverse type 2 diabetes.

Causes of metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is inherited in only about 3% of all cases, so an unhealthy lifestyle causes most diseases. Excessive energy intake, especially foods high in fat and sugar, combined with lack of exercise, can lead to morbid overweight (obesity). Overweight people also have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

Furthermore, blood glucose levels are elevated due to an excessively rich diet, causing the body to secrete an excess of insulin to lower blood glucose concentrations. This permanently high insulin secretion is called insulin resistance. This insulin resistance is particularly dangerous in the abdominal fat cells, as it promotes the development of diabetes, hypometabolic disorders, and high blood pressure.

In the course of hypometabolic disorders, the body can no longer utilize or break down fat, which is reflected in increased cholesterol levels and triglycerides. These, in turn – if present in excess – is deposited on blood vessel walls and lead to vasoconstriction or calcification.

Diagnosis of metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when there is an increased waist circumference in men over 94 to 102 cm, in women over 80 to 88 cm, and at least two more of the following criteria:

• low HDL cholesterol (men below 40 mg/dl, women below 50 mg/dl)
• elevated triglyceride levels (above 150 mg/dl)
• High blood pressure (above 130/85 mmHg)
• Elevated fasting blood glucose (above 100 mg/dl)

 Additionally, elevated uric acid levels may be indicative of metabolic syndrome.

Since the typical values do not cause pain or discomfort in those affected, metabolic syndrome is often not recognized. Therefore, a physical examination by the physician consists of a measurement of blood pressure, waist circumference, a blood test, and detailed medical history, in which the diet and lifestyle of the affected person are inquired.

Metabolic syndrome: Therapy

The appropriate therapy is primarily intended to prevent the development of secondary diseases. The earlier this treatment takes place, the better existing symptoms can be alleviated or secondary illnesses prevented. However, improvement does not occur overnight but usually extends over several months. The treatment spectrum essentially includes

• Reduction of excess weight (lifestyle change)
• Lowering blood lipid levels (LDL cholesterol, triglycerides)
• Lowering blood pressure (below 130/85 mmHg)

Sometimes it is sufficient to change the lifestyle accordingly. This includes a change in diet, emphasizing avoiding foods high in fat and cholesterol, smoking and alcohol consumption. A healthy lifestyle should be accompanied by about 30 minutes of exercise every day. If these initial measures are insufficient, the doctor usually recommends drug therapy. Various active ingredients are available for this purpose:

Obesity: orlistat is a lipase inhibitor, i.e., it prevents the breakdown of fats so that they are excreted undigested by the body.

High blood pressure: ACE inhibitors have a vasodilatory effect and lower blood pressure. Beta-blockers block ß-receptors so that the impact of stress hormones is reduced. Calcium antagonists prevent calcium from flowing into the cells, thus reducing the tension in the vessels and lowering blood pressure. Diuretics promote the excretion of blood pressure-increasing sodium chloride.

Lipid metabolism disorders: Statins lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels by preventing the new formation of fats in the liver. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors avoid cholesterol absorption from the intestine, while fibrates primarily lower elevated triglyceride levels.

Sugar metabolism disorders: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors prevent the rise in blood glucose levels after eating by slowing the absorption of sugar. Biguanides also retard sugar absorption, and glitazones reduce insulin resistance. Sulfonylureas are most commonly used in type 2 diabetics; they promote insulin production in the pancreas. Insulin is given to type 2 diabetics when other blood sugar-lowering drugs are ineffective.

Therapy is based on which values are out of balance in the individual case and aims to alleviate the symptoms or prevent secondary diseases.

Metabolic syndrome: What you can do yourself

Less fat, less sugar, no alcohol – sufficient exercise. This is the short formula for preventing or counteracting metabolic syndrome. Therefore, first and foremost, pay attention to a balanced diet. Too much energy inevitably affects body weight. Consequently, it is favorable to switch to a low-fat diet, whereby the proportion of fat in the diet should not exceed 30%. Up to 20% of the daily diet, on the other hand, should consist of protein, and carbohydrates may also be on the menu with a share of at least 50%.

However, look for high-quality foods, such as whole-grain bread, cereals (carbohydrates), high-quality unsaturated fatty acids (olive, kernel, nut oils, etc.), and valuable protein (e.g., low-fat dairy products, legumes, lean meat). To keep the vitamin and mineral balance in balance, eating vegetables or/and fruit five times a day is ideal.

Without exercise, it is difficult to achieve weight loss. Therefore, you should plan about 30 minutes a day for sports and fitness. Light endurance sports (walking, cycling, hiking) are suitable for the body and soul and increase energy consumption. For the sake of your cholesterol level, avoid nicotine and alcohol to prevent high blood pressure.

 Learn more about the diabetes loophole here.