Besides these beta cell destruction cases, I personally feel that the largest cause of diabetes in the world, are the diets of "developed" countries which are so rich in refined foods, such as bleached flour, white sugars, and purified salt. The first two, (white flour and white sugars),are examples of refined carbohydrates. Purified salt is a substance which contributes towards high blood pressure and blood vessel damage, though moderate amounts of unrefined sea salt do not have the same problems associated with it, since it continues to contain trace minerals, necessary for its proper use by the body. In addtion, poor quality fats, such as partially-hydrogenated oils and tropical oils, like palm oil, are having devastating effects in development of cardiovascular disease.
As we can already see, dietary factors are implicated in both heart disease and diabetes, and both eventually become a life-threatening battle to maintain blood circulation to the bodily tissues.
In the first chapter of his book, "The Adkins diet", Dr. Adkins accurately
sized up the problem as a "metabolic dysfunction", however, for a diabetic person,
eating more fats and protein (as is encouraged in this type of diet), is not a wise idea, I believe. This is especially true if the diabetic is overweight or obese. This diet, will, of course, cause a person to lose weight by preventing the body from storing sugars as fats, but the increase in dietary fats will most likely lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease formation, as it does in even healthy people. Another fact which must be considered here, is that when one depends upon these "MOST COMPLEX" forms of foods, (proteins and fats) for the largest part of their dietary intake, the increased metabolites (waste products) from the breakdown of these foods put an inordinate stress on the liver and kidneys, which must eliminate these waste products from our bodies, and on which the disease diabetes already places an extraordinary stress.
Instead of adhering to the "Adkins Diet" principles, it is recommended to read the book, "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" by Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D. This is the ONLY diet which has been clinically proven to reverse heart disease. This book is rich in information not only about dietary intake, but also includes information about other lifestyle changes which can help the conditons which contribute towards Cardiovascular disease. In addition, this book gives recipes for twenty-one days of menus, which can help as a guideline for revising dietary patterns. Information in the appendix regarding nutrient value of common foods is also helpful.
In the case of oils, as with carbohydrates, modern methods of processing have been employed to strip oils of their natural minerals, and they are then given to us in their nutrient-poor conditon. This causes metabolic problems in utilizing these refined foods, because the co-factors... (minerals and anti-oxidents, which normally protect our bodies), have been removed.
Historically, diabetes began to rise in the general population in approximately the same time frame as processed flour and sugars became widely available.... (around 1890).
Let us say that with few exceptions, foods which have been purified and have had all the mineral content, beneficial oils and anti-oxidents removed in the processing, are at the root of most of todays health ills. (At least in the category of choices which are under our direct control. For example, pollution would not be in this category.)
How Complex Carbs Reduce Insulin surges and Hyperinsulinism
Let's go back to the example of the Normal metabolism. This sort of metabolism occurs whenever the person is healthy, and the dietary intake is well-balanced, containing COMPLEX carbohydrates (such as cooked grains).
The reason for this is because the complex nature of the carbohydrates contained in natural, unprocessed grains (and other foods), makes the body take longer to break them down into glucose, thereby providing a steady, long-lasting breakdown of food into glucose instead of causing huge surges of glucose and insulin, as do refined carbohydrates. This slow breakdown of complex carbohydrates helps the beta cells to keep up with the slow, steady supply of glucose, and the slower and steadier need for insulin.
These raw grains also contain lots of fiber, which is good in a number of ways for the body. (Improves elimination of toxins and cholesterols, through the bowel, and helps provide a "full, satisfied feeling" when eating these simple-to-prepare, nutritionally-complex foods).
How Refined Carbohydrates cause Hyperinsulinism and Type II diabetes
Now, let us go through the metabolic process of digesting a REFINED carbohydrate. Let's say you have a slice or two of white bread, or a bowl of cereal as your breakfast... After eating these types of refined foods, the bulk is digested very quickly, and converted from starches into simple sugar, (glucose). It is then absorbed from the bowel, into the blood stream, and causes a large surge of insulin to be produced by the beta cells. The insulin, in turn, drags the sugar into the cells of the body... muscle cells, organ cells, (the liver can be saturated with sugar, at about 5 to 6 %), and then to the fat cells for storage as fats.
When refined carbohydrates are eaten, though, the insulin surge is much more pronounced, and much more insulin is produced than is needed to store the sugars...(a condition known as hyperinsulinism), and so the blood sugar levels begin to drop, (as the glucose is removed from the bloodstream), making the person feel drowsy or hungry.
Normally, in conditions of lowered blood glucose, (hypoglycemia), the alpha cells in the pancreas, sense the low blood glucose condition, and begin to produce another hormone, called glucogon, which tells the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream,(via a complex enzyme breakdown system, which acts on the stored sugars within the liver, called glycogen). The glucogon also signals the fat cells to burn their fat for energy. Thus the blood sugar level (in normal operating mode), returns to "normal levels" without eating anything to make this happen.
However, when high gycemic index, refined foods are eaten, an excess of insulin is produced (hyperinsulin condition). This excess insulin continues to circulate around in the blood stream, and prevents the glucogon from being released, and therefore, "short-circuits" the bodys glucose control mechanism. The choice with a refined foods diet becomes one of chosing between "crashing" and eating (more refined foods). This overstimulation of the beta cells by refined sugars, and the hyperinsulin condition which is produced by eating these types of foods is what sets the stage for the formation of diabetes in most people.
