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Managing Your Menopause Type®
Educational Class |
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Session Three - Your Risks of Disease |
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INSULIN RESISTANCE & DIABETES |
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The Relationship Between Hypoglycemia, Insulin
Resistance & Diabetes |
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Dysglycemia ("a dysfunction of glucose in the
blood") often develops along a clear pathway. It may start as reactive
hypoglycemia, progress through insulin resistance, then hyperglycemia and
eventually lead to complete diabetes. Understanding this progression will
allow us to recognize it in it's early stages, and make choices that can stop
the development of diabetes. |
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THE FOUR STAGES OF DYSGLYCEMIA |
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The four stages of dysglycemia, outlined below, can
be considered as follows: |
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1. |
Reactive Hypoglycemia |
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2. |
Insulin Resistance with Hyperinsulinemia |
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3. |
Hyperglycemia |
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4. |
Diabetes |
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Reactive Hypoglycemia |
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At first, there may be signs of reactive
hypoglycemia. This is low blood sugar due to an over reactive
attempt of the body to control increasing blood sugar levels. Reactive hypoglycemia may be due to too many refined
carbohydrates in the diet. In addition, low hormone levels may be a
contributing factor. |
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Reactive hypoglycemia may be
seen on a Glucose/Insulin Tolerance Test as an excessive spike of
insulin after taking a glucose drink. This excessive spike of insulin (from
an over reactive pancreas) causes blood sugar to have an excessive drop- thus
causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). |
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Reactive hypoglycemia is
believed to be one of the first signs of abnormal blood glucose & blood
insulin function. Since excessive intake of refined carbohydrates, and the
elevations of blood sugar that accompany these foods, have been associated
with reactive hypoglycemia, any decrease in refined carbohydrates can help
control reactive hypoglycemia. |
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Choosing foods with a low
glycemic index can decrease these elevations of blood sugar and the
associated reactive hypoglycemia. Women of menopause age do much better on
diets that have complex, unrefined carbohydrates instead of refined
carbohydrates. |
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Insulin
Resistance with Hyperinsulinemia (“Syndrome-X”) |
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If
elevated blood sugars are not controlled, due to an inability to eliminate refined
carbohydrates from the diet, then the body will respond by raising blood
insulin levels in an attempt to lower the high blood sugar levels. |
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High
insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance as the cells of the body may become
resistant to the insulin that the body makes. Fasting insulin levels above 26
uIU/ml suggest that some degree of hyperinsulinemia is present. Ideally, a
fasting glucose level will be done as well. |
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Though
the body has increased insulin levels in order to manage the higher blood
sugar levels, it comes at a cost. Hyperinsulinemia carries an increased risk
for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke and some
forms of cancer, including breast and uterine cancer as discussed on slide 6. |
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When the
increased insulin levels fail to control blood glucose levels, it can
eventually lead to increased blood sugar levels - hyperglycemia. |
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Hyperglycemia |
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Hyperglycemia
- elevated blood glucose levels - result when the insulin can no longer
compensate for the high glucose levels. The high blood glucose may be due to
the inability of the cells in the body to properly utilize insulin. |
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Though
blood glucose levels can rise after a meal, they should not be high in the
morning (on a fasting blood test), or should not exceed a certain level even
after a meal. |
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When
blood glucose levels are consistently a high on fasting, or excessively high
after eating then hyperglycemia may be diagnosed. Fasting glucose levels
above 105 mg/dl suggest some degree of hyperglycemia. |
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Ideally,
a fasting insulin level will be done as well. Extremely elevated insulin
levels can occur as the body attempts to over-ride the insulin resistance. As
insulin fails to control blood glucose levels, there is an affect on tissues
throughout the body. |
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As
glucose levels continue to stay high, it cause damage to tissues and organs
throughout the body including the pancreas itself. This can eventually lead
to damaged beta cells (the cells that make insulin) resulting in diabetes |
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Diabetes |
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As
insulin resistance continues uncorrected, and the beta cells
of the pancreas continue pumping out increased amount of insulin, they
eventually burn out and no longer produce any insulin, resulting in full
blown diabetes. Diabetes carries increased risk for a number of other
diseases. |
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Heart
Disease: Individuals with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to
develop heart disease. |
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Kidney
Failure: Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic irreversible
kidney disease |
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Blindness:
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in 20 - 74
years old individuals. |
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Amputation:
Diabetes is the leading cause of foot and leg amputations that are not due to
injury. |
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What's
Next? |
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Next, we will look at tests which can be used to
assess reactive hypoglycemia, insulin resistance (with hyperinsulinemia),
hyperglycemia & diabetes. |
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The Managing Your Menopause Type® Educational Class
is provided to the public without charge. This information is provide for
education purposes only, and is not intended to prescribe treatment. Consult
a physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional regarding the
applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your
symptoms or medical condition. |
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