Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-Diabetes

People with blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the Type II Diabetic range have "Pre-Diabetes". Doctors sometimes call this condition impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), depending on the test used to diagnose it. The good news is that Pre-Diabetes doesn’t have to lead to Type 2 Diabetes. An underlying cause of Metabolic Syndrome is Insulin Resistance, a condition that increases the chances of developing Pre-Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. So an understanding of the interaction of Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-Diabetes is critical to making lifestyle changes that can help you avoid Type 2 Diabetes and many other health problems. Food is broken down in the body into glucose, the simple sugar that is the main source of energy. It is digested into many different macromolecules -- protein, fat and carbohydrates. Then, carbohydrates are broken down further into glucose which is the simple energy used by cells for fuel. Insulin allows this glucose to leave the blood stream and enter the cell where it can fuel the activities of that cell. Your pancreas makes and secretes insulin. But glucose can’t enter the cells if your pancreas doesn't manufacture enough insulin or your cells are unable to process the insulin that is present in the blood stream. As a result, glucose levels become elevated, setting the stage for Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. "Tissues with too much fat produce fewer insulin receptors and are more resistant to insulin. In a vicious cycle, the pancreas responds by pumping more insulin until the insulin-producing cells die from exhaustion. Type 2 diabetes ensues." -  A. MAUREEN ROUHI, Chemical and Engineering News. November 22, 2004.Vol. 82, No.47   When you are Insulin Resistant, your muscle, fat and liver cells do not use insulin properly. The pancreas tries to keep up with the demand for insulin by producing more. Eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up with the body's need for insulin, causing excess glucose to build-up in the blood stream. Many people with Insulin Resistance have high levels of both blood glucose and insulin circulating in their blood at the same time. You have Pre-Diabetes when those blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet at the level to be classified as Diabetic. Pre-Diabetes means you have a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, formerly called Adult-Onset Diabetes or Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes. Studies have shown that most people with Pre-Diabetes go on to develop Type II Diabetes within 10 years unless they make changes to their weight, their diet and their levels of physical activity. People with Pre-Diabetes are also at higher risk of damaging their cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart attacks or stroke. Reversing the symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome and Pre-Diabetes are crucial factors in heart disease prevention because, for example, those with Pre-Diabetes have a 1.5 times increased risk of Cardiovascular Disease compared to people with normal blood glucose. This is because arterial damage, abnormal lipid profiles and blood pressure problems start before the diagnosis of Diabetes. But the damage is begun in the Pre-Diabetes stage. Studies are currently under way using diabetic medicines and some types of blood pressure drugs to help control Pre-Diabetes and Insulin Resistance, though no pharmaceutical has yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for these conditions. In 2001, the National Institutes of Health completed the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a clinical trial designed to find the most effective ways of preventing Type 2 Diabetes in overweight people with Pre-Diabetes. The researchers found that lifestyle changes reduced the risk of Diabetes by 58 percent, and many people with Pre-Diabetes returned to normal blood glucose levels. However, a multi-faceted approach is required to address the symptoms of these conditions. A complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins, herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic exercise program combined with nutritional guidance and a support system, is required to help you change unhealthy lifestyle choices. Click here to read about Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Return to Home Page