PRE-DIABETES AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL
 Individuals suffering from reversible, Insulin Resistance-linked Pre-Diabetes are
at severely increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes,
a condition which may lead to Cardiovascular Disease.
The latter condition is one of the biggest killers of men
and women in the United States, according to the American
Heart Association.
Victims of Pre-Diabetes often suffer from elevated cholesterol
levels, hypertension (high blood pressure) and Insulin Resistance-linked
obesity - all factors which sharply increase the risk of
heart disease.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a broad term that describes
any disorder that can impact the functioning of the heart
muscle itself or the cardiovascular system. Conditions that
contribute to heart disease include hypertension, arteriosclerosis
(the build-up of calcium deposits on the artery wall) and
atherosclerosis (the build-up of fatty deposits on the artery
wall).
The causes of heart disease include: elevated LDL "bad" cholesterol,
low HDL "good" cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides
(substances that store fat for energy and are carried throughout
the blood stream to the tissues). Other causes are obesity,
Type 2 Diabetes, stress, cigarette smoking and lack of physical
activity.
Another factor in Pre-Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
may be the role of inflammation, which is part of the body's
immune system. Inflammation triggers a defense response to
harmful stimuli or injury by sending specialized blood cells
to damaged areas where they attack "invaders" like the renegade
molecules called "free radicals" and clean up dead and dying
cells.
In the case of inflammation and Pre-Diabetes, the "invader" is
thought to be excess levels of insulin, which can be caused
by the imbalance of blood glucose and insulin called Insulin
Resistance.
Inflammation can take an external form like the reddened,
tender skin which draws attention to a splinter in your finger.
Or it can be an unseen, internal process in response to something
harmful like high blood pressure.
To combat internal harm, inflammation produces C-reactive
protein (CRP), which, unfortunately, can damage the arteries
by helping to form plaque while attempting to tackle a long-term
disorder like high LDL cholesterol levels - often an accompanying
symptom of Pre-Diabetes.
Plaque is a substance that attaches itself to artery walls,
damaging those walls and seriously impairing blood flow,
which can leading to a heart attack or stroke. A blood test
measures CRP levels and the higher that level is, the more
at risk you are from Cardiovascular Disease. There's contradictory
evidence about whether CRP levels and Insulin Resistance
are closely linked.
Research about inflammation is often cutting edge material
that still needs ample verification. But scientists are gathering
data that inflammation precedes and may predict reversible
Pre-Diabetes, which, if left unchecked, can lead to the onset
of Type 2 Diabetes.
This latter condition can only be managed for the rest of
a Diabetic's life in the vast majority of cases and may require
daily injections of insulin. Type 2 Diabetes, itself, is
a severely increased risk factor for blindness, heart and
kidney disease and the need for amputation.
Previous research had already linked inflammation to heart
disease and obesity, which are both common in people with
Pre-Diabetes. To learn more, click
on Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes.
Symptoms of Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes
 Chronic high levels of glucose and insulin are classic symptoms
of Insulin Resistance and Pre-Diabetes, which can lead to
heart disease.
One of the primary risk factors for atherosclerosis, or
hardening of the arteries, is an elevated level of blood
lipids called triglycerides. The biggest risk factor for
increasing the production of triglycerides is the rate of
insulin secretion, which can be severely affected by Insulin
Resistance.
Insulin is produced in the pancreas and released into the
circulatory system where it is the key to the absorption
of glucose by your cells for energy. If the cells resist
insulin, then both insulin and glucose build up in the blood
stream. Excess insulin leads to weight gain and hypertension - both
precursors to Cardiovascular Disease and Pre-Diabetes. As
excess insulin comes in contact with the interior wall of
the arteries, it damages the tissue.
Additionally, LDL cholesterol particles seen in people who
suffer from Insulin Resistance are smaller and more dense
than those of people without this condition. This factor
has been directly linked to an increased risk of Cardiovascular
Disease, heart attacks and stroke, although the exact cause
of the relationship is unclear.
Increased LDL cholesterol is one of the underlying symptoms
that can trigger a blood test diagnosis of Pre-Diabetes,
which, if neglected, may lead to Type 2 Diabetes. This latter
condition is lifelong and may require daily insulin.
Obesity, elevated insulin, high blood lipids, poor diet
and physical inactivity are known to have an effect on the
development of high levels of cholesterol.
Scientists and health care professionals have been warning
in recent years of the dangers of high cholesterol. In general,
the lower a person's LDL, and the higher their HDL, the lower
the risk of Cardiovascular Disease.
Lifestyle Changes are Vital
 The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) advises
that addressing high levels of cholesterol is critical. "But
the idea that you can use cholesterol-lowering drugs without
lifestyle changes is incorrect," said Scott Grundy, M.D.,
Ph.D. and the American Heart Association's representative
to the NCEP.
"Lifestyle changes have enormous benefits beyond lowering
LDL cholesterol, such as raising levels of good cholesterol,
lowering triglycerides, improving Pre-Diabetes and reducing
inflammation of the arteries," Grundy concluded.
Recommendations for reducing heart disease risk are the
same as those for combating Insulin Resistance, namely losing
weight to decrease insulin levels by avoiding carbohydrates,
balancing cholesterol and lowering blood pressure.
Reversing Pre-Diabetes can help reduce the underlying conditions
that lead to heart disease as well as preventing Type 2 Diabetes.
The risks of developing Pre-Diabetes and heart disease can
be reversed or reduced through careful food choices, exercise
and weight loss in obese individuals. But a multi-faceted
approach is clearly necessary to address all the symptoms
of these conditions.
What's needed to address the issues presented by these disorders
is a complete system, including nutraceuticals (vitamins,
herbs and minerals that are disease specific), a realistic
exercise program combined with nutritional guidance and a
support network that will help you change unhealthy lifestyle
choices.
Click here to
read about the Insulite Pre-Diabetes System,
a unique, scientifically-designed program to reverse Pre-Diabetes before
it develops into Type 2 Diabetes, creating
a severely increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Among the system's formulations is Pre-SensitX, which contains
vanadium sulfate, a compound that lowers cholesterol and
increases insulin sensitivity.
You may be interested in some Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs) about Pre-Diabetes and the
Insulite Pre-Diabetes System:
Click here
to read about Pre-Diabetes and Heart Disease
|
