Insulin Resistance Syndrome:
A Common Cause of Carbohydrate Cravings,
Fatigue, Depression and Obesity
by Bernie Noe, ND
Many people with fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, overweight, or
sugar/starch cravings are suffering from dysglycemia, which is a disruption
in blood sugar metabolism caused primarily by diet. Other conditions
that can also be linked to this problem include high blood pressure,
some types of high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, adult
onset diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Blood sugar problems occur on spectrum of disease with fatigue, depression,
hypoglycemia, and cravings at one end, and adult onset-diabetes at
the other end. All of these conditions are caused by the same basic
problem, dysglycemia, with where you are on the spectrum indicating
the severity of your disease. It is important to point out here that
not every one with fatigue, depression, high cholesterol or high blood
pressure has dysglycemia or insulin resistance, but many of them do.
Virtually everyone with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, or adult-onset
diabetes, however, does have insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance occurs when cells which would normally take sugar
out of the blood, and hence lower blood sugar, become resistant to
the action of insulin. It therefore takes more insulin to keep a person’s
blood sugar in check. People with insulin resistance syndrome will
consequently have normal blood sugar levels and elevated insulin levels.
People with insulin resistance tend to gain weight and suffer from
carbohydrate cravings that in some cases can be quite intense. They
may not feel satisfied if they eat a meal that doesn’t contain carbohydrates,
and they may find it difficult to stop eating carbohydrates once they’ve
started, even bingeing at times. They will also frequently experience
elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowered HDL cholesterol
levels. HDL cholesterol is the good type of cholesterol that offers
protection against heart disease. Many of these people also suffer
from hypoglycemia, a condition that can cause fatigue, anxiety, and
shakiness if they don’t eat frequently enough.
A general rule of thumb is that if your triglyceride to HDL ratio
is greater than 3, you probably have insulin resistance. For example,
if your triglycerides are 158 and your HDL cholesterol is 35, your
triglyceride to HDL ratio is 158 divided by 35 equals 4.5 and you
probably have insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance is a very common condition in the US, with estimates
of its prevalence running as high as 25%. Additionally, those with
IRS are at increased risk of developing adult onset diabetes, high
blood pressure, and heart disease.
Insulin resistance is a multi-factorial disease, which means that
people who develop this condition usually do so because of a variety
of genetic, lifestyle, and diet factors. Those with a family history
of adult onset diabetes, for example, are at an increased risk of
developing insulin resistance. Individuals who are overweight, have
a sedentary lifestyle, or eat a diet high in saturated fat or simple
carbohydrates are also at risk.
The primary treatment for insulin resistance syndrome is a high protein,
low carbohydrate diet. The most problematic type of carbohydrate for
people with IRS are the simple carbohydrates which are found in foods
such as cakes, candies, pies, muffins, and ice cream. These foods
contain large amounts of sugar, which go straight into the blood and
quickly raise blood sugar, hence increasing the demand for insulin
to bring the blood sugar levels back down. Even complex carbohydrates
such as potatoes, bread, and pastas are fairly quickly digested and
broken down into sugars. It is therefore very important that people
with insulin resistance limit their intake of all carbohydrates. Proteins
and most vegetables, on the other hand, do not have this effect on
blood sugar. Proteins, in fact, will slow the absorption of the sugars
that come from carbohydrates and decrease their impact on blood sugar
and insulin levels.
Exercise and nutrients such as chromium, magnesium, vanadium, and
vitamin E can also be helpful in the management of insulin resistance
syndrome. All of these nutrients are required for the proper metabolism
of sugar. Exercise, on the other hand, has direct blood sugar lowering
effects. It can therefore decrease the demand for insulin.
Most people with insulin resistance who follow the above recommendations
will find that they lose weight, no longer crave carbohydrates, and
don’t experience the fatigue, anxiety, or shakiness characteristic
of hypoglycemia. They also will generally find that their cholesterol
and triglyceride levels drop, and that their HDL levels rise, sometimes
dramatically.
While not everyone who is overweight or has high cholesterol levels
suffers from insulin resistance syndrome, anyone with these problems
who doesn’t respond to a standard low fat diet and exercise therapy
should be evaluated for this condition. This is especially true if
they experience carbohydrate cravings or the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Naturopathic doctors are physician
experts in treating the underlying cause of disease and using natural
medicines to help people get and stay well. To see a naturopathic
doctor for help in determining whether you suffer from insulin resistance
syndrome, please make a selection below.
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