What Causes Diabetes? The Real Answer May Surprise You

In this article, I am going to focus on what causes diabetes type 2. This is partly because 95% of all diabetics are type 2. More importantly, however, I will focus on type 2 diabetes because it is preventable and completely reversible. If I can show you what really causes diabetes, you will have the power to do something about it.



How would you answer the following question: "What causes diabetes?"



Would you give one or more of the following answers:



1. Too much sugar and other carbs in diet2. Genetics - it runs in the family - it's inherited3. Being overweight - obesity - eating too much4. Lack of exercise - being a couch potato5. Not enough sleep and poor quality of sleep6. Too much stress and anxiety



The truth is these factors are not the underlying cause of diabetes. They do put you at a much higher risk of being susceptible to the underlying cause. They also make the disease worse if you already have it. However, and I want to really emphasize this to you, these factors are NOT the cause of the disease. Does this surprise you? Of course it does because the vast majority of people have no idea what really causes diabetes. However, I am about to tell you what really causes diabetes and I hope you will help spread the word. If more people knew about this, we could lower the rates of diabetes and even reverse it.



The real cause lies in a radical change that took place in our food supply in the early 1900's. This major change was the introduction of hydrogenated vegetable oils to replace oils and fats derived from animals and natural vegetable oils like flaxseed oil. Shortening replaced lard. Margarine replaced real butter. Cooking oils for frying in large part became hydrogenated vegetable oil that stayed liquid at room temperature. Hydrogenation creates trans fat!



Like many things in life, the change to hydrogenated oil was profit-driven. I want to emphasize that companies were not originally trying to create a healthier food substitute when they introduced shortening and margarine, as many people who don't know the history assume. In fact, there was a raging debate over the safety of hydrogenated oils during the 1920's and 1930's. People were very slow to accept the new chemically altered oils. In fact, Procter and Gamble was so desperate at one point to get consumers to accept Crisco, they were giving away 2 1/2 gallon containers of it. Even when it was free, people were reluctant to take it.



If it hadn't been for the Great Depression and then World War 2, consumers may never have accepted hydrogenated oils. The depression hit people so hard it made people do things they wouldn't normally do. Hydrogenated oils like margarine and Crisco were significantly cheaper than real butter and pig lard. The low price helped finally win over people.



When Americans got involved in World War 2, certain food items were rationed at home because they were needed for the troops overseas putting their lives on the line. Americans were asked to be patriotic and take rationing in stride. Butter was strictly rationed and it was during this time that margarine finally became widely accepted.



Americans (and Europeans) were so pre-occupied with the war effort and then in rebuilding our lives after the war, the health concerns over hydrogenated oils were largely forgotten, at least in the minds of the general public at large. Hydrogenated oils got another big boost in 1957 when the American Heart Association suggested that Americans needed to cut back on saturated fats like butter and beef. By the late 1970's, about 60% of the oils and fats consumed in the US diet were partially hydrogenated. This meant that our consumption of trans fat was at an all time high.



Ironically, hydrogenated oils which contain large amounts of the extremely unhealthy trans fats, were touted as "healthy" alternatives. Margarine was considered a "healthy" alternative to real butter. Beef fat and tropical oils used for frying in fast food restaurants were replaced by supposed "healthy" hydrogenated cooking oils in the mid-1980's.



Hydrogenation solved two major problems for profit-driven food companies. First, hydrogenation can turn a really cheap oil that is normally liquid at room temperature into a solid at room temperature. So, a super cheap liquid fat can be turned into shortening and margarine which are solids at room temperature. Second, hydrogenation can dramatically improve shelf life which means higher profits. Products made with animal fats and vegetable oils high in omega-3 go rancid quite quickly without refrigeration.



What does all this have to do with diabetes you may be asking. Well, it turns out that the trans fat created by hydrogenation is responsible for making our cell membranes more resistant to insulin. When trans fat gets incorporated into our cell membranes, they become impaired. They become less flexible and that means they are less capable of transporting glucose circulating in our bloodstream into our cells, i.e trans fat causes type 2 diabetes.



Before the 1920's, type 2 diabetes was unknown to the medical community. In fact, doctors of that time were completely baffled by it and didn't even know what to call it. The sudden emergence and subsequent rapid rise in type 2 diabetes correlates perfectly with the introduction of hydrogenated fats into our diet. In other words, the underlying mechanism of type 2 diabetes was artificially created by hydrogenation.

What Causes Diabetes? Looking at the Question Medical Science Hates to Answer

This question about the cause of diabetes is one that medical science hates to answer, over which many people get discouraged while waiting to get the understanding. More than a hundred years ago, someone wrote this statement. "Disease never comes without a cause. The way is prepared, and disease invited, by disregard of the laws of health."



Today, we know enough about type 2 diabetes and the controllable factors that determine the development and course of the disease, so that we can cause ourselves much less suffering and save on medical costs. If we work intelligently to remove the cause by following the simple health principles (laws) we can help demonstrate the answer to the question that our doctor may not like to answer.



Not one cause but several controllable factors Regarding type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association says, "Experts don't know for sure what causes type 2 diabetes. They do know that you cannot catch it from someone else, like the flu. They know it is not caused by eating too much sugar. It does run in families.



That quote from the popular ADA publication, Diabetes A to Z: What You Need to Know About Diabetes - Simply Put, gets a little fuzzy near the end. I call it "blaming mama". However, there is no diabetes gene as in the sense that there is a sickle cell trait, or that bald-headedness is passed on to a son via his mother's chromosomes. What tends to "run in families" are habits - i.e. ways of doing things. Some of these ways are learned and others result from actual genetic makeup, but there is no diabetes gene.



All the evidence available today points to the fact that, for the large majority of cases, type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle habits or practices relating to diet, exercise, rest, stress.



The Anderson Experiment Research conducted years ago by Dr. James Anderson, M.D., professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine showed that a high fat diet can cause healthy people to develop type 2 diabetes in less than two weeks. Similar research has shown that carbohydrates and sugar do not cause diabetes.



What we know about diet and development of type 2 diabetes is that a high fiber, complex carbohydrate, low fat diet is both prevention and "cure" for the diabetic condition. The problem is that the food and prescription drug industries and their advertisers do not wish that this knowledge be loudly incident on your ear. It would be bad for the business economy if every would-be diabetic were to regulate their diet so that they would never need diabetes drugs, insulin, or expensive medical care. Such a health revolution could make the prescription drug industry comatose by saving more than 15% of all medical costs for direct diabetes treatment alone; not counting the large sums spent on treating related illnesses like kidney disease, blindness, other diabetes complications, and complications from drug side effects.



Sleep deprivation Can you remember hearing anyone say that lack of sleep or improper sleep can trigger the onset of type 2 diabetes? Probably not. However, this has been well documented in the journal, Diabetes Care and others for many years now. Our modern societies are well geared to keeping us awake and to get us fat at the same time.



Many middle aged people living in 2010 did not grow up on 24-hour television programming. That screen went blank at midnight when many boomers were growing up, and of course, most of our cities and towns slept at nightfall. We live in a different world and it is understandable why the rates of type 2 diabetes and related diseases keep rising despite our medical technology advances.



Lack of physical exercise The lack of physical exercise that would prevent overweight and obese conditions is clearly part of the cause of diabetes. However, when a diabetic engages in regular exercise, the benefits are tremendous. It should be understood that the only requirement for regular exercise is "time and commitment". Even the physically challenged can benefit from exercise AND you do not need a gym membership - walk.



You can lower your blood glucose level in two weeks, while losing extra weight and improving general health, by simply walking for 30 minutes every day. It may be necessary to start small and gradually increase the time. Remember to CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN before starting any physical exercise program, especially if you are at risk of cardiovascular problems.



Controllable factors - not genetics Although it is quite a challenge to give a direct answer to the question of what causes diabetes, there is enough evidence to avoid putting the blame on our genetic make-up. The answer has to do with a set of related and controllable health practices and behaviors. There are many type 2 diabetics (this author included) who have developed and maintained non-diabetic health profiles for many years without the use of drug medication or insulin, by simply modifying their diet, getting regular exercise, proper sleep (rest), and managing their response to stress.

Are Insulin Injections the Only Answer For Your Diabetic Dog?

There are natural ways to treat and help your diabetic dog but the fact still remains, if they need insulin, then insulin they must have. But even if this is the only answer you can still considerably reduce the amount of insulin to be administered along with improving your dog's health and well being.



Diet.



It goes without saying that sugar needs to be reduced or cut out completely. But although it is pretty easy to recognize sugar or glucose within foodstuffs, it isn't so obvious to recognize the other big culprit for diabetic mayhem - carbohydrates. Most dry dog foods, including the prescription diets your vet sells, are predominately made from grains. The problem with grains is that they're usually very high in carbohydrates, which you and your dog's body quickly turns into glucose thus producing a spike in blood sugar levels.



If you think of the principle of the Atkins diet with the cutting out of carbs, you can begin to understand what happens when you or your dog consumes carbs. Carbs = sugar = weight gain (sometimes diabetes). Both simple and complex carbs produce glucose but they are released into the blood stream at different speeds. Simple being quick, complex being slow. Generally they are OK for your energy levels but the over-consumption of carbs has probably been the leading cause of obesity and diabetes in both humans and dogs. In times gone by before the modern medical marvels of treating diabetes if someone became diabetic it was unlikely they would live past 30. But the doctors of old recommended a diet of protein and fat with no carbs or sugar (fruit), perhaps you could say those doctors of a couple of hundred years ago began the Atkins diet! The best way to regulate the glucose being released into the bloodstream is to prolong the digestion process with a diet higher in protein and fat. In the case of your diabetic dog perhaps try a good quality canned food or better still a homemade diet.



Exercise.



Any good diabetic will tell you that exercise does wonders for their condition. Getting the blood pumping helps shift that excess weight and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. The fatter you are, the more difficult it is to keep good sugar levels and control. Diabetes is all about good control. The only thing to be mindful of is that exercise will burn your sugar up so beware of the hypo. The same applies to your dog, give him as much exercise as possible but have something on hand should he show symptoms of a hypo. With this in mind perhaps you should work out an exercise plan with your vet.



Your vet will tell you that consistency is the key and will probably suggest that you exercise your pet at the same time every day keeping the sessions the same length without being over-vigorous; you do not want your dog getting out of breath as he could be on the way to having a hypo. If your dog goes dizzy or weak or starts to act in an unusual way, give him something sweet and get to the vet quickly.



Natural Remedies



Many studies have shown that certain herbs, vitamins, nutrients and minerals can be helpful in regulating blood glucose levels in a diabetic dog. These include:



Fenugreek: helps to slow down carbohydrate absorption and may stimulate insulin production.



Astragalus: is often used in Chinese Medicine. Clinical research has proven its effectiveness to regulate glucose levels and it can also prevent or slow the formation of cataracts, which are almost a guaranteed effect of canine diabetes.



Goat's rue can lower glucose levels without causing hypoglycaemia (hypo) and may also reduce your dog's risk of cataracts, and may also prevent kidney damage.



Bilberry is another cataract preventing favourite with herbalists with some even believing Bilberry can reverse them.



Chromium is an essential mineral for glucose regulation in the blood. Popular with humans in supplement form, it is also an excellent product for your diabetic dog. It can prevent insulin resistance, which is usually a precursor of type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of this disease among canines and humans.



All the above are fine to use along with insulin but some owners wish to pursue this herbal direction to a point where their pet is no longer insulin dependent. This is a great goal but consult with your vet before making any major changes. Remember mainstream vets are not champions of any alternative remedies or medicines, so make sure your vet is forward rather than backward thinking.



Diabetes is a horrible aging disease but with good blood sugar control for you or your dog it will mean a virtually normal and happy existence.

Why Diabetes Isn't Being Cured - The Answer Will Shock You

Diabetes isn't being cured for one all-encompassing reason-the health care industry doesn't want you to know that simple lifestyle changes will cure it. The ugly truth is that treating diabetes is a $200 billion business. So the drug industry and many family physicians may be conspiring to withhold the truth from diabetics.



According to Federal Government health sources, the people who keep track of these things, we are told that about 8 percent of the U.S. population-that's nearly 26 million people-have been diagnosed with diabetes. They also say that 67 million Americans are borderline, pre-diabetic.



Has your doctor told you that there's no cure for diabetes? Has he told you that a few simple lifestyle changes can actually reverse diabetes? He hasn't? Hmmmmm! Shame on him!



What you should know about diabetes



First let's make this clear-I am not a health care provider, nor do I have any formal training in the medical sciences. I am a freelance writer who has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of diabetes. And I have also witnessed firsthand how one determined woman reversed her condition without any help from health care providers, drugs or insulin shots.



The health care industry is hell-bent on treating diabetes, since it serves as a cash cow that consistently fills their coffers with cold, hard cash.



Here's what's in store for you, sometimes even with diabetes treatment:



ท Kidney disease: Diabetes is considered to be one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Diabetes ranks right up there with cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism.



ท Heart disease: Diabetics are more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than the rest of the population.



ท Blindness: Adults aged 20-75 with full-blown diabetes account for most of the new cases.



ท Amputation: Due to increasingly poor circulation in the lower limbs, diabetics face the threat of amputation



ท Nerve damage: It is estimated that over 60 percent of diabetics will suffer damage to their nervous system.



2 things you can do now will begin the process of Reversing Your Diabetes



1. Lose weight! A recent study published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine found that diabetics who did not lose weight during the study ended up on diabetes-treating drugs. But the problem is that many health care providers believe they are "Whistling in the Wind" when they suggest that their patients lose weight. Most don't listen, but this advice is crucial to recovery.



2. Exercise: Oh Lord no! Not exercise! But you see it does work. Some studies indicated that the majority of diabetics are both overweight and are devoted "couch potatoes.



So can it be that simple? Just 2 simple steps?



No it is not that simple because several other factors enter into this equation.



At the risk of sounding flippant, confusion rules when it comes to just how to lose weight. It seems that there are as many diet plans on the market as there are diabetics!



Maybe I can help overcome some of this confusion by giving you examples from my own personal experience:



Case No. 1: A very good personal friend was diagnosed with diabetes before I even knew him. He was not merely overweight-he was obese. He didn't know precisely how much he weighed because his doctor's scale only went up to 350 pounds. He drank no less than 2 liters of sugar-loaded cola drinks each day and one of his favorite snacks was chocolate รฉclairs. And he kept several boxes of candy bars at arm's length. About a year ago the downward slide began. When he required hospitalization it took a team of burly members from a nearby fire station to carry him out to the ambulance. He ended up in a nursing home, and he clung to the belief that he would be well soon. I gave the eulogy at his funeral.



Case No. 2: This family friend had full-blown diabetes and had been on insulin injections for a long period of time. As his blood circulation to his legs worsened, one leg was amputated just below the knee. This didn't help the problem, and it became necessary to remove more of the leg-above the knee. Toward the end his medical team was contemplating hacking off his other leg, but he died of a heart attack before this could be accomplished.



Case No. 3. About a year and a half ago this woman was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. At her annual checkup her A1c hemoglobin test had a reading of 6.8. At that tine 7.0 was considered chronic diabetes. (Recently the chronic level was lowered to 6.5.) Yes, this woman was a friend, my best friend, she is my wife, Margie. Once we got over the initial shock Margie began her search for a way out of this situation. Somehow, Divine Guidance I believe, she would not accept the fact that there was no cure for her condition. And do you know what-she discovered the "cure" that the health care industry keeps trying to sweep under the rug.



Today her A1c tests show her well into the safety zone. Instead of relying on the antiquated ideas of medical science, she used a little common sense. Diabetes occurs when the blood sugar level gets so high that her insulin supply can't do what it is meant to do-convert sugar and simple carbohydrates into glucose. All of the body cells (except those in the brain) depend on glucose for energy. Oh... by the way-there was a side effect to all of this. Margie lost over 50 pounds and she is keeping it off with diet and exercise.