An Epidemic of Metabolic Dysfunction

 

An epidemic.
40-50% of American adults have prediabetes or worse. 1980 was an inflection point for the epidemic. Also, from 2001- 2011, T2D increased from ~3% to 45% of total adolescent diabetes diagnoses.

Insulin resistance emerges in American adults ~13 years prior to a T2D diagnosis. In children, this may be in less than two years.

There are different stages of metabolic dysfunction, from Stage 1 where there is: insulin spikes, excess metabolic fuel, increased body fat, increased muscle fat, fatty liver and oxidative stress; to Stage 3 and 4 where there is: increased fasting glucose, increased A1C, higher triglycerides, more muscle fat, more fatty liver, increasing liver enzymes, hypertension, pancreatic insufficiency, higher likelihood of gut imbalances, metabolic syndrome ,etc.

But what is Insulin Resistance?
• In a healthy cell, insulin opens a cells glucose transporters in the cell membrane. This allows glucose access into the cell to be used for fuel.
• Muscles are the largest glucose disposal source in the body. Increasing muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity.
• In an insulin-resistant cell, insulin receptors are inefficient at binding with insulin. Less sugar is absorbed (the cell is full!) and more sugar remains in circulation and ends up stored as fat via the liver’s synthesis of triglycerides.
• The pancreas naturally secretes more and more insulin in response to the demand of elevated blood glucose. This promotes greater glucose uptake into cells (which still looks “good” or even optimal in labs) but is worsening the insulin resistance.

Key Contributors to Metabolic Dysfunction are:
1. High glycemic diet
2. Highly processed foods
3. Stress
4. Genetics
5. Oxidative Stress/Toxicity
6. Age
7. Lack of Exercise
8. Essential fatty acids deficiency
9. Medications
10. Low energy from: hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, hormone imbalances

However, there is a lot we can do to prevent Metabolic Dysfunction from getting to very advanced stages. Working with a health practitioner to improve diet and lifestyle and possibly the addition of some key supplements, is vital to improving this disease dynamic.

THE BLOG

For additional recipes and inspirational functional medicine insights direct to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my blog!

GET EVEN HEALTHIER!

If you have any questions about how you could benefit from Functional Medicine applied to health coaching, please schedule an initial consultation with me. During this session we will discuss your health and lifestyle to determine how I can best support you in achieving your goals.

Virginia

Share:

Share Your Thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *