Inflammation: The Root of Diabetes

David,

As you know I am a Type II for the past 10 years. When I checked my CRP (C Reactive Protein) levels on Jan 2008 while on regular ADA diet, my CRP was 12 and Dr told me that I have to start the medication.

I did not and started the Low Carb on June 2008. My CRP level that was tested since July 2008 thru April 2009 (tested 5 times) and all cases it was less than 1.

In my opinion, Low Carb does help fighting inflammation big time.

Thanks for the article.

Thanks

Venkat

The Vitamin D Council Obesity list of obesity research points to a definite association between low 25(OH)D levels and obesity. 

Vitamin D, being fat soluble, is carried round the body in fat molecules.

When glucose is being used as fuel, fat is being stored and so the D3 inside the fat molecule also gets stored in fat cells. 

Fat cells release pro inflammatory cytokines so the larger and more numerous your fat cells the more your inflammatory status is raised, while at the same time you are being progressively denied the powerful anti-inflammatory actions of D3

It is vicious spiral of decline that needs a sustained input of effective amounts of vitamin D3 5000~10,000iu/daily ($5 discount WAB666) until a 25(OH)D test shows levels are above 55ng 137.5nmol/l 

The reasons low carb eating helps inflammation big time are that insulin levels are not regularly being raised as high or for as long so the anti inflammatory vitamin D is allowed to circulate and as fat is now being released from fat cells to be burnt as fuel so the Vitamin D that was stored with it is being released and available to perform it's anti inflammatory function

Hi David:
What I coincidence, I  have just finished reading both books.   I discovered the  Inflammation Factor Rating when  I did my sharepost,
Tips and Tools for Better Blood Sugar Control  on May 17th   and wanted to know more about this.
 www.nutritiondata.com is a great place to Track and Analyze what we  eat. 
Is also gives the  ratio of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids contain in food ,  and the Nutrition Target Map  allows you to see at a glance how foods line up with your nutritional and weight-management goals.

Regards
Joan   
 

What exactly is inflamed? And what causes the inflammation? And what does it mean to be inflamed? I can't seem to get my mind around this concept.

I'm so glad you are giving this some attention as I believe it is the greats breakthrough for Diabetics since the Glycemic Index and even more far reaching as inflammation would seem to be the root of most of our maladies or conditions.

There's a quizz that can help us figure out what we know or need to know about the IF factor of foods and learn some of it along the way. http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_inflam_quiz.htm

And another to determine our own risk level: http://nutrition.about.com/library/bl_antiinflammatory_diet_quiz.htm

I agree that http://www.nutritiondata.com/ is a great site. Monica seems to stress that it is not a diet pre se but an attempt to keep things fairly balanced or on the non-inflammatory side. She has a great blog that goes along with that site where she  answers various questions. http://blog.nutritiondata.com/ndblog/

while this research is intriguing there is other research which may imply that (abdominal) weight gain triggers the insulin resistance- the mechanism is via adiponectin, hypothesized via resistance/deficiency, or differing phenotype- so it does seem that for some patients, an increase in abdominal weight (environmental), along with an aberrational adiponectin response (genetic) leads to insulin resistance, analagous to the same inflammatory macrophage progression described here- no doubt chronic inflammation is a hot research area now- let's hope we're still around when some of the theoretical smoke clears

Dr. Andrew Weil, Founder of the Alternative Medicine program at the University of Arizona, has a wonderful Anti-inflammatory diet that makes a big difference for patients.  It is on his web site that you can find just by looking up andrewweil.com or antiflammatory diet This aspect related to Diabetes has been something I have talked about with patients for some time.  I believe that it is critical to improving outcomes.  Thanks for all that you share with everyone and to these people who have worked so hard on this.

Marianna Gammon, MSRDCDE

My understanding is that: Insulin Resistance comes about as a down-regulation in the cellular-response following years of elevated Insulin levels... and of course the years of elevated Insulin levels is caused by the over-abundance of refined/concentrated carbohydrates in the diet. In other words, the cells become used to high levels of insulin and it takes ever more to ellicit the same response...

The very well known physical trainer Jillian Michaels who has been on TV on her series The biggest loosers

states in her books and on her radio program on saturday mornings has advised everyone to avoid any form of soy that is available as it will literally kill you.  Evidently it causes breast cancer, thyroid disease and all manner of problems.  one should not drink soy milk nor eat it in any form.

i have a problem with this as the society that eats the most of this food are the asian community and it is found in and at every meal.

07/15/09

This past week, I just so happened to read all of the books you just mentioned.  The theory sounds good, and it makes sense to me, but I'm not so sure i believe it because I have been an overweight (abdominal gut) type 2 diabetic for the past 15 years.  I am VERY insulin resistant, yet my 06/15/09 CRP test results were 1.2 mg/L out of a range of 0.0 - 4.9.  In addition, out of 37+ allergens tested, all were absent/undetectable.  My A1C was 6.0.  For the past 3 months, out of the clear, blue sky, my entire body has been breaking out in itchy, red, welty hives.  To me (and my doctor), hives would indicate some sort of inflammation/allergy going on, yet none of my tests showed inflammation or allergy at all.  I search on.  If anyone has any hints as to another research direction to pursue, I would appreciate your suggestions.