Word: insulin
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Adults with type 1 diabetes have always had an increased risk of heart disease. But those who gain a lot of weight during intensive insulin therapy face even greater risks. Their cholesterol and blood pressure rise more steeply than those of diabetics whose weight is more stable...
...might that be a problem? Generally speaking, high levels of insulin inhibit the breakdown of fatty deposits in the body. So, it doesn't take much of a leap to suggest that eating too many of the wrong kinds of carbohydrates leads to too much insulin, which in turn promotes the accumulation of fat, thereby setting up the body for continuous defeat in the battle of the bulge. Or at least that's the theory that has launched a dozen diet books...
...some people who are prone to diabetes. But, according to her 1997 study of 65,000 nurses, the greatest danger occurs only if those at risk also fail to consume enough whole grains like whole-wheat bread and rolled oats. Reason: cereal fiber has a counterbalancing effect that keeps insulin levels from rising...
...proved that chronically high insulin levels promote obesity. "It's sort of a chicken and egg question," Manson explains. "Is it obesity that leads to higher insulin levels, or do higher insulin levels lead to obesity?" The evidence to date favors the former explanation...
...patients about Sugar Busters!? "I think it's overstated. There may be a kernel of truth there, but it's not the miracle cure for obesity." You still have to cut down on saturated fats and excess calories. You still need to exercise (which, by the way, also decreases insulin levels). As a general rule, she adds, "the more processed a food, the less healthy it is. But [the glycemic index] can be carried to an extreme." So, eat your carrots, order up some whole-wheat toast and, for heaven's sake, get off that couch...