1. Lack of sufficient sunlight with dangerously low vitamin D levels in the blood – Many studies have now established that proper levels of vitamin D are critical for prevention of hormonal disruptions associated with pre-diabetes and obesity, (or weight gain). Getting your serum vitamin D (25-OH-D) levels measured through blood tests and using sufficient amounts of supplemental vitamin D to bring your level to between 40 and 80 ng/ml is a simple preventive measure.
2. Development of “SAD” – Seasonal Affective Disorder, which affects about 25% of the population with about 5% at severe levels.  It is a form of depression that commonly begins in September, and peaks in the months of January and February. It often involves sleep disturbances, fatigue, adrenal gland dysregulation, weight gain or development of obesity, and diabetes or pre-diabetes (better known as insulin resistance). What’s the solution for not getting SAD? Getting your vitamin D levels measured and supplementing with sufficient vitamin D.
3. Having a SAD diet – The Standard American Diet, which is also abbreviated SAD, has high amounts of processed grains and sugar, high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and insufficient vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes and nuts.  Americans often go for convenience rather than planning and preparing meals and snacks.  Maintaining the SAD diet will predispose you to diabetes and obesity.
4. Poor daily detoxification – During the cold, rainy winter months, people are indoors for the vast majority of the day. As discussed in a previous blog on detoxification, detoxification from environmental exposures such as carpet out-gassing, paints, and cleaning products is necessary for preventing storage of fat. Making every effort to enhance your body’s own detoxification processes is critical, particularly in the winter months.

I encourage you to prevent diabetes and obesity, by increasing your vitamin D especially during the winter months, having a healthy diet, and practicing a lifestyle that enhances detoxification and going on a detox program periodically.

http://www.drhusbands.com/blog/ Diabetes / Prevent Winter Weight Gain: Prevent Diabetes and Obesity

The principle of my diabetes treatment program is based on the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) suggested by the NIH. TLC is a set of lifestyle changes that includes diet, intensive nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, proper sleep routine and weight control.

The treatment goal is disease reversal by normalizing the underlying processes that caused the diabetes. With patient compliance, the typical outcome is stopping the disease progression, and very often, the diabetes is reversed.

Most diabetics are getting the conventional medical treatment. The goal of most conventional medical treatment for diabetes is disease management. The treatment primarily involves prescription medication. Dietary and lifestyle changes are often not emphasized, and when they are, the program given is ineffective. This very often results in prescribing progressively more drugs and higher dosages over time. What are the outcomes? Most become diabetics for life with increased propensity for heart attack and stroke. Some develop other diseases from the long term toxic effect of the medications. The worst cases progress to small blood vessel damage in the eyes, feet and fingers, and amputation of gangrenous extremities.

The patients I’ve helped with their diabetes have had the conventional medical treatment before seeing me. Thus, they are the best source for comparing the two treatment methods. I will share a concrete patient case here. Of course, each patient case is unique, thus, outcomes vary. Nevertheless, this will give you an idea of the effectiveness of my treatment method.

This patient from Redwood City was a diabetic for 25 years. He was prescribed medications and as he grew older, he was given higher doses of medication to control his daily blood glucose levels. He had to switch some of the medications to other ones due to undesirables side effects. He heard about me through his daughter who I successfully treated for cysts on her ovaries without surgery. About 3 months before he first came to see me, he had the following lab test results:

- HGBA1C: 8%
- Triglycerides: 310
- LDL: 106
- HDL: 36
- Cholesterol: 204
- Weight: 196 lbs

His goal was to drastically reduce or eliminate his dependence on glucose control medications and their side effects. I put him in a therapeutic lifestyle program, and after 2 1/2 months his lab tests showed the following improvements:

- HGBA1C went from 8% to 7.1%
- Triglycerides dropped from 310 to 91
- LDL dropped from 106 to 92
- HDL went up from 36 to 55
- Cholesterol dropped from 204 to 165
- Weight dropped from 196 to 178 lbs

Much of the weight loss was in his waist and we know he lost fat, not muscle through body composition tests before and after. He reached his goal and he wrote:

“I feel very well and energetic. Dr. Husbands also performed a chiropractic adjustment on my back in a very comfortable manner. I am continuing with the diet and the supplements and have not had a problem with hunger pangs. But here is the best news. I have been able to eliminate entirely one diabetic medication (Actos) and am currently taking only ¼ the daily dose of the other medication (Glipizide). I have reviewed this with my medical provider (at Kaiser) and he is extremely pleased with the results. My daily glucose readings are routinely in the 90 – 110 range. Oh yes, as a kicker, my blood pressure is 119/60. This program is succeeding, and I am most pleased with the results to date. Thank you Dr. Husbands I could not be accomplishing these goals without your help.”

For assistance with your type 2 diabetes, call me at 650-593-4447 or contact me here.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved

Here are some tips for controlling your insulin response.

1. Always eat breakfast containing some proteins, fat and carbohydrates within 30 minutes of waking up.

Your cortisol levels are highest when you wake up in the morning. Your energy upon awakening before breakfast is produced mostly by cortisol which breaks down lean tissue (bones, muscles, joints, skin) to make glucose to keep your brain and body running. Decreased lean body tissue will lead to accelerated aging.

2. Don’t have coffee first thing in the morning before breakfast.

Caffeine stimulates cortisol output. See #1.

3. Exercise an hour a day 5 or 6 days a week, preferably in the morning.

Besides insulin release, exercise is the only way food is used for energy rather than stored as fat or glycogen. With excess carbohydrate consumption, the excess is rapidly converted into triglycerides and then stored in fat tissue, and a little stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. When you exercise in the morning, your body cannot store fat as easily because it is using more energy for the rest of the day. This increases your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

4. Eat small, frequent, healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks about every 3 hours throughout the day.

Your pancreas release insulin when you eat. Eating smaller frequent, healthy meals and snacks causes gradual fluctuations in insulin release, more stable glucose levels, and more stable energy and moods. It also helps your body burn calories more efficiently. In comparison, when you eat every 6 hours or more, you get a meteoric spike of insulin. This makes the pancreas work harder, and causes greater fluctuations in glucose and your energy level. Furthermore, your body will store fat more easily.

5. Eat at least 7 to 9 servings of dark green leafy and brightly colored vegetables and fruit each day (a serving of fruits and vegetables is about the size of a baseball, before cooking).

Vegetables and fruits contain a wide variety of vital nutrients that have properties which balance hormones, help prevent infections, help your body’s recovery from stress and injury, help your body burn calories efficiently and help you maintain stable insulin output and glucose levels. In general, the deeper the color, the more nutrient dense it is.

6. Drink at least 1/2 ounce of water for each pound of body weight each day.

All processes in the body occur in the presence of water.

7. Have 2 to 3 bowel movements each day (if you do the above regularly, this will likely happen)

Besides urinating and sweating, our body cleans itself of toxins through bowel movements. If you do not have 2 to 3 bowel movements each day, you are consistently and slowly building up toxins in your system. Over time, this has harmful effects to all body systems, including insulin levels.

8. Keep a stable temperament and a positive attitude.

Our brains and nervous system are the master control regulators of all bodily functions. Negative dispositions, such as moodiness, irritability, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and ingratitude negatively affect all hormones and digestive processes, accelerate aging and makes us more susceptible to harming ourselves or others.

9. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night and don’t stay up later than 10 PM at night.

Melatonin (the sleep hormone) is released in response to decreased light. Melatonin is a very powerful antioxidant for the brain cells. Growth hormone (the main recuperative, repair and recovery hormone) is released in 10 to 20 minute pulses about every 1-2 hours during deep sleep at night. The longer you stay asleep the more total growth hormone output and the more repair and recovery from daily stress. With consistent, good night’s sleep, less cortisol is produced. This results in less stress on your body, less fat deposited around your waist and less aging. All these hormones coordinate with insulin response.

Dr Husbands is a Doctor of Chiropractic, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

Copyright © 2009; Douglas Husbands, DC, CCN, ABAAHP. All rights reserved.