reverse hidden causes of high blood sugar

8/19/2019 Reverse Hidden Causes of High Blood Sugar

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Reverse

HIDDEN CAUSES of

High Blood Sugar

BY JULI AN WHITAKER, MD


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Note: Julian Whitaker, MD, has extensive experience in the areas of preventivemedicine and natural healing. All recommendations in this report have met strin-gent criteria for safety and effectiveness; however, they have not been reviewed bythe Food and Drug Administration. The recommendations in this report are notintended to replace the advice of your physician, and you are encouraged to seekadvice from competent medical professionals for your personal health needs.

TOPICS IN THIS REPORT

Hidden Cause #1: Daily Consumption of Red Meat—Especially Processed .....1

Hidden Cause #2: Drinking a Sugar-Sweetened

Soft Drink Each Day ........................................................................................2

Hidden Cause #3: Having Too Much Visceral Fat and Not Enough

Subcutaneous Fat .............................................................................................3

Hidden Cause #4: Prescription Drugs .................................................................4

Hidden Cause #5: Smoking .................................................................................5

Anti-Psychotic Drugs Linked to Blood Sugar Problems ...................................5

Hidden Cause #6: Nutritional Deficiencies ........................................................6

The Link Between Vitamin D and Blood Sugar ...........................................8

In Closing ............................................................................................................8


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Reverse Hidden Causes ofHigh Blood Sugar

Blood sugar problems are primarily a result of an unhealthy

lifestyle, which is why, in most cases, a few adjustments in how you

go about your daily life can lower your risk. Some of these changes

are obvious—avoid sweets, maintain your optimal weight, get more

exercise, etc. But there are other things that you may not realize

are contributing to the problem.

In this report, I’m going to tell you about some of the “hidden”causes of high blood sugar, and show you how easy it can be to

eliminate them from your life so you have a better chance of main-

taining healthy blood sugar.

Hidden Cause #1: Daily Consumption of Red Meat—Especially Processed

If you enjoy eating a couple of slices of bacon every day, you

are wreaking havoc not only on your waistline but on your blood

sugar as well. As early as the 1920s it was demonstrated that a high–

saturated fat diet causes weight gain and decreases insulin sensitiv-

ity. But newer research has found that red meat—particularly pro-

cessed red meat—can really raise your risk for high blood sugar.

According to research conducted at Harvard and published inthe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, frequent consumption

of processed meats such as hot dogs and bacon doubles your risk

of blood sugar issues. More specifically, the researchers discovered

that people who ate 50 grams of processed meat, which equates

to one hot dog or sausage or two slices of bacon, every day had

a 51 percent greater risk of blood sugar problems. They alsofound that eating 100 grams (about the size of a deck of cards)

of unprocessed red meat daily was associated with a 19 percent

increased risk.


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The good news is the researchers also found that for the people

who ate one serving of red meat daily they could lower their risk

by replacing it with a serving of whole grains (23 percent reduc-

tion), nuts (21 percent), or low-fat dairy (17 percent).My advice is to limit your consumption of red meat to no more

than one serving per week and incorporate the foods mentioned

above into your daily diet.

Hidden Cause #2: Drinking a Sugar-SweetenedSoft Drink Each Day

If you want to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, daily con-

sumption of red meat isn’t the only dietary culprit to watch out

for. If you have a habit of drinking a soda or some other sugar-

sweetened soft drink (iced tea, energy drink, fruit juice, etc.)

every day, you are putting yourself at increased risk of developing

blood sugar problems.

A meta-analysis published in the journal Diabetes Care found

that people who drank 1–2 sugar-sweetened beverages per day had

a 26 percent higher risk of blood sugar issues compared with those

who never drank them or had less than one serving per month.

There are two primary types of sugars that are added to foods:

sucrose and fructose. For years, conventional wisdom believed that

sucrose (or white sugar) was to blame for virtually all of the healthproblems associated with excess sugar intake. Meanwhile, fructose

(sometimes called fruit sugar since it occurs naturally in fruit) got

off scot-free.

This partly explains why high fructose corn syrup has over-

taken sucrose as the sweetener of choice in drinks and processed

foods. But the latest research suggests that fructose has unique,

even more harmful effects, which contribute to a host of blood

sugar issues. This doesn’t mean sucrose is healthier—it is rapidly

broken down into about the same percentage of fructose as high

fructose corn syrup. So from a health perspective, high fructose


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corn syrup, sucrose, and most other sugars are more similar than

different. They all drive up blood sugar and insulin and provide

no significant nutritional value other than calories. That’s why it’s

best if you cut them out of your diet.And, if you think artificial sweeteners are a healthy alterna-

tive, think again. There is a wealth of research documenting the

harmful effects of artificial sweeteners. For example, more than

75 percent of all non-drug complaints to the FDA are about

aspartame. These complaints include headaches, dizziness, mood

changes, numbness, vomiting or nausea, muscle cramps and

spasms, and abdominal pain and cramps.

The bottom line: If you truly want to lower your risk of blood

sugar problems, you should avoid sugar- and artificially-sweetened

beverages and stick to water, coffee, and tea. And if you want to

sweeten your coffee or tea, use natural sugar substitutes instead.

My two favorites are stevia and xylitol.

Hidden Cause #3: Having Too Much Visceral Fat andNot Enough Subcutaneous Fat

Most people know that being overweight and having too much

body fat increases risk of blood sugar problems. But what they may

not realize is that all fat isn’t created equal. There are two main

types of body fat: visceral and subcutaneous.Most visceral fat (or belly fat) lies within the abdominal cav-

ity, surrounding the intestines, liver, kidneys, and other organs,

and too much of it is associated with increased risk of blood sugar

problems, cardiovascular concerns, and other health issues. In fact,

many scientists believe that waist circumference may be the most

reliable predictor of blood sugar and heart problems.

On the other hand, subcutaneous fat, which tends to accu-

mulate on the hips, thighs, arms, and elsewhere may not be any

prettier, but it poses less of a health risk. That’s because it’s stored

right under the skin. In fact, research has shown that subcutaneous


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fat—particularly in the glutes—can actually help prevent blood

sugar concerns.

Based on this research, when it comes to losing weight in

order to get a handle on blood sugar, you should focus on losingyour belly fat. The good news is visceral fat breaks down more

quickly than subcutaneous fat. So for starters, exercise more. As

stored fat is mobilized for energy, the fat cells in your belly will

be the first to shrink. According to American College of Sports

Medicine guidelines, a minimum of four hours of moderately

intense physical activity per week is necessary for clinically sig-

nificant weight loss. Unfortunately, virtually all experts agree

that you can’t depend on exercise alone—you also must make

changes in your eating habits.

Some people do well simply by cutting portion sizes and eat-

ing a healthier diet. A study involving nearly 500,000 European

men and women found that those with the greatest adherence to

a Mediterranean diet—high in fiber and plant foods and low insaturated fat—were the least likely to have abdominal obesity. My

experience, however, has been that a low-carbohydrate diet works

best when insulin resistance is an issue. It puts your body in a fat-

burning mode and helps control appetite by cutting down on blood

sugar swings that cause food cravings.

Men, if your waist circumference is more than 40 inches—andwomen, if yours is more than 35 inches—you need to take action

now. I know from personal experience that weight loss can be

tough, but it’s worth it. Dropping just 10 percent of your current

weight provides tremendous and lasting health benefits.

Hidden Cause #4: Prescription Drugs

Taking certain prescription drugs can increase your risk ofdeveloping blood sugar problems. Common culprits include: statin

cholesterol-lowering drugs, antidepressants, corticosteroids (to

treat asthma and autoimmune disorders), thiazide diuretics (for

heart failure and high blood pressure), beta blockers (to treat


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hypertension), and anti-psychotics (for bipolar disorder and other

psychiatric diagnoses; see the box above for more about the link

between anti-psychotic medications and blood sugar problems).

If you are taking these medications talk to your doctor about safe,

natural alternatives to these side effect–riddled drugs. Note: Don’t

stop taking your medication on your own, as this can be dangerous.

Hidden Cause #5: Smoking

Everyone knows smoking increases your risk of cancer, but

many probably don’t know that it is also linked with an increased

risk of blood sugar problems. People who smoke are more likelyto have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and other lipid

abnormalities as well—risk factors that are associated with insulin

resistance and other blood sugar–related issues.

ANTI-PSYCHOTIC DRUGS LINKED TO BLOOD SUGAR PROBLEMS

Although it’s not widely publicized by mainstream media and even

doctors, anti-psychotic medications have been linked to an increasedrisk of blood sugar issues.

In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology,researchers from the University of Illinois followed approximately

16,000 patients who had no history of blood sugar problems and

started taking either Zyprexa (olanzapine), Risperdal (risperidone),

Seroquel (quetiapine), or Haldol (haloperidol) for a little more than a

year. They found that all of these medications were associated with the

development of blood sugar problems.

Furthermore, there have been several case reports and subsequent

studies on the association between blood sugar issues and Zyprexa,

which is one of the top-selling anti-psychotic drugs. One such study

published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that Zyprexa

increased risk of blood sugar issues by 90 percent; and after just three

months of using the medication. And other research that was con-

ducted before the FDA even approved the drug (but was withheld)

found it more than tripled the risk of blood sugar problems!


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I recognize that quitting smoking is easier said than done. For

most folks, the desire to quit smoking is there, but the intense

cravings for nicotine thwart even the best intentions. Here are a

few tips to help you kick the smoking habit:1. Take a walk. Exercise can help suppress nicotine cravings.

2. Take 500–1,000 mg of buffered vitamin C whenever you feel a

craving, up to a maximum of 10,000 mg per day (high doses may

cause GI upset).

3. Consider cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). Most com-

monly used to treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, and pain, this ther-apy—which works by transmitting microcurrents to the brain via

electrodes that clip onto your ears—was recently put to the test

in a group of 1,000 smokers. A whopping 97.2 percent reported

that a 20-minute session of CES eliminated their desire for a

cigarette, typically in as little as one to five minutes. And crav-

ings were held at bay for an average of two to eight hours.

Though this study only examined the effects of CES on a singlecraving episode, the overwhelmingly positive results suggest that

regular use could potentially aid in permanent smoking cessation.

The best-studied brand is Alpha-Stim (alpha-stim.com). CES units

are somewhat pricey, and they do require a prescription. However, if

you or a loved one need some extra help with smoking cessation, I

suggest you consider this therapy.

Hidden Cause #6: Nutritional Deficiencies

I believe that a good daily multivitamin is essential for optimal

health, especially as we get older. Therapeutic doses of a broad

range of vitamins and minerals help protect against some of our

most prevalent health concerns, including blood sugar issues. (See

the box on page 8 for more about how nutrient deficiencies cancause blood sugar problems.)

http://www.alpha-stim.com/http://www.alpha-stim.com/


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That’s why I recommend that everyone, regardless of age or

health status, take a high-quality multivitamin every day. See

below for the nutrients and dosages I recommend:

Recommended Ingredients and Dosage Levels

for a Multivitamin

Vitamin A (as beta-carotenefrom mixed carotenoids)

15,000 IU

Vitamin C 500–1,000 mg

Vitamin D3 a minimum of 800 IU

Vitamin E 200–300 IU

Thiamine 50 mg

Riboflavin 50 mg

Niacin 100 mg

Vitamin B6 75 mg

Folic Acid 800 mcg

Vitamin B12 150 mcg

Biotin 300 mcg

Pantothenic Acid 50 mg

Iodine 150 mcg

Magnesium 250–500 mg

Calcium 1,000 mg

Selenium 200 mcg

Chromium 200 mcg

Manganese 10 mg

Zinc 30 mg

Copper 2 mg

Choline 200 mg

Molybdenum 130 mcg


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In Closing

While addressing all of these hidden causes of high blood sugar

is the best approach, even tackling just a few of them can have a

tremendous positive effect—not only on your blood sugar but on

your overall health and well-being. So why not get started today?

THE LINK BETWEEN VITAMIN D AND BLOOD SUGAR

Several studies have demonstrated that there is a close associa-

tion between low levels of vitamin D and increased risk for developingblood sugar problems. Vitamin D deficiencies have also been directly

linked to metabolic syndrome—a condition characterized by insulin

resistance, excess weight, and multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

In one study, which appeared in the British Journal of Nutrition, New

Zealand researchers concluded that increasing levels of vitamin D can

improve insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, two major risk factors

for developing blood sugar concerns. According to the researchers, par-

ticipants taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily for six months showed “sig-nificant improvements” in both insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance.

These improvements were also accompanied by a decrease in fasting

insulin levels, which is more great news for those struggling with blood

sugar–related health concerns.

As you may know, vitamin D is synthesized when your skin is

exposed to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the sun. This fat-soluble

vitamin is then transported to the liver and kidneys, where it is con-

verted into the biologically active forms required by tissues throughout

your body. So if you don’t get enough sun exposure, there’s a good

chance you are deficient in this important vitamin.

Although people are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D dur-

ing the winter season (due to spending more time indoors and the

sun’s rays are weaker), for optimal health and well-being it is important

to maintain adequate vitamin D levels year round. That’s why I recom-

mend you spend some time in the sun whenever possible and alsohave your vitamin D blood level tested and take enough supplemental

vitamin D3 to keep it in the optimal range of 50–80 ng/mL.


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