I often wonder if there is enough information in circulation when it comes to the damaging effects sugar has on the human body. Excess sugar in the diet over a period of many years will more often than not lead to diabetes. Diabetes has a long list of consequences attached to it the most common being heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and nerve damage to name a few.
There are two official types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes which is an auto-immune disease, and type 2 diabetes which 90-95% of the time is caused by obesity, often the result of poor and uneducated diet choice as well as an inactive lifestyle. Some researchers and scientists also refer to dementia and Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes although it’s not an official name, however the links associated with both diseases are real.
So, we know type 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease which prevents the body from producing enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels stable and cannot be cured but can be managed.
Type 2 diabetes however can be prevented as well as cured, so how do we prevent and cure it? Firstly, diet – If you are not educated on diet find someone who is, but the most basic piece of information I could give you is to never eats carbohydrates by themselves and always combine them with protein and fats when digesting them. Also, only eat carbs with less than 10 grams of sugar per 100grams. If you are already diabetic, this is a must if you want to reverse your condition.
Secondly exercise, although any exercise is good the best way to prevent or reverse diabetes is by lifting weights and building muscle.
As you build muscle you are able to store more blood glucose in the form of glycogen, the end result being lower blood sugar levels in the body. The more muscle you build the more efficient your body will be at keeping your blood sugar levels regulated.
I have proven this with a client first hand. Let’s call him Tom. Tom had been diagnosed as type 1 diabetic as a child and had to inject insulin throughout his childhood into adulthood to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. I put together a diet specifically to combat his type one diabetes combined with resistance training, Tom was able to reduce the amount of insulin he was using quite significantly which will enable him to live a longer and healthier life.
A type 2 diabetic has it a lot easier and can completely reverse their condition if they are disciplined enough with diet and resistance training, along with some low impact cardiovascular work. If you are limited when it comes to diet and resistance training, get help from a professional.
Lastly there was a study completed at Sydney University in 2020 where resistance training was incorporated into the routines of patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The study showed a clear difference to the participants doing strength training and that it was the first intervention that slowed or halted degeneration.
The study stated it was clear that resistance training needed to be part of dementia reduction strategies.
You might be asking how this is linked to Diabetes?
Well as stated earlier, some researchers and scientists are referring to dementia and Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes. The connection is still being debated, however the reason some researchers and scientists refer to Alzheimer’s as diabetes of the brain is not by accident as several studies have shown that adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Resistance training is a lot more than just cosmetic enhancement. The health benefits now than ever before are so far-reaching you are almost doing your health a disservice if you are not lifting weights a minimum of once per week but ideally 2-3 days per week if you want optimum results and excellent health. At the end of the day you are the master in control of your own body. The decision’s you make today will shape and create your future.
Craig can be contacted phone on 027-4156-711
Or by email [email protected]