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Exploring how your dietary habits could lead to an increased risk of type II diabetes.

You are what you eat!

Do you like eating a nice juicy steak or meaty hamburger on a regular basis?  Is your love of red meat possibly unhealthy?  According to a recent research study, a diet high in animal protein could be setting people up for an increased risk of type II diabetes.

What is protein and why is it important for the human body?

Without protein the human body cannot function properly. Protein is an essential nutrient which can be found in animal products, beans and nuts.  The body uses protein to build new cells, maintain healthy tissues and to perform basic bodily functions.   The most common way of obtaining protein is through eating red meat, but new research has discovered a high intake of animal fat can increase a person’s risk of developing type II diabetes.

How many people worldwide have diabetes?

According to statistical information released by the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 382 million people in the world currently have diabetes.  By 2035, the IDF is estimating the number will climb to 592million.  The number of individuals with type II diabetes is increasing in every country and the most common group are people between 40 and 59 years of age.

What is type II diabetes?

Formerly called “non-insulin dependent or adult onset,” type II diabetes happens when the body cannot use insulin effectively.  

Type II diabetes accounts for 90% of people with diabetes around the world and the most common reasons are due to body weight and physical inactivity.

The symptoms of type II diabetes are similar to type I, but are often less pronounced which is why it takes so long to diagnose.

What causes type II diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone that is manufactured by the pancreas by beta cells.  The hormone is needed in order to move sugar into the cells of the body, where it is then stored up and later used for energy.  When a person has type II diabetes, the muscle cells, fat and liver do not respond correctly to insulin and it causes a condition known as “insulin resistance.”

When sugar (glucose) cannot enter cells, high levels wind up in the bloodstream and it causes hyperglycemia.  

Type II diabetes usually happens gradually over time and most people with the disease are overweight.

Family history and genetics play a strong role in the development of type II diabetes and physical inactivity, poor diet and excess body weight can also increase the risks of someone developing the disease.

What are the symptoms of type II diabetes?

People who have type II diabetes will often have no symptoms when it first develops.  In fact, people with the disease often do not have symptoms until it has progressed to the later stages.  The early symptoms of type II diabetes may include the following:

  • Increased urination
  • Bladder, kidney and skin infections which are frequent and slow to heal
  • Hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Fatigue
  • Blurry vision
  • Pain or numbness in the hands or feet
  • Erectile dysfunction

See Also: High Dietary Acid Load Increases Diabetes Risk

What kind of test or exam is necessary to diagnose type II diabetes?

A healthcare provider may think you have diabetes if your blood sugar is higher than 200 mg/dL.  To confirm a diagnosis of diabetes, one or more of these tests must be performed:

The Recent Research Study Linking A High Animal Fat Diet With A Type II Diabetes

According to a recently published medical research report, there is an increased risk factor for type II diabetes among those who consume a diet high in animal fat.  Finnish researcher Monique van Nielen, PdH, of the Division of Nutrition, Wageningen University, and her colleagues performed a study as a part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-InterAction. 

The goal of InterAction was to study how both lifestyle and genetic factors played a part in causing diabetes in Europe.  The current analysis included 10,901 cases of type II diabetes and the group included 15,352 individuals, including 736 diabetes cases.  The study took place between 1991 and 2007 and involved eight countries.

Previous research studies had examined the potential link associated with consuming meat and the risk of diabetes.  In the current study, researchers used food frequency questionnaires to gain an idea of what the participants were eating.  They categorized the estimated protein intake of each individual on a daily basis.  Then researchers used Cox proportional models and rated the results by country, in order to estimate the association between protein and diabetes occurrences.

Spain had the highest intake of protein at 102.5 grams per day, while Germany and Sweden had the lowest at 80.8 grams per day each.

In order of consumption, the animal protein sources were meat, dairy and fish and plant protein sources were pasta, bread, rice, potatoes and other vegetables. 

Researchers were able to determine that overall; a high total protein intake was associated with a 13% higher change of diabetes for every 10 gram increment.  The data was compiled after adjusting statistical information for gender, energy intake, diabetes risk factors, and lifestyle and dietary habits.

What are the potential mechanisms for a diet high in animal protein that cause an increase in type II diabetes?

Red meat contains iron and is high in saturated fatty acids, which is what medical researchers believe is the link associated with an increased risk of type II diabetes.  Plant proteins are synthesized by the body much differently and are more beneficial to one’s health.  However, more research is needed in order to determine the precise role protein plays in the development of type II diabetes.

Prognosis

Treatment protocols someone requires for diabetes type II will likely need to be adjusted over time.  Insulin resistance will increase with age and the insulin producing cells within the pancreas may wear out as the organ attempts to keep up with the body’s demand for extra insulin requirements.

After the first few years of being diagnosed, the vast majority of individuals with diabetes type II will require more than one type of medicine to keep their blood sugar controlled. 

See Also: Diabetes type 2 - Causes and Prevention

The prognosis for type II diabetes will vary from person to person.  The outcome a person has will depend on how well an individual modifies their lifestyle and dietary habits.  There are many complications from uncontrollable diabetes type II and these include heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, amputation, heart disease, and nerve damage.  You should always schedule a regular yearly check-up with your doctor, follow any treatment protocols assigned and do everything possible to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

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