Insulin Affects Us
When blood glucose levels get too high, insulin is released into the bloodstream by the pancreas to help disperse the glucose.
The insulin transports the glucose to cells needing extra energy. The cells have insulin receptors positioned so that insulin can bind to them, facilitating glucose entry and utilization in the cells.
Once inside the cells, the glucose is burned to produce heat and adenosine triphosphate, (ATP) a molecule that stores and releases energy as required by the cell.
When cells become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, they accept less glucose, so more glucose than usual remains in the bloodstream.
Result? The pancreas over-compensates by working harder and releasing even more insulin.
The combination of insulin-insensitivity and insulin over-production typically leads to one of two results:
Either, the pancreas gets worn out and insulin production slows down to abnormally low levels. Result? We develop type 2 diabetes.
If the insulin-resistant patient doesn’t develop diabetes (because the pancreas continues to produce sufficient insulin).
The person could develop hyperinsulinism (abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood).
This can cause chronic obesity as well as high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides, low HDL (good) cholesterol, heart disease, and possibly some cancers.
Low GI Foods Cause Lower Insulin Levels
This is why experts are beginning to recognize the health advantages of following a low Gastrointestinal diet. Because lower GI foods are converted into glucose much more slowly, causing less insulin to be produced.
This is not the last word on this subject, by any means.
Research into insulin insensitivity and the relationship between insulin levels and obesity is ongoing.
The overconsumption of high-GI foods (and high-fat fast food) is a major cause of concern.
The new carbohydrate classification system known as the Glycemic Index rates the carbohydrate quality in foods according to its immediate effect on the blood glucose level.
Carbs that break down quickly into glucose during digestion, causing a rapid rise in glucose levels, have a high GI value. Those carbs that break down more slowly, are given an Intermediate or Low GI value.
