The Dysglycemic Nation

We have received numerous comments and questions regarding our recent two part article (read Part I, read Part II) on Diabetes/Dysglycemia and following Dr. Goldberg’s recent four hour presentation on Blood Sugar Disorders at the Georgia Chiropractic Association Spring Conference. This article will provide answers to a few of the more common ones.

Q: You wrote that forty percent of the U.S. Adult Population were either Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic. Those figures sound high.

A: To be more precise, the figure is 40.3% with 38% of the population being “pre-diabetic” and 11.3% being diagnosed as having Diabetes (Type I or Type II). The biometric data can be viewed at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/prevalence-of-prediabetes.html, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html. This information is from the CDC and was collected three or more years ago. Current figures are likely to be considerably higher.

The prevalence of Diabetes has risen steadily since the late 1970’s with the employment by the food industry of High Fructose Corn Syrup, estimated to be in seventy four percent of the processed goods in supermarkets. Based on demographic trends, including an aging population and the many undiagnosed people with Diabetes, we have now exceeded a fifty percent prevalence rate for combined “Pre-Diabetes” (more accurately defined as early Diabetes) and Diabetes cases in the United States.

Q: Would you say that most cases of Diabetes stem directly from our dietary patterns?

A: Diabetes/Dysglycemia covers a lot of territory and involves, like other “chronic diseases,” a number of etiological factors. Dietary influences are a chief player but other factors are also at play.

Emotional stress, for example, can play havoc with blood sugar regulating mechanisms operating through the autonomic nervous system and the Adrenal Cortex (causing the release of Glucocorticoids) directly influencing glucose levels. The stress of emotional upsets to glucose regulating mechanisms can match or exceed the stress we incur by the ingestion of large quantities of sugar and other carbohydrates. Other factors involved with the creation of Diabetes include obesity, increasing rates of allergy/autoimmunity and a sedentary lifestyle.

A lesser-known cause of Diabetes of major concern is toxin exposure which can have a significant influence on Diabetes development. Some researchers are now labeling many environmental toxins as diabetogens. These are generally classified as endocrine disrupters. Click here to read our article, “Environmental Toxins and their Role in Chronic Disease”.

“ In animal studies bisphenol A stimulates synthesis and secretion of pancreatic Beta cells and disturbs insulin signaling leading to insulin resistance and beta cell impairment. In humans, epidemiological reports show statistical links between exposure to pesticides, polychlorinated bisphenyls, bisphenol A, phthalates, dioxins or aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbides or heavy metals and Diabetes Type 2 after acute accidental releases or early in life and/or chronic low dose exposures.”

 Environmental Endocrine Disruptors: New Diabetogens?

Patrick Fénichel and Nicolas Chevalier CR Biol 2017 Sep-Oct;340(9-10):446-452.

These and other environmental factors, alone or in conjunction with dietary issues, are also causal factors in the evolution of Diabetes. When I studied Public Health/Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Center in the mid to late 70’s, this was not widely recognized. Awareness has changed. In our practice today, we observe elevated levels of toxic materials in the blood, hair and urine in many of our patients with chronic disease conditions, including Diabetes, on a regular basis. We have found that by addressing/lowering elevated toxin levels that the patient’s glucose regulating ability often significantly improves.

Q: Before the relatively recent introduction of high fructose corn syrup, what led to the increase in diabetes?

A: Added dietary sugar is now an integral part of life in the U.S. It would be hard for most people to imagine life without bread, cake, pie, candy, catsup, sauces, ice cream, cereals, soft drinks, juice drinks, canned goods, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices and a host of other products in which sugar is an essential component. Prior to the introduction of high fructose corn syrup there was already heavy consumption of sugar, mostly in the form of cane and beet sugar being added to processed foods. Nonetheless, the rate of Diabetes has skyrocketed since the addition of high fructose corn syrup, increased emotional stressors and the Diabetogens mentioned previously.

Q: You have stated that some cases of Diabetes II can be fully reversed. Is this true of Type I Diabetes also?

A: We have had many patients medically labeled with Type I and Type II Diabetes who have regained normal blood glucose balance and been able to discontinue all or most of their medication(s) under their medical physician’s guidance. The less medication taken and the shorter the period they have been on drugs, particularly insulin, the better the opportunity for reversal of disease and the restoration of  health. Insulin usage over a long duration causes the Beta Cells of the Islets of Langerhans, where insulin is produced, to gradually degenerate, making a full recovery less probable.

Each person labeled with Diabetes is different from the next. The forty-five-year-old obese male diagnosed with Diabetes Type II and recently placed on Metformin, motivated to recover his biochemical balance due to employment requirements, has a good opportunity for restoring his health with hard work and discipline.

This is different from the five-year-old boy whose Mother wants us to “give him something” for his insulin dependent Diabetes Type I but refuses to eliminate his intake of cake, candies, sodas and cow’s milk which he has tested highly allergic to.

Once a patient is properly and thoroughly assessed including a comprehensive interview, physical examination and appropriate laboratory studies seeking out causal factors, a plan of action can be instituted. At that point, the disciplined patient, given the right guidance, has the opportunity for significant improvement, if not full recovery. The two interviews shown below with patients from our clinic illustrate the positive outcomes that are possible. See more case studies here: https://goldbergtenerclinic.com/success-stories/diabetic-conditions/. Contact Us to to See How We can Assist you in Reversing Your Chronic Disease.

Case #1: Diabetes, Hypertension, Overweight, Hypothyroid, IBS, Drug Induced Liver Injury

Bonnie was diagnosed medically with Type I Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Drug Induced Liver and Kidney Injury and Arthritis. At her initial visit, she was taking a dozen prescription drugs including Atenolol, Amliodipine, Synthroid, Nexium, Benadryl, Limotil, Ventolin and drugs for diabetes including insulin which she had been on for thirteen years. Bonnie is now drug free including being off Insulin and Synthroid. She lost over 70 pounds and her blood pressure is normal (off drugs).

Case #2: Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, High Triglycerides, Obesity and Chronic Yeast Infections

Viki came to the Goldberg Tener Clinic suffering from a variety of chronic conditions including diabetes, ulcerative colitis, acid reflux, hypertension, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity and chronic yeast infections. She was seeing several medical physicians who prescribed numerous prescription drugs for her to take including insulin, two blood pressure medications and omeprazole / Prilosec. Today, Viki’s blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and digestive function have all normalized. She is off insulin, blood pressure drugs and prilosec with the blessing of her medical physician based on the good results she obtained. She lost 55 pounds as a result of getting healthy.