Posted by Racer on February 6, 2004, at 11:28:49
In reply to Re: Type II diabetes and health and diet fads » Racer, posted by Karen_kay on February 5, 2004, at 22:40:26
In your case, KK, your diet probably has a lot more to do with your symptoms. When you don't eat all day, and then eat at night, you're not doing your endocrine system any favors.
Here's a very basic idea of how it all works:
The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin, which allows cells to be able to use glucose for energy. Much of the food we eat, especially carbs, is turned into glucose as part of the digestive process, and glucose is the main source of energy for a living body. When insulin is not produced, the cells die because they can't use the glucose. When too much insulin is produced, the cells will die from too much energy -- unless they develop some level of insulin resistance. When blood glucose levels fall too low, the body activates a sort of back up system: the adrenal glands and the liver start trying to fix the problem, by producing a lot of adrenaline (that's the adrenals) and by breaking down the liver cells to create more glucose for those cells to use. Guess what? That's not a good thing...
Type II diabetes is often called Insulin Resistant diabetes, because the pancreas is producing insulin, but the cells can't use it. This can happen for a number of reasons, but eating once a day is a good way to up your chances of getting a problem with it. It's better for all parts of your body to eat more smaller meals every couple of hours, rather than one big meal. In fact -- I know, you've all heard this before -- if you're trying to lose weight, eating six small meals a day will do more than three midsized or larger meals. AND is likely to be more satisfying.
So, to repeat the salient details: diabetes is nothing to play around with. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise can go a long way towards avoiding developing diabetes. Results of diabetes range from the annoying, like male impotence; to the extreme, like having your legs amputated or going blind. And just as an aside, most of those side effects are more in the "when it happens" category, rather than that "if".
I know, I'm still yelling about this. It is very, very serious. DO something about it.
And, KK, if you're going to eat only one meal in a day, make it breakfast, not dinner. And read up on what women's bodies will do with limited intake. The answers there may surprise you, and it really is a Girl Thing. (Taking in far fewer calories than you need will put almost as much weight on your as mild overeating. Most anorexics know this, and eat three meals a day. It's just that those three meals will be quite small.)
poster:Racer
thread:309841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040102/msgs/310147.html