A cluster of disorders that has been linked to type 2 diabetes may also contribute to early-onset heart disease in certain families.
A recent study has found that insulin resistance syndrome, or "syndrome X," clusters in families with a history of early heart disease -- a heart attack or blood vessel blockage before age 55 in men and before age 65 in women.
Insulin resistance syndrome refers to a combination of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including chronically elevated insulin levels, low HDL ("good") cholesterol, abdominal obesity and high blood pressure.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body no longer responds to insulin, the body's key blood sugar-regulating hormone. As a result, levels of insulin in the blood become elevated and over time, can raise the risk for kidney failure and blindness, as well as heart disease.
Individuals with heart disease were found to have higher insulin levels after the test, lower HDL levels, higher triglycerides and higher fibrinogen compared with their healthy siblings.
Insulin resistance syndrome occurred in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes.
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology August 2001;21:1346-1352
Insulin resistance is probably the single most important dietary factor to consider. It is the one that is most frequently ignored, even in many natural dietary approaches.
Dr. Ron Rosedale mentored me in this area in 1995. He is one of the leading experts in applying this clinically and he will be publishing a book shortly that describes many of the practical applications of how this works.
A simple tool that you can use to find out if your insulin level is elevated is to do a fasting serum insulin level. It should be below 10. The lower the number the better you are. I believe an optimum level should be below 5 or below.
The key here is to follow the eating plan and you will automatically limit the foods that cause your insulin level to rise.
Controlling your insulin levels is one of the most powerful anti-aging strategies you could possibly implement.
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