The incidence of metabolic syndrome, sometimes called pre-diabetes, is increasing. The condition is characterized by obesity, especially around the abdomen, dyslipidaemia (especially high levels of triglycerides and low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol), hyperglycaemia, and hypertension.
As the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is also increasing, researchers are trying to determine whether treating metabolic syndrome will be more effective in cutting diabetes rates than focusing on the prevention of obesity and other risk factors for diabetes. Studies have found that people with metabolic syndrome are at an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers suggest that modest, healthy lifestyle changes may be most effective in treating metabolic syndrome and preventing its subsequent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
British Medical Journal July 12, 2003;327:61-62 (Full Text Article)
Metabolic syndrome is the new term for syndrome X, which includes obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugars.
This editorial states that type 2 diabetes will reach up to seven percent of the population by 2025. You can double that amount for pre-diabetics. So that will be nearly 15 percent of the population with diabetic tendencies. However, today in the United States we already have over 30 million people with diabetes or pre-diabetes.
A fasting blood sugar is probably the simplest way to diagnose pre-diabetes. If it is between 110 and 125 you have pre-diabetes. I think ANY three-digit blood sugar is too high, and ideally I like to see it in the low 80s.
Fortunately, there are great "drugs" that can reverse and "cure" diabetes. They are exercise and diet. I recently reviewed the exercise requirements to control diabetes. The key to diet is avoiding foods that increase insulin, namely grains and sugars.
As I discuss in my new book, eliminating grains and sugars is key. However, if you are overweight, removing nearly all nuts and fruits from your diet also seems necessary to reach your ideal weight and optimal health.
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