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February 21 2008
Is Your Full Figure an Increased Risk for Diabetes?

diabetes, breast size, cup size, obesity, overweight, leptin, insulin, insulin resistance, diabetes predictorsA new study suggest that women who have smaller breasts in their late teens and early 20s may enjoy a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. However, many doctors have cautioned that the results may have more to do with obesity than they do with breast size alone.

Researchers surveyed more than 92,000 women with an average age of 38, asking each of the participants to recall her bra size at the age of 20.

Women who recalled having a D cup or larger had about three times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Women who reported wearing B cup and C cup bras also experienced a higher risk than women who wore an A cup, even after figuring in age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, eating habits, family history of diabetes, physical activity level and pregnancies.

The study’s lead investigator believes that the correlation has something to do with how breasts develop during puberty. Puberty is a period marked by raised insulin resistance. Just as breast development is both accelerated and more pronounced in obese girls, their levels of insulin resistance may be as well.

However, if that is the case, many experts question why they should abandon the tried-and-true methods of evaluating type 2 diabetes risk by calculating their BMIs and evaluating lifestyles.



Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola's Comments:

Now, before you start to panic about your chest size, thinking your endowment spells doomsday ahead, let’s dig through this study a bit further to reveal what’s really being said about the underlying risk factors and causes of diabetes. Because even though they’re focusing on breast size as a new, potential indicator of diabetes, what they’re really saying is that diabetes is the result of a link between being overweight and developing insulin resistance.

Your breast tissue generally consists of less than 20 percent glandular tissue, with fat and connective tissues making up the rest. This is why obesity, or being overweight, will affect your cup size just as it will increase your girth in other areas.

Your fat tissue (adipose tissue) contains fat cells (adipocytes) that release an array of bioactive protein molecules called adipokines. Some of these are pro-inflammatory, and others control your insulin sensitivity, appetite and energy expenditure.

When dysfunction occurs in the fat tissue, it can generate a low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, which, as this study spells out, is what is responsible for creating type 2 diabetes. The question that is raised by the authors of this study is, “why does fat tissue malfunction in obese people?”

What’s the Link Between Obesity and Diabetes? 

Dr. Ron Rosedale M.D. is one of the world’s foremost experts on diabetes, and his explanations of the link between obesity and diabetes are groundbreaking – even if they’re not used by more conventional medical scientists. 

Essentially, when you consume sugar you set off a chain reaction that looks like this: 

  1. your body turns the sugar into fat
  2. your insulin surges, telling your body to create more fat cells to store it in
  3. once your fat cells reach their maximum capacity, they end up becoming resistant to insulin, which in turn raises your blood sugar levels because your body has run out of places to put it  

Raising your level of insulin – similar to simply screaming louder at someone who is deaf -- is not the answer in this case, but rather improving your insulin sensitivity – improving your body’s ability to sense the presence of insulin. Because the way you become insulin resistant is by over-use of insulin, much like sitting in a smelly room; after a while you can’t really smell the odor anymore. 

Reducing your insulin levels – by reducing or eliminating sugar and carbohydrates from your diet – can be likened to walking out of that smelly room for awhile, so that when you come back in your sense of smell has been reinvigorated and you can discern the odors again and make the appropriate adjustments. 

The appropriate adjustments in this case are done by your nutrient sensors. The sensor for carbohydrates, or glucose, is insulin, and the nutrient sensor for fat is leptin. Leptin, in essence, tells your body what, when, and how much fat to burn. 

Additionally, when your insulin goes up, it tells cells to start reproducing, meaning create more fat cells, which in turn down-regulates maintenance and repair of damaged cells. Hence you end up with more fat, and cellular damage that is not being repaired. 

Why Diabetic Drugs Only Make Your Problem Worse 

Diabetic drugs such as Actos and Avandia are PPAR-gamma agonists. As such they activate PPAR-gamma receptors to induce a response. But what does PPAR-gamma do? 

PPAR-gamma is a nuclear receptor designed to multiply fat cells. So, the way these drugs work to lower your blood sugar is simply by increasing your number of fat cells faster!  

It’s like buying a bigger house just to be able to store more stuff, but it doesn’t fix the underlying problem: over-consumption, which in this case is consuming too much sugar. 

Because once those fat cells become resistant to insulin you’re back to where you started – your sugars start rising again because your body has once again run our of storage space. The conventional answer is to up your dosages, creating a never-ending vicious cycle of deteriorating health. 

How Do You Eliminate Your Diabetes Risk? 

If you restrict the amount of sugar-forming foods you consume, your insulin and leptin levels will stay low and your weight will normalize. Dr. Ron Rosedale has given an excellent summary of this process, which goes much like this:  

If you go on a low carbohydrate, and moderate protein – just enough to meet your absolute needs – and fill your hunger and fuel needs with healthy fat, you will restrict all three major nutrient sensors: mTOR for protein, insulin for carbohydrates, and leptin for fat, which will maximally improve the cellular maintenance and repair processes that are instrumental in allowing a much greater lifespan and improved health. 

By the way, I just did a three hour interview withDr. Ron Rosedale that is available to all who are in the My Inner Circle.  If you haven’t joined yet you really need to take advantage of this extraordinary package.  It really is one of the best health values on the net.  

For more in-depth information about how to control and eliminate type 2 diabetes, including my most recent article comparing the absurdities of weight loss surgery against lifestyle changes for diabetics, please review the related articles below.


Related Articles:

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Community Comments ( 48 )
Comment on this Article
  
  
Katee Roux
[ Joined on 07/07 ] [ Posted on February 1, 2008 ]
38 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
So tell me, just exactly how is this helpful information?

You either are, or are not large breasted at that age.  Especially at a normal weight.

I weighed 118 in high school, am 5'4" tall, & wore a D/DD cup size.  Now what does this info do but increase someone's anxiety if they are this size.  I didn't have any control over this size.

I'm tired of scare tactics.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
nancie
 [ Posted on February 2, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
I couldn't agree more.

I was a size 34 C when I was 20.  My Great grandmother was also rather large.  No one in my immediate family has diabetes.  Although, they have other health issues, but that's besides the point.

I think some are looking for a way to rid themselves of responsibility of being sick.

"Oh look, I have diabetes and it's not my fault because I have such large breasts, not the fact that I continue to drink soda and eat highly processed foods.  It's not my fault!"
Mercola
  
Dr Rik
[ Joined on 11/06 ]  [ Posted on February 21, 2008]
4 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola

This article is helpful when you realize that breast size changes with weight. Overweight women will have an increase in breast size (as well as everything else). The same guidelines that you use for healthy weight still apply. In other words, Old News.

Mercola
  
AZhiker
[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on February 21, 2008]
-1 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

I agree katee, scare tactics.

Maybe German New Medicine would say that women who have large breast when they are 20 have to deal with so much harassment and disrespect from men who weren't raised right, that they develop diabetes and gain weight in a sub-con effort to have someone listen to what they say and not have to hide their chest in giant clothes. Hmmmm

  
  
samurai
[ Joined on 04/07 ] [ Posted on January 31, 2008 ]
13 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
I have always been a well endowed woman.  I am 5'9" and in high school I weighed 128lbs still, with large breasts. 
In my opinion, since breast tissue is mostly fat, and fat stores, and creates estrogen, and estrogen dominance leads to breast cancer, this article makes sense.  After gaining 30-40 lbs 20 years later, I had a horrible uterine fibroid, which is a result of estrogen dominance.   This scared me straight to lose my weight.  Or was it the massive drugs that scared me when I was operated on?? 
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Russ Bianchi
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on January 31, 2008]
11 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
"We at PEPSICO forgive you Samurai, would you like a cancer causing aspartame/sucralose/asulphame potassium sweetened Diet Pepsi, and some deep fried acrylamide cancer causing laden potato chips with that?" 

Indrea Nooya, Pepsico CEO
Mercola
  
LHen
[ Joined on 01/08 ]  [ Posted on February 20, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Fibroids/cysts (ovarian, uterine, breast) can also be a result of iodine deficiency; you might consider supplementation.

Mercola
  
mrose
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on February 21, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

Samurai - I don't understand why 5'9" and weighing 160 or so 20 years later is a problem.  Of course, I don't know you body type, etc.  I am 5'4" (was 5'5") and now 40 years later I weigh about 145 from 125 in my 20's and 30's.  I am an extremely healthy eater and exercise moderately.   I think we are too focused on that scale number and not enough on how our body feels and what we are putting in it.   I'm very comfortable with my weight (okay - wouldn't cry if I lost a few, but don't dwell on it) - and most importantly, my husband thinks I'm as sexy as the day we met!!  I guess my point is - is it normal to gain some weight as we age?  Perhaps your health problems were related to other issues.   I know I didn't always have healthy eating habits (as I did'nt understand in my 20's that fast food was bad!! - I ate a lot of it and was slim and trim.  And, Im not sure what impact that previous life style has or will have on my health now.....

Mercola
  
AZhiker
[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on February 21, 2008]
       
   
Novice User
  Mercola

mrosedawson, you are correct about women gaining weight as they age. This helps with estrogen production after menopause, keeping bones strong, etc.  There is a book that mentions this, just can't remember what it is. Trying to stay thin at menopause is silly and vain....  and it makes your body have a harder time.

  
  
Dekalb
[ Joined on 06/06 ] [ Posted on February 1, 2008 ]
10 Points        
   
 
Apprentice User
Finally, an upside to being small!
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Phantom O' Banjo
[ Joined on 09/06 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
There is more then one!  Easier to see to tie shoes just an example.......
Mercola
  
EQ
[ Joined on 03/07 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
5 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Oh, there are soooooo many upsides!  Small breasts are easier to deal with throughout life, and I've heard they're supposedly more sensitive.  Well, whatever,  I don't have to burn a bra because I don't need it in the first place, and they won't be down to my belly button in 40 years.  I wouldn't ever want to change mine.
Mercola
  
shaneperrone
[ Joined on 11/07 ]  [ Posted on February 1, 2008]
3 Points        
   
Savvy User
  Mercola
Big or small, to me it doesn't matter at all :P
I personally find if they match the persons body it doesn't matter how big/small, although about the diabetes risk i wouldn't know, all i can say is do what one should do and cut out sugar and all the stuff you shouldn't have depending on your body chemistry.
  
  
Islander
[ Joined on 03/07 ] [ Posted on January 31, 2008 ]
9 Points        
   
 
Savvy User
UP? Up up up? Who writes these headlines?

What's wrong with "elevate"? Oh, too many letters? How about "increase"? Still too many? Can we go with "raise"?

"Up" is a preposition . It is way too short to do the demanding work of a verb , dammit.
 [ Reply ]
Mercola
  
Reesacat
[ Joined on 01/07 ]  [ Posted on January 31, 2008]
18 Points