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Weight Gain, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome “X”
Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS), sometimes referred to as Metabolic
Syndrome “X” is a medical condition affecting as many as one in four
Americans. Considered to be a ‘pre-diabetic’ state, IRS precedes the
development of diabetes by as much as 10 years.
Insulin is a hormone, secreted by the pancreas. Insulin has two
principal functions: (1) control of blood sugar, and (2) deposition of
free fatty acids into the fat cells. If the insulin receptor becomes
dysfunctional, it takes more and more insulin to maintain normal blood
sugars. Unfortunately, the increase in the Insulin level results in fat
deposition, mostly in the abdomen.
As more and more insulin is needed to maintain blood sugar levels, the
fat cells respond to the situation by becoming ‘fatter.’ This in turn
results in even higher insulin levels. Eventually, blood sugar levels
cannot be maintained, even with the very high insulin levels, and
‘diabetes’ is diagnosed. Clearly, the animals were well out of the barn
by the time ‘diabetes’ was finally diagnosed.
The key to diabetes prevention is detecting ‘insulin resistance’ before
things get totally out of control. In order to do this, serum insulin
levels should be determined simultaneously with blood glucose.
NOTE: Healthy blood sugar to insulin ratio should be greater than 10 to 1.
The first step to restore more normal, lower insulin levels is to treat
with a combination of trace minerals. The key here is balance. Chromium
and vanadium are associated with insulin receptor dysfunction, but
these should not be taken without adequate intake of zinc and selenium.
I use a product called “Magic Minerals,” which is a mixture of organic
mineral salts called ‘chelates.’
The mixture is less expensive than buying the individual components, so
my patients seem to be a bit happier with it. For the average adult,
two capsules are taken twice daily. A bottle of 120 will last 4 weeks.
Many patients will experience some weight loss with “Magic Minerals.”
Typically, patients will lose 4-8 pounds over the course of 6 to 8
weeks.
After 1-2 weeks of mineral use, blood sugar levels can be expected to
drop. When weight loss ends, additional chromium is administered.
Typically chromium 200 mcg, taken twice daily is added to the ‘Magic
Minerals.’ Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 500 mg taken twice daily will
further sensitize the cells to insulin.
David Stephen Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM, FACMIMS
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