The average American consumes 160 pounds of sugar each year and the inflammation that this produces can be a killer. In my book, The Family Guide to Naturopathic Medicine, Diabetic Syndrome (DS) is the term I use to describe this inflammatory disease that may affect up to two thirds of the U.S. population.

People with DS are subject to: weight gain that is unresponsive to standard dietary measures; type 2 diabetes; hypertension; heart disease; and other inflammation-related ailments including cancer. Following is a profile of those at risk for Diabetic Syndrome. You’ll notice many traits related to blood sugar imbalance.

Personal Profile Traits:

Sugar cravings and carbohydrate ‘addiction’
Sleepiness after a meal; insomnia
relieved by snacking
Increased appetite, usually after a carbohydrate meal
Pattern of nighttime eating
High stress
Dietary history of high-refined carbohydrate intake
Weight loss resistance

Medical Profile Traits:

Triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dl
Low HDL blood levels: less than 40 mg/dl for men and 50 mg/dl for women
Fasting glucose greater than 110 mg/dl
Blood pressure in excess of 130/85
Elevated insulin levels. Elevated fasting insulin may show up years before adult onset diabetes manifests

Treatment Considerations

The key to effective treatment is controlling the fire/inflammation that sets the DS in motion – namely, the inflammation that disrupts insulin receptor integrity. By ensuring the integrity of cell membranes, you can assure healthy receptor status. What can you do to help yourself?

Lifestyle

Don’t Smoke! Laugh often. Maintain a positive mental attitude. Get adequate rest. Exercise regularly. Adopt moderation with alcohol. Manage stress.

Diet

Avoid: Trans fatty acids, hydrogenated oils, deep fried foods, oil that smokes during cooking, margarine, sugar, white flour products and processed foods, frequent non-organic meat consumption, additional salt added to your meals and any product with a longer shelf life than you.

Consume: A “rainbow” assortment of fruits and vegetables. Nuts, legumes, whole grains, wild salmon, and herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, onion, dill and rosemary.

Drink adequate water (filtered or bottled) intake: about one half your weight in ounces daily. Drink green tea (1-3 cups a day). The catechins in green tea help restore and maintain cell receptor status for insulin. If you are sensitive to green tea (keeps you awake when you need to sleep, or aggravates your acid reflux) consider encapsulated green tea extracts to get the benefit without side effects.

By engaging in healthy lifestyle habits and following the nutrient suggestions above, the silent inflammatory condition of Diabetic Syndrome can be prevented or corrected.

If you’re not getting the response you’d like with the above suggestions, consult a qualified health care provider to help you identify if there are any other issues (hormone imbalance, food allergy, stress management) or the need for additional tests.

Dr. Jon Dunn is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor with over 20 years of experience and a can be reached at [email protected] www.DrJonDunn.com 760-341-6502