Type 2 diabetes was originally known as ‘adult onset diabetes’ and was once only associated with adults who typically were overweight or obese. Two decades ago, the medical profession was forced to rename the disease due to the alarming number of children who were developing it.
The climbing rates of type 2 diabetes diagnosis is a clear indicator of how problematic the westernised diet has become. In a world where we’re told that animal protein is king and carbohydrates are bad, some of us are taught to eat protein to lose weight, while others eat protein to gain weight. With a paradox like that, it is little wonder everyone is confused and that diabetes is the fastest growing chronic disease: 387 million people have diabetes currently; by 2035 this will rise to 592 million.
What Causes Diabetes?
Previously we’ve seen studies on how fat in animal meat and dairy can cause insulin resistance where the build up of fats (intramyocellular lipids) actually blocks insulin from letting glucose into our muscle cells, where it is burnt off as energy. As a direct result, our pancreas produces more insulin to try and help glucose enter muscle cells, but if our body is blocked from utilising insulin then glucose levels in the blood build up and we exist in a state of hyperglycemia—this leads to type 2 diabetes.
In Dr. Garth Davis’ new book, Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession With Meat is Killing Us and What We Can Do About it, he discusses the fact that type 2 diabetes is not just about high sugar, but that high blood sugars are just a symptom of the actual disease.
Dr. Garth Davis’ new book ‘Proteinaholic’ available now for purchase.
Dr. Davis, medical director of the Davis Clinic at the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, explains in detail that the actual disease process that leads to type 2 diabetes is the accumulation of fat in the muscle cells. This fat interferes with the muscle cells ability to produce insulin receptors. Without insulin receptors, the cells cannot get glucose inside to be used for energy. The body responds by increasing output of insulin. Eventually, even the increased insulin doesn’t help and sugar levels start rising.
Proteinaholic details how meat—not carbs, and not even sugar—provokes a state of inflammation; an immune system response that, when it becomes chronic, underlies virtually every one of our chronic disorders, including heart disease and diabetes.
Of course, there are plenty of individuals who do eat animal protein and do not develop type 2 diabetes, so there have to be other factors at work.
Exercise Does Help
Regular physical activity is an important factor along side a plant-based wholefoods diet. While there are plenty of amateur and professional athletes that eat a lot of animal-based products and don’t have diabetes, it doesn’t wash away the studies and the well researched and educated insights that specialist doctors, like Garth Davis or Michael Greger, have and simply make them incorrect.
As with anything, the problem is multi-factorial. Genetics certainly play a role in making certain people susceptible. The other key issue that may be protecting these athletes is the exercise.
Dr. Davis explains in his new book that MRI studies on athletes show that they can mobilise the intramyocellular fat far better than age matched, but overweight, controls. Certainly, the exercise required doesn’t mean a role on The Biggest Loser and some ridiculous trainer screaming in your face. In fact, the best exercise, according to a recent small study, may be light aerobic activity. It turns out there is a certain heart rate at which you body learns to utilise fat rather than carbs. The more you workout in that heart rate, the more you train your body to mobilise the intramyocellular fat.
The best exercise, according to a recent small study, may be light aerobic activity.
Start by calculating 180-age formula, which is the ideal maximum aerobic heart rate, and subtract 5 if you are totally out of shape. Purchase yourself a heart rate monitor and begin a 5-a-week workout for 30 minutes. Ensure you take 5-10 minutes to warm up and then spend the rest of the time doing enough exertion to get your heart rate close to but not exceeding that number.
Carbs Aren’t the Enemy
Many people tend to demonise carbohydrates by stating that by eating any carb, you have fat in your muscle cells (insulin resistance), which then leads to sugar levels rising—but this is actually not the carbohydrates fault. Likewise, cutting out carbs will lower blood sugar but it doesn’t cure the underlying problem of insulin resistance—whereas, cutting out animal protein does do an amazing job at reducing insulin resistance.
There is large-study evidence that type 2 diabetes is completely preventable for at least 93% of people today by adhering to healthy dietary principles involving fruits, vegetables, wholefoods and regular physical activity, while limiting inflammatory foods like processed red meat and other animal products, which have direct associations to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Combining regular physical activity with consuming a plant-based wholefoods diet and you can live a very healthy life. Interestingly, those on a plant-based diet, such as vegans, seem to live longer.
Dr. Garth Davis’ new book Proteinaholic is a refreshing, factual conclusion to the on-going discussion around protein and human health and chronic disease, which is supported by numerous scientific studies over many years in multiple countries. Proteinaholic is available from various sources to purchase.. Find out out to dispel the nutritional myths once and for all that have rendered the western world sicker than ever before.
Sources: Dr Garth Davis Facebook post, Proteinaholic, CDC.
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