What can cause Diabetes?
Currently, there is a diabetes epidemic in this country, with more than 30 million people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Another 8 million are thought to have it, but are yet undiagnosed. What is causing this? If you’re thinking sugar over consumption, obesity and sedentary lifestyle, surprisingly you’re only partially correct. Several international studies have examined the relationship between environmental influences and diabetes (type 1 & 2). The data is so compelling that some researchers now label these toxins as diabetogens. In other words, toxins can cause diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well as it should.
What toxins cause Diabetes?
A diabetogenic agent may be defined as one that produces a persistent elevation in blood-glucose concentration and can therefore cause diabetes. Some of the most common toxins listed as diabetogens are the following:
1. Arsenic (heavy metal, often found in rice)
2. BPA (food containers, toiletries, receipts)
3. Dioxin (found in dairy products, meats)
4. PBC’s (fish, meat, dairy)
5. Phthalates (personal care, toys, food packaging)
6. OCP (pesticides ie: glyphosphate).
These chemicals lead to a disruption in the normal production of insulin by the beta cells of the pancreas, as well as, interference with insulin action at the cellular levels, basically leading to insulin resistance which can cause diabetes.
How do Toxins disrupt the blood sugar balance?
Why are these toxins, also called Diabetogens, affecting our ability to process blood sugar?
There are many mechanisms for blood sugar control disruption by these described toxins. They can be loosely divided into 2 broad categories:
-Decreased insulin production
-Impaired insulin sensitivity
Although the researchers behind this have allocated these toxins to the 2 categories, the reality is that all of them have multiple ways in which they disrupt blood sugar regulation.
Decreased Insulin Production: Using Arsenic as an example – the primary mechanism of this heavy metal appears due to damaging pancreatic β cells with resultant decreased production of insulin.
Impaired Insulin Sensitivity: Bisphenol A (BPA), for example, blocks insulin receptor sites causing insulin resistance. This increases not only the incidence of diabetes, but also obesity, especially the worst type—accumulation of visceral fat.
Additionally, impaired insulin sensitivity is the typical mechanism of damage for all the toxins, which is why they are also implicated in the obesity epidemic. This is just a small sampling of how toxins can affect our bodies
Diabetes & Toxins: How Toxins Damage our Body
Researcher Joe Pizzorno, ND has been a pioneer in uncovering the health impacts of environmental toxins on our body. In his book, The Toxic Solution, he outlines 8 ways toxins can damage our body.
1. Toxins poison enzymes, so they don’t work properly.
2. Toxins displace structural minerals, resulting in weaker bones.
3. Toxins can damage vital organs.
4. Toxins damage DNA, which increases aging and degeneration.
5. Toxins modify gene expression.
6. Toxins damage cell membranes, so they do not respond properly.
7. Toxins interfere with hormones and cause imbalances.
8. Toxins impair the ability to detox.
Are toxins an issue for you? If so, what should you do about them?
It is becoming universally known that the best way to lower your toxic load is through avoidance of diabetogens. Unfortunately, this is really hard to do. The next best thing is to get tested to see what levels of various diabetogenic toxins are in your system. There are some particular blood tests that are helpful along with urine toxic metal testing.
If it is determined that your toxin levels are high, there are a few things you can do to reduce your load. Firstly, it is important to eat fresh organic food as much as possible, limit refined sugars, get adequate exercise and proper sleep.
The following therapies can futher reduce your toxic load:
Sauna and detox baths: Sweating is a phenomenal detox technique
Intermittent fasting: forgoing food for a certain amount of time
N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC): NAC is a precusor of glutathione, an extremely powerful antioxidant that contains sulfur compounds – sticky substances that catch and eliminate free radicals, heavy metals and other toxins. Some food sources of cysteine include chicken, turkey, dairy and eggs. A good preventive dose of NAC as a supplement is 600 mg per day.
Increase your fiber intake: Fiber binds to toxins in the gut and excretes them.
Include a daily probiotic: Some preliminary research indicates that certain strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteris bind to BPA, reducing its absorption in the intestines and facilitates its elimination.
Zeolite or other binding supplements can trap heavy metals and remove them from the body.
These are just some of the most common ways to eliminate toxins from your body. However, the most appropriate way to address or prevent this condition is to get the indicated testing done based on your individual symptoms and then treat your unique imbalances with those protocols specific to your needs.
In Health,
Dr. Ilene Cristdahl
