Pancreas. Its condition most depends on whether a person will face such unpleasant diagnoses as diabetes or prediabetes.
There are people with super-sensitivity to insulin who can eat a whole cake, and they will not get anything for it.
By the way, you should not be happy with such guys at all, the age and experience of devouring cakes will definitely make their own adjustments. The organs suffer quietly and imperceptibly.
!
But when glucose tolerance has already been lost, for example, only an ultra-low-carb diet helps, because from 100 grams of grapes, high sugar lasts for three days.[1]
The pancreas produces enzymes for breaking down the main components of food and insulin, which is necessary for the metabolism and control of glucose.[2]
All pancreatic enzymes are activated in an alkaline environment, but they are produced, interestingly, in the acidic environment of the pancreas itself.
The organ is very vulnerable and tender. That is why the slightest changes in the state of the pancreas can completely destroy the normal metabolism and lead to type 2 diabetes. And even the first one.
No organ can take over the function of glucose regulation. This position in the body is irreplaceable. If the cells of the pancreas do not produce insulin at all, you will have to receive it from the outside for the rest of your life.
Where do the inflammatory processes in the pancreas come from:
As a rule, this is some kind of obstacle to the outflow of the enzyme-rich juice of the pancreas (pancreatic juice) - extremely caustic and traumatic.
The most common obstacle is gallstones, which block the ducts and prevent pancreatic juice from entering the duodenum. This is a condition for the strongest inflammatory process, because the pancreas literally begins to "self-digest".[3]
Why does all this happen?
Most often, addiction and chronic stress are to blame.
These situations are a huge burden not only on the gland itself, but also on the parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates digestive processes.
Stress causes spasms of the ducts and interferes with the blood supply to the pancreas. A blow, by the way, not only to the pancreas, but also to the liver.[4]
There are cases when, under severe stress (fright, trauma), the cells of the pancreas instantly died off and a person became diabetic for the rest of his life.
Are you still wondering why there are so many cases of pancreatitis? That's right, chronic stress and consolation with food. All conditions are absolutely. Two-in-one.
Why does the pancreas stop producing insulin normally?
The beta cells of the pancreas first produce not the insulin that can be used, but "proinsulin", which is broken down into active insulin and c-peptide. When an external factor changes the condition of the gland, its beta cells stop releasing enough insulin to control glucose.
The cause may be the inflammatory processes described above, and the degradation of the gland tissues for one reason or another (severe stress, genetics, autoimmunity), and the accumulation of fat in it. Fat, so that the pancreas stops working normally, you need very, very little.
How to preserve the good health of the pancreas?
1
Training. People who already have problems should remember that physical activity should be moderate and even light, but at the same time constant. Power loads are very useful for healthy people.
Regularity is the clue.
2
Weight loss. I would say getting rid of fat. This is a simple and complex recipe for metabolic problems at the same time.
3
Reducing the amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates may be present in the diet, but standard norms are suitable only for professional athletes with daily training.
4
Fiber. Not all fiber is equally useful for controlling blood sugar. Vegetables and legumes-yes, cereals-no.
5
Interval fasting and calorie restriction. The question is ambiguous, but the level of c-peptide decreases with interval nutrition, and this is an indicator. So, the second-definitely yes, the first-depends on the state of health.
6
Coffee. It has a positive effect on the function of the pancreas. This was especially pronounced in obese subjects. And it's not about caffeine - decaf in studies led to the same effect. A cup of good grain coffee a day is a very good idea.
7
Fish and seafood. Low-fat "light" proteins are the best thing you can think of to maintain the health of the pancreas.
8
Control the level of calcium and vitamin D. More sun, sesame, cottage cheese, sardines are on the menu. A lot of leafy greens.
9
Be careful with synthetic sources of B3 (niacin). They increase the level of glucose and insulin - there will be several studies on this topic below. It should be added only according to strict indications and under the supervision of a doctor.
A study by scientists at the University of Newcastle, published in the journal Diabetes Care.[5]
The trial involved 18 type 2 diabetics and 9 non-diabetics who underwent bypass gastric anastomosis surgery. The purpose of this operation is to reduce the number of calories consumed.
The insulin response to glucose administration was measured and recorded before the operation and 8 weeks after. The subjects also underwent comparative MRI of the liver and pancreas.
What happened in the end?
The total weight loss and the change in the volume of subcutaneous fat in all patients were approximately the same.
But! In patients without diabetes, neither the state of the pancreas nor the insulin response to glucose changed.
But in diabetics, after even a slight weight loss, the triglycerides of the pancreas decreased (in other words, fat began to leave the pancreas) and the insulin response to glucose NORMALIZED.
It is very important. Very.
None of us knows at what point excess fat will begin to accumulate not only under the skin, but also in the tissues of the pancreas and other organs. That is why it is dangerous to gain and not lose weight, even if it is not gigantic, but simply significantly excessive. This is a potential resistance to insulin and a high risk of type 2 diabetes.
The researchers made a conclusion that was recognized as a discovery at the diabetes symposium in Vancouver:
"Weight loss allows people with type 2 diabetes to remove excess fat from the pancreas and restore its normal functioning. So, if you ask how much weight you need to lose to get rid of diabetes, the answer will be "one gram"! But this gram should be from the pancreas. Currently, the only way to achieve this is to limit calories. by any means - diet or surgery."
But the question is when will you get to this gram? How many kilograms do you need to lose weight in order for metabolic problems to begin to reverse... No one knows that.
Therefore, here are two simple things for the health of the pancreas:
1. A huge NO to stress and overeating. The most terrible thing that can be done is to combine stress and overeating, " jam" panic, pain, anxiety, unpleasant events. It destroys your nervous system, liver and pancreas.
2. If you already have problems with blood sugar control , you need to lose weight. Whether on your own or with a doctor, but this is the key condition. You give your organs a chance to successfully cope with the problem.
William Toro ‧ CPT & Nutritionist
William is a certified personal trainer from NASM, he has also been a rehab physiologist for sports persons. He has more than 15 years of experience training people. And has featured in multiple publications like FoxNews, CNBC, Bustle, and other.
References:
1. NIDDK, Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes, retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance
2. Columbia Surgery, The Pancreas and Its Functions, retrieved from https://columbiasurgery.org/pancreas/pancreas-and-its-functions
3. The National Pancreas Foundation, Common Disorders of The Pancreas, retrieved from https://pancreasfoundation.org/patient-information/about-the-pancreas/common-disorders-of-the-pancreas/
4. Marcelo G Binker, Laura I Cosen-Binker, Acute pancreatitis: The stress factor, retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4024789/
5. Sarah Steven, Kieren G. Hollingsworth, Ahmad Al-Mrabeh, Leah Avery, Benjamin Aribisala, Muriel Caslake, Roy Taylor, Very Low-Calorie Diet and 6 Months of Weight Stability in Type 2 Diabetes: Pathophysiological Changes in Responders and Nonresponders, retrieved from https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/5/808
