Posted by desolationrower on May 5, 2011, at 18:33:03
In reply to Re: Mirtazapine and blood sugar » mtdewcmu, posted by Dinah on May 4, 2011, at 7:55:30
> I have diabetes and have been researching it recently. I'm not sure if I remember what I've been reading, but I think that insulin resistance is a major cause of weight gain as the body doesn't properly metabolize the glucose.
This is sort of popular in some descriptions, but its more complicated.
In a multicellular system, cells need a way of taking energy that they need, and when it is scarce to share the reduced amount. In obesity, the body becomes insulin resistant because they individual cells thing "hey, i am full, i will let other cells have that energy." But because of the odd situation evolutionarily (most plants and animals spend all day trying to get enough food, and only sometimes succeeding), they body can't handle the excess energy. Instead, it floats around in the blood as high blood sugar (glycating things, causing glaucoma, kidney disease, etc) and triglycerides (fatty liver, etc). The insulin resistance *prevents* weight gain, even though it is caused by and correlated with it. The energy in the blood should signal the brain to stop eating, and focus on otherh things like reproduction, sleep, etc. but it isn't effective against the modern convenient hyperpalatable food, bored humans, etc. Eventually, that signal actually becomes less effective (leptin resistance), making it harder to maintain a lower body weight.
This also explains why you can have metabolic syndrome even without being obese; those people became insulin resistant before they added much bodyfat, and vice-versa people who gain weight easily can have lower levels of metabolic syndrome. Also, drugs that reduce diabetes can cause weight gain: they reduce insulin resistance, increase fat deposition, and get the energy out of the blood. Excess calories are unhealthy when they are sitting in fat cells, but they are even worse for you floating around.
>One sign of insulin resistance is a big belly, particularly if that's not your previous body type. I also think I remember that not everyone develops diabetes with excess food consumption. It depends on your genes. Does your family have a history of diabetes? If so, it might be wise to be extra careful. I'm really iffy on this part, but I think that even nondiabetics with the gene for diabetes have a difference in their mitochondria and glucose processing.Viceral fat, yes its worse. Obviously the best thing to do is get a glucose meter, do frequent blood sugar testing, and get your hba1c checked.
> I've also gotten a continuous glucose monitor this year, and it's clear that stress and anxiety is worse for my blood sugar than *anything* I eat. In periods of high stress, even with diabetic medication, my blood sugar hovered at 200-300+, while in low stress as now, it runs from 120 to spikes of over 200 depending on what I eat.yes, normally stress means you need to run away from a lion or something, so you need energy available to burn.
> So I'd be tending to say that, for me, stress and anxiety may play more havoc with my blood sugar than what I might take to lower stress. But I could be wrong, even about myself. And certainly about others with different genes.
>
> Do you have a meter? They finger stick kind are pretty inexpensive, and would give you a practical idea of your blood glucose under various conditions.+1
>It's a sign of metabolic syndrome. I'm not sure what it says specifically about IR.
i don't think they are directly linked.
anyway, viceral fat is the first to come off with physical activity. Meditation to reduce stress is also a good idea.
-d/r
Better living through chemistry, socialism, and big phallic rockets (with a side of roquette)
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