Cortisol, What Is It And Why Do I Care?
By · CommentsCortisol is a steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands. It is a glucocorticoid and is secreted specifically by the adrenal cortex, or the outer portion of the adrenal gland. It is very important to blood glucose concentration in two ways.
First it increases the liver production of glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis. This is important in the body during times of stress or between meals for the body to have energy. The second method is by impairing the utilization of glucose by the peripheral tissues. In other words cortisol has an anti-insulin effect on tissues and impairs the uptake of glucose for energy.
Cortisol is diabetogenic since it raises blood glucose concentrations.
This is why the stress response and the circadian release of cortisol are so very important to diabetics or borderline diabetics. This process if left uncontrolled drives the blood glucose problem in the body. It is one way in which to address diabetes from a functional problem or stand point instead of just addressing the blood sugar.
Dr. Charles Stafford
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Charles Stafford, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
When you have Type II Diabetes, you become Insulin Resistant. What exactly does “Insulin Resistant” mean? Our cells in our body have Receptor sites. These are sites that allow transport of a substance into the cell. With Type II Diabetes, the Insulin Receptors become resistant to allowing sugar to go into the cell. Sugar is used for fuel. This is why persons with Type II Diabetes are so tired…their cells are not getting the fuel they need. It’s like driving your car up to a gas pump, but there is no hose to pump the gas into your car. The other bad news is that excess sugar circulates in your body and wreaks havoc. This excess sugar causes damage to all your tissues through a process called “oxidation.” The oxidation process is like rust…so basically what is happening is you’re rusting from the inside out! This is why Type II Diabetes is so dangerous and can lead to horrible things such as amputation. Unfortunately, drugs only artificially lower the blood sugar levels, but rarely stabilize it to the point where the oxidation process stops and is under control. That’s why people on diabetic medication still suffer the awful consequences, but think their diabetes is “under control.”
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need. You can also call one of our two locations: Carrolton – 972-492-0383 or Dallas – 214-599-9285
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
I am asked all the time by patients what foods to eat and what foods to avoid. When it comes to artificial sweeteners, if you really want to get control of the “Diabetic Monster” you got to stay away from ALL artificial sweeteners. I suggest Stevia to all my patients. Stevia is actually a plant, so it is all natural. All natural means that your body does not have to work so hard to process the Stevia. When you look at the chemicals that make up artificial sweeteners, your body has to process all those chemicals and eliminate them. If you are already fighting Diabetes, you gotta feed your body the easiest things to process and to avoid any undo stress on your system. Stevia can be found at your local health food store or stores such as Whole Foods, Central Market, or Sprouts.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need. You can also call one of our two locations: Carrolton – 972-492-0383 or Dallas – 214-599-9285
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
How Do Food Allergies Affect Type 2 Diabetes?
By · CommentsAny allergen whether a bee sting or that bagel you ate this morning, if you are allergic can cause INFLAMMATION. With some people a bee sting can kill them, but with others it may just cause some redness and swelling. Either way, your body responds to any allergen by increasing your body’s inflammation. When your body is inflamed, your blood sugar goes up almost immediately. That’s why its so important to know what foods you may be sensitive to in order to know what triggers or drives your diabetes. In our Western culture our foods are high in simple carbs such as breads, pastas, refined sugars, and processed foods. The most common foods most people in the US are sensitive to are: gluten (found in breads, pastas, etc), dairy, soy, and corn. When you look at the American diet, these foods make up a large part of our diet. Over time, our bodies become so bombarded with these foods that our bodies are overwhelmed and cannot process these foods correctly and with time become allergic to these foods. If you are allergic to something such as gluten, one exposure can cause an inflammatory response and will stay in your body for up to 6 months! Identifying a person’s food allergies is part of our work up when we accept a patient into our Type 2 Diabetes treatment. It’s imperative every part of someone’s health is looked at with a fine tooth comb to find out what is causing their Diabetes. That’s my approach to this disease. Call our office today if you’d like to know what is causing your Diabetes to take over your life.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need. You can also call one of our two locations with any questions: Carrolton – 972-492-0383 or Dallas – 214-599-9285
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Leonard expresses his gratitude and satisfaction after lowering his blood sugar from 254 to 132. He looks forward to continued improvement.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Gabriel discusses his early success with his diabetes problem and his solution with Alliance Pain Centers. He has lowered his blood sugar levels and is looking forward to more success.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
The dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect cause high blood sugar levels, especially in the morning before breakfast, in people with diabetes.
Dawn phenomenon
Reasons for the Dawn Phenomenon:
- Hormones (growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) produced by the body cause the liver to release large amounts of sugar (glucose) into the bloodstream. These hormones are released in the early morning hours. These hormones also may partially block the effect of insulin, whether it’s insulin your body produces or insulin from the last injection.
- If the body doesn’t produce enough insulin (which occurs in people with type 1 diabetes and a few people with type 2 diabetes), blood sugar levels may rise. This may cause high blood sugar in the morning before the person eats.
Somogyi effect
The Somogyi effect may occur when a person takes long-acting insulin for diabetes. If the blood sugar level drops too low in the early morning hours, hormones (such as growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamines) are released. These help reverse the low blood sugar level but may lead to blood sugar levels that are higher than normal in the morning. An example of the Somogyi effect is:
- A person who takes insulin doesn’t eat a regular bedtime snack, and the person’s blood sugar level drops during the night.
- A person’s body responds to the low blood sugar in the same way as in the dawn phenomenon, by causing a high blood sugar level in the early morning.
Telling the Difference
To sort out whether an early morning high blood sugar level is caused by the dawn phenomenon or Somogyi effect, check blood sugar levels around 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. for several nights.
- If the blood sugar level is low at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., suspect the Somogyi effect.
- If the blood sugar level is normal or high at 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., it’s likely the dawn phenomenon.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article byDr. Jade Malay, DC, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Does Eating Healthy Cost More?
By · CommentsSeveral times in the last couple of weeks the topic of eating healthy and costing more has come up with patients. I wanted to examine this with all of you so we have an understanding on a very important part of our overall health picture.
Lets break this discussion down to two types of cost: Time and Money.
Time. This is the hardest for us to handle. Eating a healthy diet requires more time than money. We have to plan meals, grocery shop, prepare meals, clean-up, etc. This is a lot of time. Do we have this time? Can we make this time? The answer to both questions is yes. We cannot put a price on how important our health is to us. By trying to shave time off of this we are killing ourselves, then looking for the miracle drug to lower our cholesterol, blood sugar, increase our thyroid production, and on and on.
You have to determine where you want to spend your time. Do you want to spend the extra 30 to 40 minutes a week making a menu and planning for meals or do you want to spend the tail end of your life at the doctor and in the hospital?
Money. As I counsel patients on healthy eating I have determined that most patients are really unaware of what that means. Theses are people that supposedly were told by their physicians what to eat. One of the key components of this is portion size. Do some foods cost more than others, absolutely. But the key here is, are you eating the right amount? Once you balance out what you are supposed to be eating and in the appropriate portions the cost works itself out.
Again we have to determine where we want to spend our money. Do you want to spend the extra $30 eating healthier foods or do want to spend your retirement savings on multiple medications and hospital bills just to live the extra year.
Is this really what we want? I would have to answer this emphatically, NO. And, yet we seem to keep spiraling this way. The only way to make this change is to be conscious in what you are doing on a daily basis.
Dr. Charles Stafford
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Charles Stafford, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Six Diabetic Misconceptions (Part 2)
By · Comments4. All Doctors Know How To Treat Type II Diabetes
There’s a saying that goes something like this…
Hammers hit nails… M.D.’s prescribe medication…
Expecting a different approach from your medical doctor will only lead to disappointment. That’s why I wrote this guide – to help type II diabetic sufferers just like you.
Before we go any further, let me stress to you that there is a place for medication, but more importantly, the cause of the problem must be identified because the wrong diagnosis = the wrong therapy.
And, if your medication fails you’ll probably get even stronger medications where the side effects may be even more harmful to your health.
Since none of the treatments your doctor may be giving you are meant to actually correct the true cause of your problem, logic says your diabetes will only get worse. You’ll continue to be given more and more drugs until one day your diabetes gets to a point where you need insulin, unless you are already at this dreaded stage.
5. The Only Organ In The Body That Is Involved In Sugar Regulation Is Your Pancreas
This is probably the most serious misconception. Sure your pancreas is an important organ in the regulation of blood sugar, but there are other organs that need to be evaluated in order for proper therapy to be applied.
The four main organs that play a role in regulation of blood sugar and therefore play a role in your diabetes are: Your Liver, Pancreas, Adrenal Glands, and Thyroid. When was the last time your doctor evaluated these organs or ran the appropriate tests to find out if they are impacting your disease?
6. Blood Tests Need To Be Monitored Only 2 Times Per Year
This is very dangerous. Let’s think about this logically for just a minute. If you are taking medications that are supposed to heal the body from diabetes, then wouldn’t it make sense that you monitor the blood tests more regularly?
In my opinion the answer to that question is YES! You must monitor your bio-chemistry about every 45 days to make sure things are going in the right direction. To make sure that the body is healing and moving in the right direction. To make sure adjustments to therapy are being made when necessary.
Most of my diabetic patients were lucky if they were being evaluated by their doctors once per year before they started seeing me.
Is Your Doctor Doing Everything Possible For Your Condition Leaving No Stones Un-Turned?
If you answer “No” then it is likely your doctor is a road block to you reclaiming your health and living a life that you deserve. At the very least he or she is leaving stones unturned.
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Six Diabetic Treatment Misconceptions (Part 1):
By · Comments1. Type II Diabetes Is Genetic
Could you have been born with a genetic fate to develop type II diabetes? Absolutely yes. However, this is just one factor. Your genetic predisposition or your “genotype” is just one factor in your future health profile it is not the only one. You can certainly have the genetic potential to develop type II diabetes, but other factors such as lifestyle choices, diet, exercise, ability to handle stress, etc. will determine whether or not you express that genetic potential.
This mis-understanding of the role of genetics has led the medical establishment to have a “give up attitude” towards the treatment of type II diabetes. “You’re mother and father have diabetes so it’s no surprise that you now have it.” This point of view is extremely dangerous because it limits your possibilities for treatment and healing.
2. Type II Diabetes Is Irreversible
It’s a death sentence of sorts…There is nothing that can be done short of managing the symptoms and complications of diabetes.
The people who beclieve it to be irreversible have given up on you… They have forgotten the innate wisdom of the body…That the body can and does heal itself if given the right tools and circumstances.
This point of view leads doctors to continually prescribe expensive and dangerous diabetic drugs…Not to mention all the high blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs…And when those all fail they will bombard your body with increasing levels of insulin.
3. Prescription Drugs Are The Cure All For Diabetes
If that were the case we would have found a “cure” by now. With all the money spent on diabetes “research” and drug therapy you would think you would be completely healed of diabetes by now.
One of the things that angers me and maybe you have had the same experience… Your doctor gives you a diagnosis of type II diabetes… gives you a prescription… tells you to change your diet and exercise then is gone in a flash on to the next patient.
Never spending the time with you to discuss how you might have gotten to this place in your life…
Never giving you any dietary or exercise advice. How are you supposed to know what to eat and what not to eat. You are not a doctor or an expert in nutrition.
You are left to your own devices. . . Sure you could do your research on the internet or read a book on the latest fad diet, but do you know how much conflicting dietary information is out there. GOOD LUCK trying to wade through all that information.
And what about exercise? What type of advice did you get there? Did you know there is a special exercise strategy for type II diabetics? Do you know what it is?
If you don’t then you are missing a critical piece of the puzzle…
You need a doctor who can bring it all together for you.
So that’s 3 of 6…stay tuned for “the rest of the story.”
If you are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes and need help getting it and keeping it under control, please fill out the form to the right and we can help get you the information you need.
Article by Dr. Jade Malay, Type 2 Diabetes Professional, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
