By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
We have a big problem with our health awareness at these times. More and more people are getting sick and they are getting sick at a younger age. Fifty years ago, people developed high blood pressure or diabetes after age 60 years or 50 years and these were only a few people. Nowadays, many senior citizens and even 15 years old adolescents have high blood pressure or diabetes. This just means we, as a society and as individuals, are not taking care of our health. Di ba? Who is supposed to take care of our health? WHO? Department of Health? The RHU or hospital? Well, dear reader, we are supposed to take care of our own health and that of our young people who don’t know yet how to take care of themselves. And health authorities are supposed to give health information that will empower the public to take care of themselves so that they are healthy in mind-body-spirit. So I was so happy to chance upon the lectures of Dr. Sten Ekberg on Youtube. Dr. Ekberg is a holistic doctor and he has helped a lot of people get well and maintain their health by teaching them to look for the root cause of their health issues and address these. May I share what he says about diabetes.
At present, diabetes is diagnosed when there’s a sustained increase of blood sugar levels. So what modern western medicine does is to produce a drug that lowers the blood sugar like metformin and insulin. We know that many diabetics don’t get cured by these drugs alone. And we also know that some diabetics got cured with change of lifestyle. So how is this?
Let us see first why blood sugar increases.
Most of our food contains carbohydrates, even pechay- that’s nature. When you eat food that contains carbohydrates, your intestine breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, a type of sugar. That glucose is absorbed from your intestine to the blood stream so your blood sugar level rises. Glucose is what is measured in your blood test. This signals your pancreas to release the hormone insulin.
What insulin does is introduce glucose to the cells so that they will accept the glucose and use it as a source of energy so they can function properly. Without insulin, cells are unable to use glucose as fuel and will start malfunctioning. Extra glucose that is not used in the cell will be converted & stored as fat in liver or muscles and fat cells. With these happening, blood sugar goes back to normal. Then you eat again carbohydrates, the same cycle happens. Our body makes & releases insulin in a feedback loop based on your blood sugar level. The more sugar, the more insulin.
Low blood sugar stimulates a different cluster of cells in the pancreas to release another hormone called glucagon- this makes our liver break down stored sugar & release it into your bloodstream. These 2 hormones alternate their release throughout the day to keep your blood sugar levels steady. This is the body’s innate intelligence to maintain homeostasis or state of balance. Not only for maintaining blood sugar levels but for all other functions. Amazing, isn’t it?
Now what happens if you eat too much carbohydrates and too often? You eat pandesal and coffee with sugar and milk during breakfast, eat sugary snacks morning, afternoon, rice and viand lunch and supper. Meron pang after supper coffee and sweet dessert at night. That means 6 spikes of blood sugar in a day. Perhaps the body can handle this if its only for a day or two or three. When the cell is full of fuel (glucose), then the body moves the excess glucose to the liver and fat cells and muscles. It’s like your cabinet, When it’s full, you have to put excess items in another cabinet. In your body, these excess glucose are converted into fat and stored in liver, fat cells and muscles and normal blood sugar is maintained- your body is still able to be in homoestasis. This is the innate adaptation of the body to the circumstances. But what if you continue eating bad and so often that the body cannot cope with the flood of excess glucose? The body is overwhelmed and the sugar stays in the blood. Wala na siyang mapuntahan. And if you have your blood tested for levels of insulin that is produced, it is also high because the pancreas is working. Yon lang, the body is flooded with glucose or sugar. So you are diagnosed as diabetic.
What Dr. Ekberg says is that diabetes or persistent blood sugar is not a disease because there is nothing broken. Your body is functioning as it is designed. So diabetes then is but the body’s adaptation to the circumstances that it is subjected to. It is an intelligent adaptation. If we look at diabetes this way, then we should know already how to treat this condition. Stop putting excess glucose in your body and your blood sugar will normalize. So what to do?
1. Reduce the number of times we eat. Let us give time for the cells to use the fuel that we provided earlier before eating again. Parang sa sasakyan, gamitin mo muna yong gas na nasa tank before filling it up again, otherwise, it will overflow. In the past, people even ate twice a day and they were strong. Studies show that 3-5 hours in between eating is good. Some health experts say eat when hundry. Sorry guys but there’s no substitute for limiting food.
You can do intermittent fasting. In my experience, it’s better to fast at supper.
2. Eat whole foods, avoid processed foods and foods that stimulate insulin release.
3. Exercise enough. Exercise uses fuel to build muscles and muscles also use fuel so the more muscle, the more fuel used.
4. Stress management. Do deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga. Be grateful always and pray incessantly. Keep good friends and avoid toxic people.
Our bodies are designed to be healthy, to be in a balanced state, in homeostasis. It has innate intelligence. Everything the body does is in response to something. We should not be surprised at this because we were created by a loving Supreme Being. We just have to live according to the design.***
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“But the Lord’s will stands fast for ever, and the designs of his heart from age to age.” Psalm 33:11
