Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body has adapted to a diet inappropriate for the individual’s metabolism. Typically, this diet is high in refined carbohydrates and sugars, such as pastas, bread, tortillas, cereals, pastries and the like, with insufficient intake of fiber, fat and protein. The system adapts to this intake by increasing fat stores and increasing insulin production to help lower blood sugar levels. Eventually, the body becomes resistant to the insulin being produced, which causes blood sugar in the blood vessels to build up to higher than normal levels.
Although we may like to think this makes us “extra sweet”, the long-term consequences of elevated blood sugar can be detrimental to our health. Sugar is a sticky substance, which we’ve all likely experienced while eating our favorite pastry or dessert leaving its sticky goodness on our fingertips. If there is too much sugar in the blood vessels, it sticks to things, including red blood cells, which then stick to each other and are then unable to fit into the some of the tinier vessels located in the back of the eye (retina), the kidneys, and the tiny vessels of our extremities. This lack of circulation to these key areas is what mostly contributes to the more common complications seen in long standing, uncontrolled diabetes – blindness, kidney failure and loss of limbs due to infection and poor wound healing.
These complications are well known, but many patients are unaware that this same pathology can also cause the blood pressure to elevate as well as cause erectile dysfunction in men.
Believe it or not, you need good, healthy circulation to produce and maintain an erection, and when your blood supply is “gunked up” like a car engine in desperate need of an oil change, it can’t supply the blood needed to the penile tissues. The current “quick fix” for this is typically a prescription for a medication to cause increased dilation of the blood vessels and temporarily help (sildenafil or Viagra is the most commonly prescribed). You can probably imagine that this does nothing to fix the problem of the gunky, sticky, sugary blood pumping through the vessels. It’s like changing your car’s oil with used, dirty oil – not very helpful.
The fix for these issues is not to get a new prescription, but to correct the metabolism, which corrects the weight, reduces insulin production and decreases blood glucose to create normal blood viscosity and flow. Most patients’ blood sugars, blood pressures, weight and ED all improve with a lower carbohydrate diet, focused on healthy proteins, fats and fiber. If you’re currently on any medications for your blood sugar, it’s important you speak with your doctor because your medications will likely need to be reduced before beginning this type of diet. I have many patients begin with a simple “cleanse” to help boost weight loss if needed. In addition, common nutrient deficiencies which can affect normal insulin production and usage include chromium, zinc, B6, copper, magnesium and vanadium.
Type 2 diabetes is reversible when treated appropriately. The earlier this treatment is started, the more successful the results. It’s important to remember that diabetes doesn’t develop simply because of genetics or family history, it also develops because of external factors – the largest being diet and nutritional deficiencies.