Low Estrogen And Its Huge Impact on Insulin
Low Estrogen And Its Huge Impact on Insulin
Facts to know about Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is made by beta cells in your pancreas and helps sugar move from your blood into your cells.
The cells in your body need sugar for energy, however, if not all of the sugar is absorbed into the cells, it will cause blood sugar levels to go up.
Estrogen helps to optimize the action of insulin.
Low estrogen levels may lead to insulin resistance, or impaired insulin action.
During menopause estrogen levels decrease signaling a insulin resistance and can thus contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are too high and
Type 1 and Type 2 are the most common types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes happens when the body makes little or no insulin. People with Type1 diabetes must take insulin every day and is usually diagnosed more often in children and young adults.
The body may make some insulin but not enough, either because it cannot keep up with the demand or it cannot use the insulin it produces.
Type 2 diabetes frequently occurs in older people or in those that are overweight.
What causes type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, when the cells can’t use insulin properly.
The body may make some insulin but not enough, either because it cannot keep up with the demand or it cannot use the insulin it produces.
The body constantly checks how much sugar is in the bloodstream and when blood sugar levels rise beyond a certain point, the body signals the pancreas to release insulin, thereby helping the cells use sugar.
Insulin helps to carry the glucose into the cells to be used as energy or to be stored as fat, thereby maintaining the glucose levels in the blood. Eating too much-processed food, unhealthy snacks, alcohol or artificially sweetened drinks can lead to the body developing a resistance to insulin.
This causes the muscle cells not to recognize glucose-bound insulin, resulting in glucose remaining in the bloodstream.
This causes a spike in blood sugar levels leading to weight gain and Type 2 diabetes.
How to best avoid diabetes 2
- Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits, and seasonal vegetables
- To improve your omega-3-fatty acid levels, include fatty fish, nuts, olive oil and flaxseeds in your diet
- Drink enough water every day to stay hydrated
- Start a regular exercise routine
- Avoid alcohol, late-night snacks, artificially sweetened drinks
Sources
webmd.com – how secreted insulin works in your body
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – estrogen improves insulin sensitivity
medicalnewstoday.com – insulin functions and types
mayoclinic.org – diabetes treatment using insulin to manage blood sugar
