The BLOOD SUGAR connection

[LWillisjr]

sgtnick,
You are not alone in your beliefs.....    

[Skjaldborg]

Peyronie's disease was part of my fate woven by the Norns, the ancient female weavers of destiny. In that same vein, it was also my fate that I should have a good wife and a beautiful daughter. All things considered, not a bad trade. As men we should bear our burdens as best we can. It is good to be alive!

-Skjaldborg

[George999]

The most amazing thing that only a glucose meter can detect is that in my case a very small thin slice of cheese raised my insulin level MORE than a serving of fruit.  That is what gets my attention.  The studies are out there showing that saturated fat increases insulin resistance.  A lot of people debate that and that is their privilege.  I myself would have argued with that before using a glucose meter routinely, but as with a blood pressure monitor, the instrument tells the truth no matter how unwelcome it is and those measurements are what I am going to listen too, not subjective opinions.  It is also very clear from an abundant amount of research that higher insulin levels bring more danger.  Thus, IF I have higher than average insulin levels, I am going to spare no effort to bring those levels down.  - George

Cheese has lactose, which is the sugar found in milk, which would impact blood sugar.

Folks worried about blood sugar should keep in mind individual insulin responses are different depending on the person.

-Skjaldborg

[rd]

George, after reading your post I have decided to monitor my levels. Over the few days I have it has ranged from 74-100 and nothing higher then 100. From some of the articles you posted that seems like what it should be. I believe I remember reading it should only really jump up 20 after eating to get a good reading. Most of the time mine was in the 80's only hit 100 once, fasting was in the 70's but I eat a lot and often because I am trying to put on some weight and strength for my lifting routines. I'm going to continue monitoring but from how I understand it my readings are good.

[George999]

Yes, I would say if you are achieving that without insulin, you are in the optimal territory.  - George

[james1947]

I have asked in the past but don't get yet an answer:
How beer is effecting the blood sugar levels?
Or I should wait to the next month when I will buy a blood sugar tester and test the levels after 1, 2, 3, etc'
My question is serious because sometime in the bar with friends I am drinking much more than two cans.
James  

[Luciano]

I was told beer is like coca cola (NOT DIET COKE)
Lots of sugar.  

[George999]

There is really NO way to know for sure how a specific food or beverage is affecting your blood sugar UNLESS you have a meter.  Everything else is guesswork.  - George

[fubar]

Having Peyronie's can be very difficult putting great strain on ones mind.I have often considered taking some medicine that was not prescribed to me such as pentox.Eventually getting tbe okay from a doctor.Allthough i knew it was low risk i probably should not have made that decision on my own without consulting my dotor.

We know there is no cure for Peyronie's and take risks physically and orally. You should think long and hard before taking a medication used for diabetes if you do not have this disease.I am diabetic and know low blood sugar and high blood sugar is very dangerous more so than enjoying a nice slice of moms apple pie.

If you have normal blood sugar readings you do not want to risk your life by taking diabetic medicine that you are not prescribed.I am sure you do not want to have a seizures or go into a diabetic coma.If you are healthy and eating wisely your body will repair damage normally. Meanimg i think your body will take care of its self.

[George999]

That is EXACTLY why ANYONE using a medication or supplement to manage blood sugar needs to very carefully monitor their blood sugar levels.  Any time I feel ANYTHING out of the norm, I immediately check my blood sugar.  In my case, my doctors are aware that I am doing what I am doing and I would advise ANYONE using meds to manage their blood sugar to do it with the knowledge of their docs, NOT behind their backs.  The particular compound I am using to dramatically lower my blood sugar is sold over the counter without a prescription.  It is a very powerful over the counter med and it can kill you if you don't use it correctly.  But so can Tylenol or any number of other freely available over the counter drugs if not used correctly.  In fact, even the FDA understands this issue as they are even now seriously considering to no longer require doctor's prescriptions for drugs like Metformin and Lipitor.  There are, in fact, many countries in the world that DO NOT require prescriptions or even physician management for these types of drugs and they do not have an inordinate death rate as a result.  The reality is that many patients die on prescribed drugs because they fail to follow simple instructions on their use.

The study I cited states that people WITHOUT diagnosed diabetes end with diabetic diseases LIKE Peyronie's due to their elevated blood sugar levels.  That is conclusive evidence to me that I have much to gain and little to lose by getting a better control on my blood sugar WITH medication if necessary.  And I make absolutely sure that I don't reduce my blood sugar to a level below the normal range.  That is why I take less than half the normal dose of the substance I am using.  There is considerable room between the lower end of the normal range and the point where one encounters diabetic coma.

- George

[George999]

BJU Int. 2007 Feb;99(2):383-6.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with severe Peyronie's disease.
Kendirci M, Trost L, Sikka SC, Hellstrom WJ.
Source

Tulane University, Urology, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the severity of penile deformity and penile blood flow variables in men with Peyronie's disease (Peyronies Disease) and diabetes mellitus (DM), and those with no risk factors.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Men with Peyronies Disease and DM (59 men, group 1) and those with no risk factors (109, group 2) were compared for penile blood flow variables, severity of penile deformity, patient's age, duration of Peyronies Disease, the presence of pain on erection, and the degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). The men were evaluated with penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography and were categorized into specific vascular groups, using established criteria. Penile curvature was objectively measured and stratified according to the Kelâmi classification. Results were compared using Student's t-test.
RESULTS:

Men with Peyronies Disease and DM (group 1) were significantly older than those in group 2. The duration of disease was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (median 24 vs 12 months). The mean degree of penile deformity in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (45.2 degrees vs 30.2 degrees). The rate of severe penile curvature (>60 degrees ) was more frequent in group 1 (27.1% vs 5.5%). Pain on erection was significantly higher in group 2 (39.7% vs 25.5%), whereas the rate of ED was more common in group 1 (81% vs 47%). Group 1 had poorer peak-systolic velocity values and significantly higher rates of arterial insufficiency and mixed vascular disease. Nonvascular causes were twice as common in group 2 than in group 1.
CONCLUSIONS:

This comparative clinical study suggests that the presence of DM as the only risk factor significantly increases the severity of Peyronies Disease. Furthermore, DM as a risk factor is associated with significantly worse vascular status, as shown by penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography, in men with Peyronies Disease.

PMID:
   17313425
   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Asian J Androl. 2006 Jan;8(1):75-9.
Peyronie's disease: a silent consequence of diabetes mellitus.
Tefekli A, Kandirali E, Erol B, Tunc M, Kadioglu A.
Source

Department of Urology, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul 34390, Turkey.
Abstract
AIM:

To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with Peyronie's disease (Peyronies Disease) and diabetes mellitus (DM).
METHODS:

During an 8-year period, a total of 307 men seen at our outpatient clinic were diagnosed with Peyronies Disease. Clinical characteristics, penile deformities and the erectile status of patients with Peyronies Disease and DM together (n=102) were retrospectively analyzed and compared to patients with Peyronies Disease alone with no risk factors for systemic vascular diseases (n=97).
RESULTS:

The prevalence of Peyronies Disease among men with DM and sexual dysfunction was 10.7%. The mean age of diabetic patients with Peyronies Disease was (55.9+/-8.9) years; in the no risk factor group it was (48.5+/-9.0) years (P < 0.05). The median duration of DM was 5 years. The majority of diabetic patients with Peyronies Disease (56.0%) presented in the chronic phase (P < 0.05), and they were more likely to have a severe penile deformity (>60 degrees) than the no risk factor group (P < 0.05). In the diabetic group, the most common presenting symptom was penile curvature (81.4%), followed by a palpable nodule on the shaft of the penis (22.5%) and penile pain with erection (14.7%). A total of 19.6% of patients were not aware of their penile deformities in the diabetic group. Erectile function, provided by history and in response to intracavernosal injection and a stimulation test, was significantly diminished in patients with Peyronies Disease and DM (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:

DM probably exaggerates the fibrotic process in Peyronies Disease. Diabetic patients with Peyronies Disease have a higher risk of severe deformity and erectile dysfunction (ED). Peyronies Disease seems to be a silent consequence of DM and should be actively sought in diabetic men.

PMID:
   16372122
   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Urol. 2005 Sep;174(3):1026-30.
Peyronie's disease in diabetic patients being screened for erectile dysfunction.
El-Sakka AI, Tayeb KA.
Source

Department of Urology Suez Canal University, School of Medicine, Ismailia, Egypt. aielsakka@yahoo.com
Abstract
PURPOSE:

We assessed the prevalence of Peyronie's disease (Peyronies Disease) in type 2 diabetic patients who were screened for erectile dysfunction (ED).
MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 1,133 male diabetic Saudi patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were screened for ED using the International Index for Erectile Function. At the screening time, all patients were also interviewed for sociodemographic data and risk factors for ED and diabetes that included age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease and psychological disorders. Medical history included diabetes, duration of diabetes and diabetes related complications. The diagnosis of Peyronie's disease was based on a palpable penile plaque or acquired penile curvature.
RESULTS:

Mean age +/- SD for the study sample was 53.9 +/- 10.8 years. Of the patients, 8.1% were diagnosed as having Peyronies Disease. Penile plaque and curvature were the most common findings. About 75% of the patients had long duration and progressive course of their complaint. Significant associations between Peyronies Disease and both ED and longer duration ED were detected. There were also significant associations between Peyronies Disease and age, obesity, smoking, duration and number of cigarettes smoked per day. Dyslipidemia, psychological disorders and presence of at least 1 risk factor were significantly associated with Peyronies Disease. There were significant associations between longer duration and poor metabolic control of diabetes and Peyronies Disease.
CONCLUSIONS:

Peyronie's disease was prevalent among diabetic patients being screened for ED. The study offered a quantitative estimate of the prevalence of Peyronies Disease, and investigated the association of main risk factors and comorbidities of diabetes and ED with Peyronies Disease.

PMID:
   16094040
   [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The DEMONSTRATED FACT that INSULIN RESISTANCE makes PEYRONIE'S MORE SEVERE suggests that LOWERING INSULIN RESISTANCE can make PEYONIE'S LESS SEVERE.  There are a lot of factors mentioned by Peyronie's experts that are causal factors for Peyronie's.  ALMOST ALL of these factors are things beyond our control.  I find it amazing that none of the key Peyronie's specialists ever include INSULIN RESISTANCE among these factors in light of these studies and others similar BECAUSE INSULIN RESISTANCE is something we CAN do things to control.  AND SIMPLY ADDING MORE INSULIN DOES NOT CONTROL INSULIN RESISTANCE BUT MAY WELL WORSEN IT.  My advice to ALL Peyronie's patients is to get their INSULIN RESISTANCE ISSUES UNDER CONTROL to the best of their ability.  - George

[james1947]

George

Your post really helpful. I will make the insulin resistance test this week (if they will understand here what I am talking about).
Thanks

James

[cowboyfood]

Somewhat unrelated, but George999's posts about low-blood sugar diets motivated me to add this in regard to my last dent.  

Although I've never been considered fat, I had become slightly "chubby" over the past three or four years.  Last October, I started cutting a lot of carbs from my diet in an effort to lose about twenty or so pounds.  Although it wasn't until about January that I really started a strict following of the Atkins diet, I had begun my efforts in the previous October.

Since that time, I've lost about 20 pounds and I look noticeable better.  It seems like the rapid improvement of my last dent (and only one at this time, hoping it stays that way!) coincided with my diet starting to change to more proteins and very little sugars.

The really obvious changes in the dent began in November of last year and ramped up to where it's basically not noticeable (either visually or palpably) at this time.  Actually its been at its present, very very acceptable state for about three months.  The rapid improvement seemed to take only about a month or month and a half.

Of course, I have no conclusive evidence that my diet factored into this.  However, I think George999's information about diets is very beneficial because it addresses so many health issues people suffer from, and most likely Peyronies Disease.

CF

[rd]

Just a comment on the last message if you are trying to keep a low sugar diet, I've read and I will try to find the article that protein I believe in high doses can cause spikes in blood sugar as well.

[MattF]

I'm on the Atkins diet myself and from what I understand about protein, it does not spike your blood sugar levels. For one thing, proteins don't have sugars in them.

[George999]

Carbs, ESPECIALLY refined carbs, spike serum glucose by dumping sugars into the bloodstream.  Fats, ESPECIALLY trans and saturated fats, spike serum glucose by aggravating insulin resistance.  People WITHOUT insulin resistance generally do not experience glucose spikes, at least not to the degree that those with insulin resistance do.  AND, you don't have to be "diabetic" to have insulin resistance.  Proteins generally DO NOT cause glucose spikes since they are more of a challenge for the body to break down and thus add to glucose levels very gradually, if at all.  The major concern with protein is that too much protein in the diet can inflame the kidneys and eventually contribute to kidney problems.  But most adults, at least in the western world, get way too much carbs (and fats) and way to little protein (and fiber).  A good diet should be "LOW carb", NOT "NO carb".  Good carbs, complex carbs, such as found in fruit, carries with it essential nutrients not found anywhere else and avoiding it completely results in dangerous nutritional deficiencies.  Without sufficient protein, attempts at weight loss will cause a loss of muscle as well which is a BAD thing.  So you need to maintain a sufficient amount of GOOD proteins in your diet.  Things like beans, and lean meat, especially smaller shorter lifespan fish.  Also it is very important to make sure to get lots of GOOD fiber in the diet AND it needs to be a balance between soluble and non-soluble fiber.  There is also a need for HEALTHY fats like omega-3s and mono unsaturated fats.  Its all about balance.  If you get your blood sugar levels down, for sure you will feel better and heal better.  After a few weeks of keeping mine down to 70-100, suddenly it has narrowed itself to the 80-90 range without me changing diet or pills.  To me this is a sign that my body is starting to be able to avoid blood sugar spikes and that my insulin resistance is subsiding.  - George

[justo]

Hi george! Is dark chocolate 80% Kakao bad for you? I really am rethinking my whole diet and want to see how it affect my peyronies. I will do anything to stop this thing and its getting worse on me. I think diet is a key factor and would like to know all about what you guys think here.
Thank you in advanced
J

[George999]

I think dark chocolate is really good for you as long as you stay away from the heavily sweetened stuff.  Bittersweet or Semisweet should be fine, but be sure they are sweetened with cane sugar, not beet sugar or corn sugar (corn syrup).  Other natural sweeteners such as LoHan, Stevia, Agave, should be OK also, but cane sugar is the standard in most cases.  - George

Hi george! Is dark chocolate 80% Kakao bad for you? I really am rethinking my whole diet and want to see how it affect my peyronies. I will do anything to stop this thing and its getting worse on me. I think diet is a key factor and would like to know all about what you guys think here.
Thank you in advanced
J

[swolf]

but be sure they are sweetened with cane sugar, not beet sugar or corn sugar (corn syrup).

Why the cane sugar? Corn sugar immediately sounds bad to me, but I don't know much about any of them, and just wondering why cane sugar would be better over beet sugar.

[George999]

Most beet sugar these days is GMO.  That means that artificial genetic changes have been made to the plant to cause it to resist pesticide allowing it to be treated very heavily with pesticides.  Not healthy.  Cane sugar, so far, is not subject to GMO issues.  - George

[james1947]

A very interesting find related to diabetes! CURCUMIN.

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/curcumin-capsules-found-to-curb-diabetes-risk

I will post the link also on the Curcumin topic, some members may not read it here.

James

[goodluck]

James,

Thanks for that link.  I have been using cucurmin products for several years now as an anti inflamatory.  It is a great alternative to NSAIDS. It really save your stomach.

Hippocrates said all disease starts in the gut and as I learn more I can see the wisdom in his statement of over 2k years ago.

[George999]

Here is an article definitely related to this whole diet issue and very current:

Larger waist size may be bad for men's sexual and urinary health

- George

[james1947]

Interesting indeed but lost of weight not always helps, not in my case anyhow. I went down from waist 38 to 34 (lost 16kg, from 92 to76, 180cm tall)
From the other side I have learned about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that I will definitely discus with my uro as I have all the symptoms.

Thanks George
James

[skunkworks]

Finally! Been talking about this since forever!

Thanks for heads up on Peter Attia also, had not heard of him. He seems to know his stuff.

[George999]

Are You a Skinny Fat Person? 10 Steps to Cure the Skinny Fat Syndrome

- George

[james1947]

Very interesting article.
I never taught that a skinny person can be fat.

James

[swolf]

Here is an interesting article on sugar called "Is Sugar Toxic?":

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

[George999]

What has also been learned recently is that:

In the LONG TERM, LOW consumption of fruit RAISES the risk of diabetes.  Therefore, EVEN DIABETICS likely need to be consuming a sufficient amount of fruit in their diets CONTRARY to much of the professional advice they receive.  I had this argument with Hawk at one point right here on this forum.  I was arguing for lowering the consumption of fruit way down, based on my long held view that sugar is to be avoided in any form.  Hawk was arguing that fruit in a reasonable amount is healthy and safe and that I was being overly extreme.  Hawk was right and I was wrong and new research is strongly supporting his position.  Fruit does NOT equal refined sugars.  That is an important differentiation.

Additionally, in the LONG TERM, LOW consumption of salt RAISES the risk of hypertension.  Therefore, EVEN HYPERTENSIVES likely need to be consuming a sufficient amount of salt in their diets CONTRARY to much of the professional advice they receive.  This has affected my diet personally.  With hypertension, I have long avoided salt.  But now, based on this new research, I am trying to make sure I get a sufficient amount of unrefined natural salt in my diet AND I am using targeted supplements to counter its effects on blood pressure.  The result, seemingly, is that my blood pressure is improving and becoming more stable.  New research is finding that salt is a vital transporter of toxins.  Salt tends to bind to toxins in the body and carry them out of the body via urine or sweat.  With insufficient sodium, toxins tend to build up in the body for lack of salt to haul them away.  Additionally, salt is a transporter of nutrients, in the form of minerals, into the body.  Naturally derived unprocessed salts are loaded with key minerals.

- George

[Skjaldborg]

Fruits contains a lot of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients and have been consumed by humans, human ancestors and other primates for probably hundreds of thousands of years. Some fruits have evolved to have their seeds dispersed solely by primates. So technically, even a paleo diet should contain seasonal fruits. The human body needs some sugar so fruits and honey are probably the best sources. It's the refined stuff that is causing skyrocketing rates of diabetes. No one gets it from a strawberry.

Skjaldborg

[swolf]

The other thing (maybe this has been mentioned, I don't know) is a lot of modern fruit has been bred or even worse genetically modified to be sweeter (also to keep longer, to look more uniform, etc), so all fruit is definitely not created equal. I love apples and apples in particular I just can't buy from the big grocery stores anymore. They're usually disgustingly sweet (to me) or just bland, and the firm outside gives way to a mushy, mealy inside because they were picked months earlier. In depends on what part of the country or world you're in obviously, but I'd go for organic and local (because often organic in the U.S. means imported from Chile, so "better" but not necessarily fresher) on most fruits if possible. Certain fruits aren't going to matter as much. I've read an apple today may have something like 10% of the nutrition of an apple from 100 years ago, because of soil depletion and other factors. I'm not sure how someone came up with that figure, though.

[George999]

I should have mentioned that I read through the long article linked by swolf almost in its entirety.  It is very well written and very informative as to the issue.  So thanks for posting that link, its a great find!

Regarding fruits, indeed organic is most often the best choice as are seasonals on their natural schedule.  Apples are a major exception for me.  I literally survive on apples.  For me a day is not complete without my apple, especially a work day.  I divide six ways and eat one piece every hour or so.  It provides energy and nutrition and keeps my appetite at bay.  So I confess to being a major customer of Chilean apples during the off seasons locally.  But ALWAYS organic.  For me the organic v conventional issue has to do not only with pesticides and herbicides, but also with things like soil management and how the orchard is cared for and maintained.  Man was not designed to be sustained by industrialized agriculture, but that is where we are headed today.  Fruits carefully bred for shelf life and sugar content are robbing us of nutrition and replacing it with toxins.  - George

[George999]

The evidence against sugar continues to accumulate.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=668196

- George

[skunkworks]

What has also been learned recently is that:

In the LONG TERM, LOW consumption of fruit RAISES the risk of diabetes.  Therefore, EVEN DIABETICS likely need to be consuming a sufficient amount of fruit in their diets CONTRARY to much of the professional advice they receive.  I had this argument with Hawk at one point right here on this forum.  I was arguing for lowering the consumption of fruit way down, based on my long held view that sugar is to be avoided in any form.  Hawk was arguing that fruit in a reasonable amount is healthy and safe and that I was being overly extreme.  Hawk was right and I was wrong and new research is strongly supporting his position.  Fruit does NOT equal refined sugars.  That is an important differentiation.

Additionally, in the LONG TERM, LOW consumption of salt RAISES the risk of hypertension.  Therefore, EVEN HYPERTENSIVES likely need to be consuming a sufficient amount of salt in their diets CONTRARY to much of the professional advice they receive.  This has affected my diet personally.  With hypertension, I have long avoided salt.  But now, based on this new research, I am trying to make sure I get a sufficient amount of unrefined natural salt in my diet AND I am using targeted supplements to counter its effects on blood pressure.  The result, seemingly, is that my blood pressure is improving and becoming more stable.  New research is finding that salt is a vital transporter of toxins.  Salt tends to bind to toxins in the body and carry them out of the body via urine or sweat.  With insufficient sodium, toxins tend to build up in the body for lack of salt to haul them away.  Additionally, salt is a transporter of nutrients, in the form of minerals, into the body.  Naturally derived unprocessed salts are loaded with key minerals.

- George

Do you have a link to the studies/articles that led you to those ideas? The problem with anything long term is that it is almost invariably an epidemiological study, which raises the whole correlation vs causation issue.

For the first, if this is the study - Intake of Fruit, Vegetables, and Fruit Juices and Risk of Diabetes in Women then I don't think one can say with any kind of certainty that "In the LONG TERM, LOW consumption of fruit RAISES the risk of diabetes."

That is definitely one of the better epi studies I've seen, and I love a good multivariate adjustment, but in my opinion one has to be very wary of treating the results of any epi study, especially one so dependant on self reporting of both diet and diagnosis, as evidence of anything.

[james1947]

I am not specialist in blood sugar issues, but the article bellow is allarming:

'Normal' blood sugar may still affect brain health | Fox News

Maybe someone should change the scale of measurement.

And an other allarming article regarding organic food:

Study questions how much better organic food is - Yahoo! News

James

[George999]

Here is a simple challenge to the Stanford organic food study:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-organics-20120905,0,5514318.story

I really have to wonder as to who provided the funding behind the Stanford study.  It was, in fact, a meta study, and meta studies are famously abused by the art of cherry picking.  Meta studies are often the approach of choice by those who want a study to back their agenda.  In that case, you simply focus on what fits and throw out the rest.  Personally, I don't need a study to tell me that a full flavored organic vine ripened tomato is more nutritious than one of those tasteless ripened with chemicals conventional ones.  - George

[rd]

I choose organic foods because of the less amount of pesticides. Not once did I ever assume organic = more nutritious so this study tells me nothing new. I would any day take a organic item with only 7% traces of pesticides over one with 38%. I eat a lot so that lower percentage would benefit me. I also just got found a source of grass fed cage free meat and let me say the 100% grass fed beef I had tasted 10 times better something I wasn't expecting at all.  

[james1947]

I am just back from holiday and the place I was staying serving own grown tomatoes and cucumbers, daily fresh see fish (the place is on the see) and so on. No pesticides in his garden and the vegetables/fruits taste as I remember when I was a kid in my village. Not beautiful colours like in the supermarket, but great taste.
Regarding the article, thanks for the answer George. I was wandering how come out that according to the article have almost no difference.

James

[George999]

In regards to the Stanford University study finding little benefit from eating organic foods, keep in mind that Stanford University is located in California.  Californians will be voting this November on a ballot initiative to require all GMO foods to be labelled.  The major developer of GMO foods is Monsanto.  Monsanto is doing everything possible to try to defeat this ballot initiative.  Monsanto is a MAJOR financial contributor to researchers at Stanford.  This is typical of the kinds of conflict of interest that one can find in the academic research community.  It demonstrates how one needs to be very cautious in how they read research that has potential market sales ramifications.  One has to KNOW WHO is funding the research that tends to promote one product over another.  - George

[james1947]

I suppose we should try to find out who is financing every research we are reading. Sometimes they are so contradicting, even from the same researcher after a few years.

I just read the article bellow. See how important is to check blood sugar:
People Dying of Diabetes Who Never Knew They Had It, Study Finds - Yahoo! News

James

[skunkworks]

I suppose we should try to find out who is financing every research we are reading. Sometimes they are so contradicting, even from the same researcher after a few years.

I just read the article bellow. See how important is to check blood sugar:
People Dying of Diabetes Who Never Knew They Had It, Study Finds - Yahoo! News

James

I don't think the financer is so important as long as one reads more than the conclusion or abstract. Actually look at the numbers in the studies, that is where the info is. You would not believe how many studies I have read where the data actually contradicted the abstract/conclusion.  

[james1947]

I would like to know our members opinion on:
Is sugar really that bad for you? | Fox News

James

[skunkworks]

I would like to know our members opinion on:
Is sugar really that bad for you? | Fox News

James

From the article:

"We actually need sugar; it's our body's preferred fuel," says Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. "But we eat too damn much of it."

Cars run much faster on jet fuel, but it destroys in the engine quite quickly.

[james1947]

Here is the Type 3 diabetes, Alzheimer:
Alzheimer's: Is it a new type of diabetes? | Fox News

James

[Hawk]

Although this does not address the issue of whether sugar is bad (I generally think it is bad), I do want to set the record straight.  Sugar is not our body's preferred fuel.  It is our bodies only fuel. Just like our body converts all excess sugar, complex carbs, and protein to fat for storage, or fat is converted to glycogen before being further synthesized for cell fuel.  Cardiac muscle cells might be an exception.

If anyone has any evidence to the contrary I am interested in seeing it.

[George999]

Medium-chain triglycerides are easily transported into mitochondria, the powerhouse of the body cells. This gives the mitochondria a ready source of quick energy.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5192023_medium-chain-triglycerides_.html

When medium chain triglycerides were fed as 50% of total energy, glucose sparing was present with little loss of energy as dicarboxylic acids.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1793560

Dietary medium chain fatty acids are also burned directly at the cellular level, unlike the common long and short chain fatty acids which must be converted to glucose by the liver in order to be used as fuel.  This is an extremely important exception with huge ramifications for personal health and well being that has long been ignored by the medical establishment.  - George

[skunkworks]

Ketone bodies?

[Jonbinspain]

I suffer from type2 diabetes. This is interesting as I have never been informed of the possible connection with Peyronie's. what I am told by my doctor, and the diabetic nurse, is that apart from direct sugar intake, carbohydrate intake is crucial. Carbs are the body's fuel. They are what the pancreas turns to energy. Excess is stored by the body. Therefore, any diabetes sufferer must watch carb intake. Those you do consume should preferably be slow release.
Re fruit consumption. I am told that it is all still super. Fruit to be consumed Por La Mañana  only.

[funnyfarm]

I have noticed after a large meal, especially a high sugar / glycemic one, my soreness gets much worse, and then drops in about an hour (I would assume it is related to blood sugar or cortisol).   Just curious if anyone else has noticed this ?  

It is aggravating because I am lean to begin with, and now sometimes I am worried about eating and people ask me why I have lost too much weight.

[George999]

The inflammatory factor is not blood sugar / cortisol, it is blood sugar / insulin.  And when people are very lean, it is usually insulin.  The solution is 1) smaller meals.  I try to do this and routinely divide breakfast into two separate meals an hour to an hour and a half apart.  And 2) to be cautious about high glycemic load foods.  The problem is not glycemic index, it is glycemic load.  Glycemic load determines how quickly blood sugar will rise and how aggressively insulin will respond.  There are actually high GI foods that are pretty safe because they spread their release of sugar into the blood stream over an extended period of time.  Unfortunately, most of the safer foods are also the more expensive foods and the cheaper options the riskier ones.  But getting it right is the only way to attack the disease on the metabolic front.