Diabetes

It seems like nearly every other week I hear another news story about America’s growing obesity epidemic. What the press isn’t reporting, however, is the parallel rise in Type II diabetes.

It’s no secret that the more you weigh the higher your risk of developing diabetes. The question is . . . why? Researchers think that the answer might lie in free fatty acids – fat cells that circulate in the bloodstream.

Experts have long known that levels of these fatty acids are higher in people who are obese and in those who have diabetes. But are they somehow responsible for the resistance to insulin seen in Type II diabetes, or are they just another sign of the metabolic dysfunction that the disease causes? No one is entirely sure yet, but the research suggests that these fatty acid levels may be important.

--------------------------------------------------------

Floating fat, or the need for weight loss

-------------------------------------------------------

Here’s how it works: during the process of lipolysis – the breakdown of fat stored in our fat cells – fatty acids are released into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. The more overweight you are; the more fatty acids are released into your bloodstream. When these circulating fatty acid levels become too high, a number of problems can occur.

To understand the potential risks high levels of these fatty acids pose, it's important to know the mechanisms of diabetes and the condition that often precedes it, insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows blood sugar (glucose) to either be used by the cells as energy or stored for later use. In insulin resistance, the cells of the body become resistant to insulin and less receptive to the blood sugar they need. Once insulin resistance develops, Type II diabetes may not be far behind.

High fatty acid levels decrease the ability of the liver to store sugars – keeping sugars in the blood and away from muscles that use them for energy. They may also directly affect the functioning of beta cells in the pancreas, the cells that produce insulin.

One widely accepted hypothesis is that an excess of these fatty acids in the bloodstream blocks the normal absorption of glucose by other cells. A different hypothesis is that an excess of fat cells results in fat being stored in places that it shouldn't, such as in the liver, skeletal muscles and in the beta cells. This improper storage could result in insulin resistance.

---------------------------------

Perils of a potbelly

---------------------------------

But some fat is worse than other fat. Having fat in the abdomen (called visceral fat) is believed to pose a greater health risk than fat elsewhere in the body, such as fat on the hips. Studies have associated abdominal fat with a greater risk of diabetes and heart disease. But why does it matter where the fat is located?

One theory is that the fatty acids released by visceral fat have a direct path to the liver. If too much is released, the liver is less capable of responding to insulin. The liver takes in glucose for storage and releases it when needed. In the presence of insulin, the liver takes glucose from the blood and stores it. In the absence of insulin; the liver releases stored glucose. When there is excess fat, the liver ignores insulin and releases more sugar into the blood – hence, insulin resistance.

So, all of this invites a few obvious questions. Should you run out and have your fatty acid levels checked? Do you need to take medication to control them? The simple answer is no. At this point, these are only theories. And, while the study of these fatty acids is intriguing, if you have Type II diabetes, you need real-life answers.

Learn how to defend against diabetes

Yours in health and happiness

Another report prepared by the folks at Computer World, quietly helping companies, improve their Internet Business, one website at the time.