August
01-28-2007, 05:29 AM
I think we place far too much emphasis on medications, and not enough emphasis on muscles and fitness. After all, it's our muscles that burn the glucose not the pills or shots. The pills and shots do not BURN glucose. The conversion of glucose (and fats) to ATP (energy), takes place mostly in the muscles (80%). The pills and shots merely push the glucose into muscles, organs, and fat cells, where it can be converted to energy, or stored as body fat.
Muscle loss over time leads to hyperglycemia. Muscle building exercise (weight training) increases muscle mass, and that GREATLY reduces Insulin Resistance.
From age 25 onwards we lose 10% of our muscle mass every ten years. So by 50 we've lost 25-30% of our glucose burning capacity, by age 60, 40-55%. If our eating habits remain the same (pastry, soda, bagles, jellies and jams, pancakes with sugar syrup) then we should expect to see a significant rise in blood glucose levels.
Some people never develop a healthy amount of muscle mass, due to a disability, sedentary lifestyle, or simple laziness. Many of my diabetic friend's only physical activity is clicking a mouse all their waking hours (help/support desk workers, office workers, programmers).
Ever since the discovery of penicillin, we have looked to drug companies to invent magic pills to cure our every ill. After 25 years of Statin use there is no improvement in mortality numbers from heart disease.
What we desperately need now is a pill that will dramatically increase our muscle mass, while we sit on the sofa noshing on cheese balls and soda.
A penny for your thoughts. . . . .
--August
Muscle loss over time leads to hyperglycemia. Muscle building exercise (weight training) increases muscle mass, and that GREATLY reduces Insulin Resistance.
From age 25 onwards we lose 10% of our muscle mass every ten years. So by 50 we've lost 25-30% of our glucose burning capacity, by age 60, 40-55%. If our eating habits remain the same (pastry, soda, bagles, jellies and jams, pancakes with sugar syrup) then we should expect to see a significant rise in blood glucose levels.
Some people never develop a healthy amount of muscle mass, due to a disability, sedentary lifestyle, or simple laziness. Many of my diabetic friend's only physical activity is clicking a mouse all their waking hours (help/support desk workers, office workers, programmers).
Ever since the discovery of penicillin, we have looked to drug companies to invent magic pills to cure our every ill. After 25 years of Statin use there is no improvement in mortality numbers from heart disease.
What we desperately need now is a pill that will dramatically increase our muscle mass, while we sit on the sofa noshing on cheese balls and soda.
A penny for your thoughts. . . . .
--August