High Blood Sugar Levels

We?ve known for years that high blood sugar is a health risk for people with diabetes. In diabetics, a high average blood sugar level increases the risk for blindness, kidney disease and nerve damage. It also increases the risk of heart disease, which accounts for 80% of deaths in people with diabetes.

A study conducted at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine recently discovered that non-diabetics are also at much higher risk of heart disease and other fatal illnesses if their blood sugar levels are above normal.

This gives us one more reason to lose weight and cut back or eliminate the sugar from our diets. It isn?t just about losing weight to look better - it?s about staying healthy.

A study headed by Kay-Tee Khaw, M.D., was published in the September 21, 2004 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

It was discovered that for both men and women, even those without diabetes, there is a strong relationship between high average blood sugar levels and cardiovascular disease. In fact, high blood sugar levels appear to be a risk factor for deaths from all causes.

The high-blood sugar risk was found in people with moderately elevated average blood sugar levels that are almost “normal” for Americans.

Three-fourths of the 521 deaths from all causes among study participants were people with moderately elevated average blood sugar levels between 5% and 6.9%. Those with the lowest rates of heart disease and death had blood sugar levels below 5%, as measured by a test called hemoglobin 1c (HbA1c).

Every 1% increase in the blood sugar level increases the risk of death -from any cause - by 28% for women and 24% for men. These risks were independent of other risk factors, including age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, cholesterol counts, smoking, or history of heart disease.

How significant are these findings for the average American? With every small increase in the average blood sugar level, even as small an increase as 0.1%, the risk of heart disease goes up. And only about 1/4 of our general population has average blood sugar levels in the safe 5% range. Unfortunately, the tendency is for our blood sugar levels to keep going up, as our obesity rate increases and our activity levels decline.

As we put on more fat, our bodies are less able to remove excess sugar from the blood, because those extra fat cells cause a lowered insulin response. Overweight people are especially prone to high blood sugar levels, so a diet high in veggies and fruit, instead of sugar and simple carbs, is even more important for those of us who are carrying some extra weight.

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Controlling blood sugar levels is very important for people who suffer diabetes and also those who may be at risk of developing it. Flax seed and flax seed oil both contain omega 3, an essential fatty acid and also a mucilage.

In the past twenty or so years it has been encouraged by health professionals to keep fat intake to a minimum in our diets. This has driven more people towards a diet high in carbohydrates, which serve to increase blood sugar levels. The result is extra insulin being produced, causing the blood sugar to dip down low. Having these peaks and drops in the levels of sugar in your blood causes weight gain through food cravings and hunger pains. The increased weight along with the continued ups and downs of the sugar levels is what causes type two diabetes to begin its attack.

Studies have shown that essential fatty acids can suppress hunger without causing changes in blood sugar. A combination of these two effects can result in prevention or control of diabetes.

The mucilage properties to flax seed also contributes to controlling the blood sugar levels. It lines the digestive tract, slowing absorption of carbohydrates which can otherwise be processed too quickly, flooding the bloodstream in excess. When they are absorbed slowly through a healthy lined digestive tract they are treated the same as a good carbohydrates, leaving no residue or sugar over-doses.

If you are interested in taking a flax seed supplement for blood sugar control, consider having both the seed and oil form. You can sprinkle the powder on your cereal, salads or in smoothies. The oil can be used in the same ways or taken in capsules and on a daily basis is best for maximum benefits to be seen. Using both forms as a dietary supplement of essential 3 fatty acids, omega 3 can certainly fix mild to moderate blood sugar level problems.

Being an appetite suppressant, preventing blood sugar rises and drops and slowing carbohydrate absorption all contribute to why flax seed and flax seed oil is fantastic as a dietary supplement for diabetics. If someone in your family suffers, consider taking it daily as well to prevent having the same problems. You could be saving yourself a lot of health problems, and will no doubt experience many other benefits it provides as well.