Sugar and the Endocrine System
Photo Courtesy of Lauren Gary
There are 2 types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is when immune cells destroy the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which makes it difficult for the body to regulate blood glucose levels through the release of insulin. This type of diabetes, however, is not caused by sugar and will not be further explored. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is far more common and is when insulin is either not produced in large enough volumes, or when the body has even become resistant to insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels, as well as high levels of insulin. Recent studies by scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School found that consuming more sugar leads to the body going through a process that leads to type 2 diabetes. A study by Dr. mark Herman at Duke University School of Medicine was conducted on mice. They found that a mechanism, the carbohydrate-responsive-element-binding protein, in the liver is triggered by large volumes of sugar, especially fructose, and "causes the liver to keep making glucose" no matter how much insulin is produced "contributing to increased blood glucose levels despite insulin signals telling it to stop". This causes both insulin and glucose levels to increase, leading to overall insulin resistance. (1, 4)
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Image Courtesy of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_fatigue
Image Courtesy of: https://paulaowens.com/adrenal-fatigue-causes-symptoms/
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The adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, produce hormones to help the body handle stress, such as cortisol, DHEA, and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine and adrenaline, contributes to the fight or flight response, DHEA helps steroid hormones, and cortisol "[strengthens] the immune system, balances blood sugar, and regulates blood pressure". Ingesting large amounts of sugar affects these hormones because the constant regulation of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia from sugar rushes and crashes puts the body in a perpetual state of stress that overworks the adrenal glands. Over extended periods of time this causes the adrenal glands to become 'fatigued' or overworked, which causes them to not correctly release hormones. This leads the body to become tired, gain weight, have irregular blood sugar, and can even lead to depression or anxiety because the adrenal glands aren't producing as much of these hormones to regulate daily stresses in the body. (3)
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