I’ve said for a very long time that if you give me just a little time, tying THE HIGH CARB LIFESTYLE to almost every disease process you can name is a piece of cake (pun intended). Let’s take a slightly different look at a topic we’ve covered on several previous occasions — INFERTILITY AS RELATED TO BLOOD SUGAR. A brand new study from BJU International (Undiagnosed Prediabetes is Highly Prevalent in Primary Infertile Men…) concluded, as you might expect from the title, that “About 15% of primary infertile men had criteria suggestive of undiagnosed prediabetes. A prediabetic status was associated with a greater risk of hypogonadism, higher DFI values and iNOA status.” What does this mean in English?
High Carb Lifestyle
For starters, although there can be a number of reasons for hypogonadism (the condition where the body does not make enough testosterone; frequently known as “LOW T“), OBESITY and DIABETES, sometimes referred to as ‘diabesity,’ are unarguably the number one reason, which is probably true of SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION as well (it is definitely true in males, MAYBE LESS in females). A study from March’s issue of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology made these statements (I’m cherry-picking a bit). Just realize that when you see the term DFI (DNA fragmentation index) it is referring to genetic damage.
“What factors may lead to sperm DNA damage remains one of the major concerns. There were increasingly accumulated evidence for the correlation between obesity and male subfertility. It was reported that obesity was closely related to male subfertility. Obesity and related abnormal lipids metabolism and the change of reproductive hormones might lead to the decrease of sperm quality. The factors related to sperm DNA damage included age, environmental pollutants such as organophosphorus and organochloride pesticides, plasticizer, heavy metals such as lead, carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) and zearalenone (ZEA), male reproductive system diseases or systemic diseases…. endocrine disorders… lifestyle, aging… and certain medications.”
I’ve written about some of those medications in the past (HERE), although I would guess that the list would be much longer now than it was back then. As for ENDOCRINE DISORDERS in general, including things like THYROID PROBLEMS and certain other AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES or SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASES, we can’t be surprised in light of what I’ve already shown you. Also, once you start to understand the effects that CHEMICALS, PESTICIDES, and METALS have on the male (and female) reproductive system, things get even scarier. Furthermore, “aging” is often termed “ANDROPAUSE” and has effective non-pharmacological ways to address it. As for iNOA, this stands for something called idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia. Huh? In English this means that sperm is not being made at all (oligozoospermia is the medical word for LOW SPERM COUNT — a worldwide epidemic).
Part of what makes this study so scary is the incidence of prediabetes. While no one knows for sure how many Americans actually have PREDIABETES / INSULIN RESISISTANCE, the numbers are staggering. In a state where people have access to excellent weather and fresh fruits and vegetables year round (CALIFORNIA), an almost three year old study showed that 55% of its adult residents have either diabetes or prediabetes. Staggering! Studies like this one show why the “FAT ACCEPTANCE” movement is so detrimental to our national health conversation. The fact that 70% of our nation is obese and another 7 to 10% appear that way on their blood work even though their weight is “normal” is yet another reason that any real discussion on healthcare is a moot point, whichever political system or party you happen to associate with (HERE or HERE).
Not to be outdone, a couple of months ago, the European Journal of Endocrinology published a study titled Excess Mortality in Finnish Diabetic Subjects Due to Alcohol, Accidents and Suicide…. In this study of 435,000 diabetic adults, we saw that death via alcoholism was 71% higher than in non-diabetics. And as for suicides; the rates for diabetic men were not so dramatic, but for diabetic women in was (gulp) 450% higher. Furthermore, we saw that 54% of the accident-related deaths that occurred, occurred in diabetics. This is why the authors stated, “The diabetic subjects had higher mortality at almost all endpoints, especially those treated with insulin.” Why might this be, especially as related to insulin?
As fantastic and important a hormone as insulin is (it helps move sugar from the blood to the body’s cells) too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. The effect of simultaneously high levels of both blood sugar and insulin are death to neurological tissues, brain included. Although I could write a book on this topic, allow me to show you conclusions from three studies that span the past 6 decades, showing you that none of this is really “news”. Pay attention because you’ll notice, HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar) is the flip side of the coin that is diabetic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) as well as proof of the fact that SUGAR FEEDS INFECTIONS.
- “Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes and may appear as the first manifestation of the disease. It is likely to occur in even the mildest cases of diabetes. The peripheral nerves, autonomic nerves, cranial nerves, spinal cord and brain are all frequently involved in diabetes.” From the January 1962 issue of the Western Journal of Medicine (Neurologic Complications of Diabetes)
- “Diabetes mellitus is a disorder in which the concentration of blood glucose is persistently raised above the normal range. A wide variety of disturbances affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems, either directly or indirectly, may be encountered in patients with diabetes mellitus. The salient consequences of hypoglycaemia, found as a complication of treatment with insulin are neurological. Late secondary manifestations are a major problem in diabetes. As they affect the nervous system, the most important are peripheral neuropathy and cerebrovascular disease. There is no single diabetic neuropathy but a range of syndromes of which a distal predominant sensory polyneuropathy is frequent. Sensory polyneuropathy the most important risk factor for chronic foot ulceration. Severe autonomic neuropathy is uncommon and is usually encountered in type 1 cases. Focal and multifocal neuropathies comprise isolated cranial and limb neuropathies, truncal radiculoneuropathies and proximal lower limb neuropathy (diabetic amyotrophy). Some of the focal neuropathies are the consequence of an abnormal susceptibility of diabetic nerve to external compression or entrapment. Both transient ischaemic attacks and stroke are commoner in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic subjects, reflecting the increased risk of macrovascular disease in diabetes. Infections are probably more common in diabetic patients… Finally, congenital malformations, including those affecting the nervous system, are more common in diabetic pregnancies, anencephaly and spina bifida being the most frequent.” From a 1998 issue of one of the numerous journals in the British Medical Journal’s stable, the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (Diabetes Mellitus and the Nervous System)
- “After 2 years of follow-up, participants with Type II Diabetes had diminished global and regional cerebral vasoreactivity and a decline in multiple cognitive tasks compared with baseline. In the Type II Diabetes group, lower cerebral vasoreactivity was associated with a greater decrease in daily living activities score, and lower global vasodilation was associated with a greater decline in executive function. Higher serum soluble intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules, higher cortisol, and higher C-reactive protein levels at baseline were associated with greater decreases in cerebral vasoreactivity and vasodilation only in the Type II Diabetes group, independent of diabetes control and 24-hour blood pressure. Higher glycated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with a greater increase in vasoconstriction in the Type II Diabetes group. Inflammation may further impair cerebral vasoregulation, which consequently accelerates decline in executive function and daily activities performance in older people with Type II Diabetes.” From the August 2015 issue of Neurology (Inflammation-Associated Declines in Cerebral Vasoreactivity and Cognition in Type 2 Diabetes)
There you have it folks; diabetes or prediabetes — even “independent of diabetes control” (even if you are ‘controlling’ it with CRAPPY DRUGS) — fouls the brain and nervous system in ways that we are just beginning to understand, mood and cognition included. Case in point is FIBROMYALGIA, a disease we now know is intimately associated with small fiber neuropathy (HERE). A case can also be made for Alzheimer’s Disease, which much of the world now refers to as TYPE THREE DIABETES even though there is evidence it could actually be infectious (HERE). My suggestion? If you are following anyone, physicians included, who is telling you that living the high carb lifestyle is a good thing, run far and run fast because THEY ARE BEHIND THE TIMES as far as current peer-review is concerned.
If you are interested in starting the process of taking your life back from the ravages of sugar-induced damage, not only is it possible, people are doing it each and every day. If you take a look at my GENERIC HEALTH PROTOCOL, today’s post better helps you understand why it revolves around glycemic control. Oh, and don’t forget to like, share, or follow on FACEBOOK as it’s a fantastic way to reach the people you love and care about most.
