This article presents four studies conducted among healthy people, those with metabolic syndrome and those with type 2 diabetes showing that eating breakfast results in better blood sugar levels for the whole day. Background Before dawn, the body prepares for morning activities by secreting counter-regulatory hormones, including growth hormone, glucagon, cortisol, and adrenaline. They are…
First published on April 9, 2019. This page is updated with new information. Metabolic Syndrome is a common condition that increases the risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is present if three of the five conditions are present: Fasting blood sugar of more than 100 mg/dl Obesity High triglycerides…
This article first came out on April 19, 20,19, and was rewritten with new information. This article points out several diseases of the female reproductive organs linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome is satisfied if someone has three of the five criteria. Waist circumference over 101 cm, 40 inches (Western men) or 90…
Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of five medical conditions: hypertension, high blood sugar, obesity, low HDL, and triglycerides. All five work together to cause common medical conditions that lead to expensive medical bills and early death. Heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and hypertensive crises, and many others are best avoided. A sedentary lifestyle and high caloric…
This article marks the start of a series of articles about skin conditions related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Many people don’t see a physician. Some of them may be walking around with undiagnosed diabetes. Usually, the first time they get diagnosed is when they are in an emergency room with a critical condition like a…
Hyperinsulinemia means high insulin levels. Persistent high insulin leads to conditions like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. The good news is there is something you can do about it. What is Insulin? Insulin is the primary hormone for fuel storage in the body. After eating, macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into easily…
The 80-20 Rule, or the Pareto principle, states that for many events, only 20% of the cause can explain 80% of the results. 20% of the input is responsible for 80% of the output, and 20% of your effort makes up 80% of your outcome. This article shows how diet and exercise can prevent many common…
A report from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) predicts a shortage of 122,000 physicians by 2032. This shortage will be across the board and affect Primary Care Physicians and ALL specialties. But 2032 is 13 years from now. Why should I care? Diabetes complications and coronary artery disease do not pop out of…
What is Dialysis? Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) usually progresses to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). When that happens, dialysis has to be done to remove the waste materials, salt, and water from the body that cannot be removed by any other means. Hemodialysis Dialysis can be done in two ways. Hemodialysis is when a shunt is…
This article lists the diseases associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Anyone with three or more of the following five conditions—hypertension, high blood sugar, high blood triglycerides, low HDL, and obesity—qualifies for a diagnosis of MetS. Any single condition in the five components of MetS produces many other reactions that interact with the effects of the…
Glaucoma happens when fluid builds up in front of the eye according to the American College of Ophthalmology. It is a leading cause of blindness in the over 60-year-old age group. Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) occurs when the fluid in the front part of the eye does not drain well. It is usually painless at first….
The pain of renal colic is one of the most severe pains in the emergency department. Kidney stone pains are agonizing and relentless. Usually, the patients are writhing in pain and vomiting and sweating profusely. Kidney stones are formed in the kidney. As the stone travels down the ureter to get to the urinary bladder,…
Hair loss can be a sign of a future heart attack. Hair loss affects 50 million men and women in the U.S. The most common pattern is Androgenic Alopecia (AGA). For this article, androgenic alopecia will be referred to as hair loss. Patterns of hair loss differ between men and women. In Male Pattern Hair…
The underlying problem in Type 2 or adult-onset diabetes is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is not routinely tested but can manifest in the skin. Read on to see if someone you know may be at risk for diabetes. Many are unaware that they have the beginnings of Type 2 diabetes. Years before a person is…
Insulin resistance is the linchpin of many diseases of modern life like metabolic syndrome, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. Knowing about how insulin resistance develops provides a better understanding of the familiar and deadly diseases that may be affecting you or someone you know. Normal Glucose Metabolism All the cells in the body need a…
caption id=”attachment_2147″ align=”aligncenter” width=”293″] Acanthosis Nigricans in the Armpit[/caption] The dark discoloration in the skin could be Acanthosis Nigricans (AN). AN is typically a dark raised area and can be velvety. It can show up anywhere in the skin. Common locations are the armpits, the face, elbows, knuckles, back of the neck, chest, and groin….
This article is to raise awareness about why acne may be a sign of early diabetes. The Teenage Years During the teenage years, the body needs to produce more cells to grow fast. Insulin is necessary to help build-up the body. Insulin stores and uses the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to make more cells. Insulin…
That dry and scaly skin patch may be psoriasis, which can be a warning sign for other conditions. Why is this article relevant? Because psoriasis affects 1-4% of the general population (125 million worldwide) A person with psoriasis is 2 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome than a person without metabolic syndrome. Having…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive and severely disabling disease that affects both wrists, fingers, hip, knees, and ankles. 1.3 million U.S. adults have RA. While no definite cause of RA has been found, RA is associated with body-wide inflammation, similar to metabolic syndrome (MetS). Epidemiological studies have shown that MetS can be present in…
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint inflammation. OA is commonly attributed to aging, overuse, and joint degeneration from increased mechanical loading of the neck, lower back, hips, knees, and feet in obesity. Recently, there is an interest in the association of OA and MetS. This makes sense, considering that there has been an…
