You can associate belly fat with insulin resistance. Since belly fat is more on risk factors, insulin resistance treatment involves losing weight, exercising and lifestyle changes.

Type 2 diabetes usually hits overweight and middle-aged adults

90 percent of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are obese or overweight and usually have big bellies! In the belly is a specific type of fat called visceral fat. It is not a subcutaneous fat or fat beneath the skin. It is a fat around or in the liver and some organs inside the abdomen area. Liposuction cannot remove visceral fat as it only does with subcutaneous fat. The latter does not cause type 2 diabetes, by the way.

The cause of the burgeoning problems of belly fat goes back to the mechanism of fat-storage survival. Supposed to be a lifesaving mechanism, today’s times see it becoming harmful, especially with insulin resistance, which it is closely related. Visceral fat accumulation leads to insulin resistance, a state when the body’s insulin production is enough but the cells cannot use it properly, or are resistant to insulin action. Insulin resistance causes exaggerated blood sugar swings and hunger. Feeding this hunger with food which quantity goes higher gradually leads to further accumulation of fats; and the more fat stored around the midsection, the bigger the belly-fat cells grow.

The trouble is: insulin cannot effectively deal with large or swollen fat cells after meals, resulting to over production of insulin by the pancreas. The worse that this seemingly simple belly fat can do is making the pancreas overwork with that insulin resistance state. In time, the pancreas shall become tired of doing so and cannot produce enough insulin. This condition makes glucose peak after meals resulting to type 2 diabetes.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) noted that there is a relationship between insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. To estimate abdominal obesity, get your waist-hip ratio by taking your waist measurement at its narrowest (above the belly button) and your hips at the fullest point (around the buttocks). Divide measurement of waist by that of the hips. A quotient of more than 1 in men or .8 in women is strongly related to insulin resistance and abdominal obesity.

Prevention and solution

Lose belly fat as early as possible and prevent insulin resistance. Harvard University Medical School recommends moderate to intensity activities of 30 minutes daily. Pointing a study made by Duke University Medical Center, those who jog 20 miles a week lost both subcutaneous and visceral fats. An hour of strength training a week can be of help too.

Diet also plays a significant role in reducing visceral fats. Watch portion sizes and focus on complex carbs like whole grains as well as vegetables and fruits.

Type 1 diabetes is when the immune system destroys the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ which size is about the same as a hand. It is located at the back of the stomach’s lower part.

The beta cells (the cells being attacked) of the pancreas are inside the islets (small clusters) in the pancreas, together with other types of cells. Normally, beta cells produce insulin, a hormone that helps move sugar from foods into cells all throughout the body which use it as fuel to be alive.

However, a destroyed beta cell cannot produce insulin, then sugar stays in the blood since no one can move it to the cells where it is needed for fuel or energy. The state of the sugar staying in the blood is a dangerous one; and it all started with the immune system (supposedly the body’s defense mechanism) destroying the pancreas.

High blood sugar can cause some major and serious damage to all the body’s organ systems while starving the cells of their usual supply of energy source. With this, type 1 diabetics need to have insulin injected to their body system in order to stay alive.

Autoimmune disease

In normal conditions, the immune system regards viruses and foreign bacteria in the body as enemies...and attacks them. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells - and destroys them. The cause why the immune system attacks the pancreas in type 1 diabetes is still unclear; but according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the cause of the immune system attacking the pancreas is some environmental and genetic factors are at work, plus some viruses, complications and disorders.

Genes

Genes are said to protect as well as predispose people from type 1 diabetes. Though it is claimed by others that genetic factors cause type 1 diabetes, the Univeristy of Maryland Medical Center suggests that there is more at play than just genes. Type 1 diabetes is more common in Caucasians and type 2 diabetes in Hispanics and blacks.

Most people with type 1 diabetes do not have a kin with it. The chance of someone to have it if a relative has the disease is 10 percent. The immune system attacking the pancreas is not strongly blamed on genetics. In fact, the chance of a twin having the disease if the other one already has it, is 33 percent despite their similar genetic makeup.

Genetic disorders like Wolfram syndrome, Huntington's chorea and Klinefelter syndrome may also lead to type 1 diabetes.

Environment

The factors that possibly trigger the immune system to attack the pancreas are toxins, infant diet and viruses, according to “The Lancet” July 2001 issue; viruses which attack intestinal tract and N-nitroso, a carcinogenic derivative compound. They are also studying breast feeding against cow’s milk.

People in cold climates tend to develop type 1 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. So the disease is not just caused by the immune system’s attack of the pancreas. Also, when water supply has high nitrogen levels or with low vitamin D levels, their consumers may have the disease.

Complications and disorders

Some hormonal disorders, and complications from surgeries and diseases also increase the risk of the development of type 1 diabetes. Hormonal disorders do so because of changes in the hormones of the body like with Cushing’s syndrome, pheochromocytoma and acromegaly. Pancreas damage due to pancreatic surgery or pancreatitis can also lead to diabetes, according to University of Maryland Medical
Center.

Virus

Some viruses may activate the immune system to destroy the pancreas, or by destroying the beta cells themselves. Merck claimed that retroviruses, Epstein-Bar, Coxsackie virus, cytomegalovirus and rubella are implicated in type 1 diabetes.

eDiets is a big source of information online for anyone who considers to lose weight or change eating habits, things that are closely related to diabetics’ diabetes management. It commences with a free profile to find out the most-fitting diet plan that matches your preferences and goals. eDiets offers data of around 20 various diet plans, thus, choosing the right one for you can be easy.

eDiets also has the support of specialists as well as an online community. Dieters can choose to call an 800-number in order to talk with a nutritionist who can help choose a program that best suits them. Those with heart illness may go for Heart Smart Plan program, or Cholesterol-Lowering Plan if they have high cholesterol levels.

Albeit eDiets offers the following programs, and you are diabetic for example, do not forget to consult your doctor before starting with any of these plans to ensure personal safety.

Some eDiets programs

eDiets released in 1998 its first diet plan online in America, and see to it that the programs are personalized, to meet the goals of the dieter, with cooking and food preferences. It has grown and presently offers more than 20 programs, some of which they have developed, and others are licensed from third parties like Slim-Fast plan, Mayo Clinic and Suzanne Somers.

Wheat Free

Wheat-Free plan are usually good for those who are sensitive to wheat, since this helps eliminate from diet the products that are based on wheat. This plan from eDiets is useful and can be beneficial to diabetics too especially in a society where it is difficult to find wheat-free products. You shall be allowed three meals daily with one snack and you can select the foods in your plan.

Glycemic Impact Diet

This diet is good for those addicted to sugar and often experienced low levels of energy, irritability and mood swings. This diet stabilizes sugar levels by putting at each meal more complex carbohydrates like whole grains, asparagus, broccoli, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice with healthy fats (like avocado, fish and nuts)  and lean protein.

Meal Delivery Plans

You may choose that your meals be set and delivered right to your door. eDiets.com has five- to seven-day delivery plan. The five-day plan gives 20 meals; and the seven-day plan gives 28 meals. Diabetics can check these out.

eDiets Living with Diabetes Plan

This is considered these days as one of the best diabetic plans available. With many foods for diabetics found monotonous and dull, having something tasty in this program can be exciting. Its advantage is flexibility, an exercise component and customized preferences and needs.

Sample Menu

A sample of the eDiets diabetic food gives variety and taste. For breakfast, it may consist of scrambled eggs with toast and cheese; walnuts, strawberries and Turkey Tostada for lunch and for dinner, brown rice, kiwi fruit, lemon broccoli and broiled beef tenderloin.