The insulin resistance connection - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

flowergirl2day · 07-02-2008, 12:10 AM

This will come as no surprise to some of you.

I have just learned that insulin resistance is partly responsible for and contributes to high blood pressure.

In a nutshell (though in reality the mechanism is somewhat more complex than the following) , insulin resistance causes retention of sodium, which in turn causes fluid retention. Fluid retention results in high blood pressure and congestive heart failure (in some people). Most hypertensive people have too much insulin and are insulin resistant. As the insulin levels rise, so does the blood pressure. In general, people living to the age of 100 years plus seem to have several things in common. These are low blood sugar levels, low triglycerides AND low insulin.

Sugar and grains cause the body to produce high levels of insulin. THIS is what we can control through the right diet. It has been stressed that the right diet is NOT the complex-carb low-saturated fat type that is so often referred to as the healthiest. Chromium supplementation is also recommended. They say that controlling one's insulin levels is the most powerful anti-aging tool. Insulin resistance is the basis of all chronic diseases - including cardiovascular problems. Thank you Beerzoids!!!

I guess this is what has taken you so long to figure out. I have to do plenty of research. I am so excited about all this!

I have spent quite a bit of time attempting to re-register. I hope this process will be a lot faster for the rest of you.

P.S. Trading your grains for greens is highly recommended.
flowergirl

tamuprof45 · 07-02-2008, 05:48 PM

Wow that's really interesting stuff! Quite a few people I know with HBP have insulin resistance as well. This also makes sense from the "lose weight, lower your BP" advice as well. DEFINITELY going to stick to low-carb (bad carb) now!!!

tamuprof45

dmer · 07-09-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowergirl2day

P.S. Trading your grains for greens is highly recommended.
flowergirl

Dr. Stoll <removed> has postulated continuously that "leaky gut syndrome" caused by various refined sugars, is at the root of all disease.

The present term, metabolic syndrome, recognizes that lipids, glucose and bp all appear to be part of one "package". I think that if we polled everyone here with elevated BP, we find almost all of their lipids and glucose levels to be borderline, if not outright elevated.

A radical change in my diet, virtually eliminating refined carbs and calorie restriction + exercise, reduced my BP, glucose and lipids. As I mentioned in another thread, my initial glucose results scared me more than the BP readings because with diabetes, the "wheels start to come off the bus".

The good news is, virtually everyone can expect good results from diet change and weight loss.

On the matter of grains, I've started using my bread machine to make bread from whole wheat flour. I think you still have to be careful with the overall amount you consume from a total calorie point of view, but certain grains and carbs are far less problematic from a GI standpoint. Bread isn't the problem, it's just white bread. Potatoes in almost any form should be limited, and things like white rice probably eliminated.

I still get the notion to eat all of these things but the good news about eliminating refined carbs is that you wind up with a notion instead of a craving, in relatively short order.

Having said all of that and after very significant weight loss, with continuing exercise and calorie restrictions, my weight has stayed at the same level for 1 month. I'm staring to wonder if my ccb / ace combo is interfering with my continued weight loss.

Machaon · 07-09-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmer

A radical change in my diet, virtually eliminating refined carbs and calorie restriction + exercise, reduced my BP, glucose and lipids. As I mentioned in another thread, my initial glucose results scared me more than the BP readings because with diabetes, the "wheels start to come off the bus".

Congratulations on making the very difficult choice to radically change your diet. What types of blood pressure improvements have you experienced, to this point?

Quote:

The good news is, virtually everyone can expect good results from diet change and weight loss.

The bad news is, virtually no one wants to give up their favorite foods. A lot of it is denial. Many just don't believe the health benefits of a healthy diet. I didn't! I suffered from deteriorating health from heart failure, among other things, and I still did the "chicken wings, french fries, potato chips and beer" thing. My deteriorating health finally forced me to eat healthy. The good news is, I now LOVE my diet, and absolutely would never want to go back to my old, unhealthy diet.

Quote:

Having said all of that and after very significant weight loss, with continuing exercise and calorie restrictions, my weight has stayed at the same level for 1 month. I'm staring to wonder if my ccb / ace combo is interfering with my continued weight loss.

What is your BMI (Body Mass Index)?

Congratulations, again, on lowering your BP, glucose and lipids through diet! Nice going!

dmer · 07-09-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machaon

Congratulations on making the very difficult choice to radically change your diet. What types of blood pressure improvements have you experienced, to this point?

The bad news is, virtually no one wants to give up their favorite foods. A lot of it is denial. Many just don't believe the health benefits of a healthy diet. I didn't! I suffered from deteriorating health from heart failure, among other things, and I still did the "chicken wings, french fries, potato chips and beer" thing. My deteriorating health finally forced me to eat healthy. The good news is, I now LOVE my diet, and absolutely would never want to go back to my old, unhealthy diet.

What is your BMI (Body Mass Index)?

Congratulations, again, on lowering your BP, glucose and lipids through diet! Nice going!

Thank you for the compliments.

From initial BP readings that had spiked as high as 210 / 130, my morning readings at present are between 90 -115 / 60-70. I began with a daily CCB / ACE dose of 10 / 40. Presently, I take a 5 / 20 dose.

My BMI at the beginning of this "process" was 36.1, it presently calculates as 28.2, which is still considered overweight.

I was also prescribed a statin for cholesterol and my lipid numbers are now well within range, particularly triglycerides, which is subject to diet and weight influences. My glucose level also went into the normal range.

I do get the urge to eat potato chips and various fried foods, but as mentioned, it doesn't fall into the category of a physical craving. As a result, it's easier for the desire to remain healthy to overcome the temptation.

Part of my ongoing rationalization is that it is much easier to "deny" myself certain foodstuffs and persist with, at times tedious exercise, than have to confront the more degenerative effects of HBP and elevated glucose.

Good luck to you as well!