24 replies to this topic

[Thorsten3]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

[leha]

Exercise is the missing link in your chain. If you push yourself hard enough physically there will not be any kind of diet that could keep you from sleeping, and you will get increased insulin sensitivity, as well.

Supplements: Fish oil (or DHA), and *maybe* chromium.

Diet: If your body craves fruit, eat fruit--but keep your fat intake very low if you're going to do that. It's the combination of high fat and high fructose (especially in the absence of fiber, as with sugary beverages) that kicks up insulin resistance. If you get your fructose in fibrous fruit and keep the fat low (and exercise), you should be fine.

Pick your poison.

[scottknl]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

Two of my favorites for sleep are magnesium (RDI) and melatonin(3 mg). Plus hit the sack at 10 pm each day. Stop fluids at 7 pm so you don't have to get up. Keep the lights dim in the evening, so that your body releases it's natural melatonin. Magnesium may give vivid dreams.

I agree with leha about the exercise. A good 10k run makes me sleep like a baby

[The Immortalist]

Regular weight training will increase your insulin sensitivity .

[FNC]

I'll go with: Blueberries, Coffee, Exercise.

[Dmitri]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

I don't understand why some people here fear fruits so much? People act like they're as bad as McDonald's food. To my knowledge many vegetarians and vegans eat plenty of fruits (and grains) and they're very healthy individuals.

Also, why do you want to keep your levels as low as possible? Is there history of diabetes in your family? I have family history and my levels are completely fine despite eating fruits and whole grains, my levels are usually around the 73-76 range (when I get blood and urine tests).

[tintinet]

Vinegar

[strake]

I'll assume "keep mine low" here means insulin, not insulin sensitivity

Magnesium is critical for insulin sensitivity (and general health). Try it -- might just work.

If memory serves, eating very low-carb LESSENS insulin sensitivity (temporarily), lest the brain be starved of glucose. However, this shouldn't be problem since one is eating low-carb

By the way, there is good reason to fear fructose. Whole grains too, but I won't get into that. Eat a potato!

Edited by strake, 29 May 2011 - 03:09 PM.

[Destiny's Equation]

I use cinnamon for my hypoglycemia try it!

It is also a great painkiller, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant. I carry a bottle of cinnamon wherever I go, if I start to get sick I immediately eat some and recover within an hour.

[Thorsten3]

I'll assume "keep mine low" here means insulin, not insulin sensitivity

Magnesium is critical for insulin sensitivity (and general health). Try it -- might just work.

If memory serves, eating very low-carb LESSENS insulin sensitivity (temporarily), lest the brain be starved of glucose. However, this shouldn't be problem since one is eating low-carb

By the way, there is good reason to fear fructose. Whole grains too, but I won't get into that. Eat a potato!

Yeah maybe not go overboard with the potatoes.. pure starchy sugar..

Yes I was reffering to increased insulin resistance from consuming too many sugars. There are many health consequences from eating a diet high in carbohydrates/sugars.

[pycnogenol]

You could give these supplements a try:

Magnesium
Lipoic Acid
Benfotiamine
Vitamin D3

[Thorsten3]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

I don't understand why some people here fear fruits so much? People act like they're as bad as McDonald's food. To my knowledge many vegetarians and vegans eat plenty of fruits (and grains) and they're very healthy individuals.

Also, why do you want to keep your levels as low as possible? Is there history of diabetes in your family? I have family history and my levels are completely fine despite eating fruits and whole grains, my levels are usually around the 73-76 range (when I get blood and urine tests).

I don't fear fruits at all. I love fruits. I just don't think it's healthy to eat 5 or 6 pieces per day. It's not how we evolved. And fructose just like any form of sugar eventually gets broken down in the body to the same thing - glucose, that your body uses. If you're eating 60g of fruit (say a banana and a fair sized apple) in one sitting, I wouldn't describe that as healthy for potential problems related to insulin resistance.

[Thorsten3]

Yeah I agree about the topic of this thread... It should be renamed 'How to control insulin resistance and improve sensitivity'.

Insulin receptors are much like the NTs in your brain. if they are bombarded with sugar they become less responsive and it requires more sugar to get a response from them. More and more sugar is not a good thing for your body. In fact your body does whatever it can to get blood sugar back in range as it can be lethal (diabetes as we know). But, for those who are not diabetic caning your insulin receptors by binging on carbohydrates is still not a healthy thing at all and leads to obesity and a whole load of health issues.
Add in trans fats and saturated fats along with your 300g of carbs eaten every day and you are well on the way to bad health.

Edited by HyperHydrosis, 29 May 2011 - 10:25 PM.

[Thorsten3]

Exercise is the missing link in your chain. If you push yourself hard enough physically there will not be any kind of diet that could keep you from sleeping, and you will get increased insulin sensitivity, as well.

Supplements: Fish oil (or DHA), and *maybe* chromium.

Diet: If your body craves fruit, eat fruit--but keep your fat intake very low if you're going to do that. It's the combination of high fat and high fructose (especially in the absence of fiber, as with sugary beverages) that kicks up insulin resistance. If you get your fructose in fibrous fruit and keep the fat low (and exercise), you should be fine.

Pick your poison.

I agree about the diet approach. I know that gorging on fat with high carbohydate intake is not a good thing. I was just wondering whether I could consume 150g of carbs per day and take something that helps keep my insulin sensitivity fresh and insulin resistance reduced.

Edited by HyperHydrosis, 29 May 2011 - 10:32 PM.

[Thorsten3]

I use cinnamon for my hypoglycemia try it!

It is also a great painkiller, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant. I carry a bottle of cinnamon wherever I go, if I start to get sick I immediately eat some and recover within an hour.

Are you serious? I use this everyday (quite a bit) in smoothies because I like the flavour and I read it was a potent anti-oxidant. Like curcumin it probably has a multitude of complex workings - I'd be interested in studies done on it. This is cool to know, thanks.

[elicar]

Let me get this straight...you want higher than normal blood sugar to help you sleep ? Like in making your body act as if you were a diabetic ?
Growth hormone will make you a diabetic and lessen insulin sensitivity.
But my opinion is that the drawbacks of destroying your body's hormonal and blood sugar balance far outweigh the benefits.And these things aren't quite easily reversible as in stoping the supplement today and being fine tomorrow.

If i didn't understand correctly and what you want is to increase insulin sensitivity (which is the healthier way) then ALA,cinnnamon,vanadyl sulphate and chromium will help with that and lower blood sugar levels.

[tintinet]

Vinegar:

Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes

http://care.diabetes...t/27/1/281.full



Ogawa N, Satsu H, Watanabe H, et al. 2000. Acetic acid suppresses the increase in disaccharidase activity that occurs during culture of caco-2 cells. Journal of Nutrition 130:507-513.

White AM, Johnston CS. 2007. Vinegar ingestion at bedtime moderates waking glucose concentrations in adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 11: 2814-2815.

Johnston CS, Kim CM, Buller AJ. 2004. Vinegar improves insulin sensitivity to a high-carbohydrate meal in subjects with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 27:281-282.

Ostman E, Granfeldt Y, Persson L, et al. 2005. Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59;983-988.

Leeman M, Ostman E, Bjorck I. 2005. Vinegar dressing and cold storage of potatoes lowers postprandial glycaemic andinsulinaemic responses in healthy subjects. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59:1266-71.

Liljeberg HG, Björck IM. 1996. Delayed gastric emptying rate as a potential mechanism for lowered glycemia after eating sourdough bread: studies in humans and rats using test products with added organic acids or an organic salt. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 64:886-893.

Johnston CS. 2010. Examination of the Antiglycemic Properties of Vinegar in Healthy Adults. Ann Nutr Metab 2010;56:74-79 (DOI: 10.1159/000272133)



http://care.diabetes...11/2814.extract

Edited by tintinet, 30 May 2011 - 01:39 PM.

[Dmitri]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

I don't understand why some people here fear fruits so much? People act like they're as bad as McDonald's food. To my knowledge many vegetarians and vegans eat plenty of fruits (and grains) and they're very healthy individuals.

Also, why do you want to keep your levels as low as possible? Is there history of diabetes in your family? I have family history and my levels are completely fine despite eating fruits and whole grains, my levels are usually around the 73-76 range (when I get blood and urine tests).

I don't fear fruits at all. I love fruits. I just don't think it's healthy to eat 5 or 6 pieces per day. It's not how we evolved. And fructose just like any form of sugar eventually gets broken down in the body to the same thing - glucose, that your body uses. If you're eating 60g of fruit (say a banana and a fair sized apple) in one sitting, I wouldn't describe that as healthy for potential problems related to insulin resistance.

6 fruits a day is a pushing it a bit, I usually only eat 1 banana and a cup of strawberries per day; if I get hungry later in the day I eat an apple, grapefruit or peach (depending which fruit my mother bought that week). I still don't think it's as unhealthy as people claim otherwise vegetarians and vegans would all be unhealthy when I believe they're one of the healthiest people around.

[Thorsten3]

Let me get this straight...you want higher than normal blood sugar to help you sleep ? Like in making your body act as if you were a diabetic ?
Growth hormone will make you a diabetic and lessen insulin sensitivity.
But my opinion is that the drawbacks of destroying your body's hormonal and blood sugar balance far outweigh the benefits.And these things aren't quite easily reversible as in stoping the supplement today and being fine tomorrow.

If i didn't understand correctly and what you want is to increase insulin sensitivity (which is the healthier way) then ALA,cinnnamon,vanadyl sulphate and chromium will help with that and lower blood sugar levels.

Just to clarify, I want to eat a carbohydrate restricted diet but in doing this I have major problems getting to sleep at night. Eating carbs closer to bedtime seem to rectify this situation (but for health reasons, I don't particulary want to gorge myself on any form of sugar just to get to sleep)... Hence the thread.

Edited by HyperHydrosis, 01 June 2011 - 12:27 PM.

[Dmitri]

Let me get this straight...you want higher than normal blood sugar to help you sleep ? Like in making your body act as if you were a diabetic ?
Growth hormone will make you a diabetic and lessen insulin sensitivity.
But my opinion is that the drawbacks of destroying your body's hormonal and blood sugar balance far outweigh the benefits.And these things aren't quite easily reversible as in stoping the supplement today and being fine tomorrow.

If i didn't understand correctly and what you want is to increase insulin sensitivity (which is the healthier way) then ALA,cinnnamon,vanadyl sulphate and chromium will help with that and lower blood sugar levels.

Just to clarify, I want to eat a carbohydrate restricted diet but in doing this I have major problems getting to sleep at night. Eating carbs closer to bedtime seem to rectify this situation (but for health reasons, I don't particulary want to gorge myself on any form of sugar just to get to sleep)... Hence the thread.

Then eat more fruits during the day; I'm sure sleeping less hours a day is worse for your health than eating a few fruits a day? Like I said before I think people here exaggerate when it comes to eating carbs. I have yet to see a study that claims eating fruits or 100% whole grains causes disease like many members claim. All the studies that have been done with carbs and which members here talk about and post, mention processed carbs including sweets like cake, cookies etc., so I feel those studies are highly biased and dishonest for not doing a test purely on 100% unprocessed whole grains and fruits.

Edited by Dmitri, 02 June 2011 - 06:05 PM.

[elicar]

High blood sugar throughout the day isn't a good idea at all-if what you want is to sleep at night and you have found a direct correlation between high blood sugar and better sleep,then something as simple as a tablespoon of sugar before bed could be effective.

[AgeVivo]

to answer the thread title: metformin (if you don't have clear kidney issues) or berberine? Not an expert on it, so those are simply two names for discussion and further investigation

[Cephalon]

Pterostilbene lowers blood sugar. There is a study that shows Pterostilbene has better effects in blood sugar control in diabetic rats, than Metformin, but I can not find the study at the moment.

[tintinet]

to answer the thread title: metformin (if you don't have clear kidney issues) or berberine? Not an expert on it, so those are simply two names for discussion and further investigation

Also bilberry:

2010 The American Institute of Nutrition

"Dietary Anthocyanin-Rich Bilberry Extract Ameliorates Hyperglycemia and Insulin Sensitivity via Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Diabetic Mice"


http://jn.nutrition....ition;140/3/527

[Logan]

Apart from CR, the ketogenic diet or just eating sensibly are there any supplements/combo's that work at controlling insulin sensitivity or is this something that supplements will never control? - bar eating less sugary foods -

The reason I ask is because I have tried fasting. I've tried the CR diet and the ketogenic diet. My body does not respond well to these diets at all. Even though I feel better, sleep is a major issue and insomnia literally cripples me when I do these diets (like this very minute, it's 2.06am and I have already given up on going to sleep - just ate 3 pieces of fruit and now drinking a chamomile tea with honey so hopefully this might happen any time now)...

So yes, rise in blood sugar seems to help me with sleep. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to stay on those diets above but not being able to sleep is more damaging to my health than anything else.

But insulin sensitivity is still on my mind. I want to keep mine as low as I can. But as soon as I start to try and achieve this, sleep goes out of the window.

Maybe it's a long shot. Any suggestions for supplements or even tried and tested eating plans amongst forum members would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

H

I don't understand why some people here fear fruits so much? People act like they're as bad as McDonald's food. To my knowledge many vegetarians and vegans eat plenty of fruits (and grains) and they're very healthy individuals.

Also, why do you want to keep your levels as low as possible? Is there history of diabetes in your family? I have family history and my levels are completely fine despite eating fruits and whole grains, my levels are usually around the 73-76 range (when I get blood and urine tests).

Blueberries likely increase insulin sensitivity and the bioflavanoid, naringenin, in grapefruit(I believe eating the white stuff that is part of the rind yields even more naringenin) does so as well. Sorry if someone already mentioned this in the thread.

Edited by MorganM, 03 June 2011 - 04:36 PM.