High Fructose Corn Syrup - Metabolism of Fructose

Metabolism of Fructose:

Sucrose, a disaccharide, is composed of equal amounts of fructose and glucose. High fructose corn syrup, as the name implies, is higher in fructose than glucose. Fructose and glucose are both monosaccharides.

Now the question is the ability of the human body cells to metabolize fructose in comparison to glucose. The name High fructose corn syrup that gives the impression that it contains a large amount of fructose. The content of fructose is only 55% versus 50% in sucrose. Sucrose is pure disaccharide of only glucose and fructose. The reason HFCS has more than 50% fructose is because the glucose extracted from corn starch is enzymatically treated ( Man is entering the picture) to convert some of the glucose to fructose. This treatment of the corn starch is done to make the sugar sweeter which is why it is so popular in the food industry. The enzymatically treatment is not done by the body but is artificially administered to increase the level of fructose. Any disorder and/or dysfunction attributed to the consumption of fructose can manifest whether one consumes cane sugar or beet sugar or HFCS. Plain old sucrose is the enemy.

Glucose metabolism is subject to a negative feedback system. When the hypothalamus metabolizes glucose a signaling pathway is initiated that results in the suppression of food intake and the ultimate release of glucose in the process of digestion. This feedback system prevents you from eating too much food. Changes in neuropeptide expression results in suppressed food intake while simultaneously increasing overall energy expenditure for the many very active cells that comprise muscle and neural tissue, for example. This is normal since an energy supply is necessary for active cells.

This is in contrast to fructose metabolism. The brain and the liver possess a unique set of transporters and enzymes that enable fructose to bypass a very important reaction that controls the rate limiting step in glycolysis that is critical in the regulation of ATP production and consumption. Glycogen is a stored sugar chemical in the liver that, when broken down, releases glucose into the bloodstream from the liver. If there is nothing ready to use the excess glucose it is converted to fat. You don't want that!

When the hypothalamus fructose metabolism bypasses the above regulatory step its metabolism rapidly depletes ATP in the hypothalamus. This leads to a series of chemical reactions that make the effects of glucose metabolism and fructose metabolism very different even though they utilize the same signaling pathway to control food intake. Keep this in mind. It is important to understand why fructose can lead to diabetes and obesity.

Fructose is highly correlated with the development of diabetes, obesity and a metabolic syndrome. Fructose metabolism differs from glucose metabolism in that fructose  causes the formation of uric acid. A chemical is acted upon by uric acid that causes a very rapid depletion of ATP, the main source of chemical energy for body cells. When the body senses the loss of stored ATP it signals for food intake to manufacture the ATP it senses it, the body , needs. This chemical is not subject to feedback inhibition such as is the case  for glucose metabolism. This results in a very large ATP depletion. This cycle repeats itself and more food is taken in and the breakdown product are stored as fat. You, in other words, get fatter and fatter. Since the liver is the source for the majority of fructose metabolism the depletion of ATP, in the liver, has a direct effect on other liver metabolic procedures. An increase in uric acid formation takes place after a series of chemical changes in the liver.

This increase in the level of serum uric acid is directly associated with the prediction for the development of obesity and hypertension. Gout is another disorder that is associated with the excess production of uric acid. Increased consumption of HFCS can lead to an increase in the symptoms of gout. 

The metabolic syndrome results in laboratory test animals resulted in increases in obesity, visceral fat accumulation, fatty liver and elevated insulin levels. Changes in other chemicals after fructose consumption may account for increased food intake that could result in weight gain. 

Keep in mind the consumption of any of the basic sources of sugar from sugar cane, sugar beets and corn starch all contain fructose. Abuse of sugar, any sugar, intake has serious effects on your health.

Jim

Symptoms of Diabetes show Partial Remission

Diabetic patients, in a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported that 11% of those patients who undertook an intensive diet and exercise program showed a partial disease remission at the end of one year. This compares with only 2% that didn't follow the intensive program.

Patients reported shorter symptoms of diabetes effects, a greater weight loss and better physical fitness gains form the intensive program. The above results saw improvements in blood glucose levels, the researchers said.

Please refer to other posts in this blog for follow up information related to exercise and diet in glucose level control in diabetics. 

Enjoy the blessings associated with the birth of the Christ Child. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Jim

Insulin - Methods for Administering Insulin

Different Methods for Taking Insulin

Needle and Syringe

With good blood glucose control a syringe and needle is the most common way to administer insulin. Knowing your normal dosage and the activities you plan to enjoy you can approximate your insulin amount to inject just under the skin.

Insulin Pens

The insulin Pen is similar to a regular writing pen with a cartridge. Insulin pen users screw a short, fine disposable needle on the tip of the pen before an injection. You dial in the amount of insulin you need, insert the needle under the skin and press the plunger on the end to deliver the insulin. The insulin pen is used more often in other countries than in the United States.

External Insulin Pumps

About the size and shape of an iPhone and weighs about three ounces or less. You can wear them on a belt or carry them in your pocket or purse. They use a disposable plastic cartilage as an insulin reservoir. A needle and plunger are temporarily attached to the cartridge to allow you to fill the cartridge with insulin from a vial. You then remove the needle and plunger and load the cartridge into the pump. Insulin pumps contain enough insulin for several days. An infusion set carries the insulin from the pump to the body through flexible plastic tubing and a soft tube or needle inserted under the skin.

Disposable infusion sets deliver insulin to a site on your body like the abdomen. Devices are available to assist you to insert a cannula beneath the skin. An infuse set consists of a cannula needle or a soft tube. The cannula needle or soft tube is held in place by an adhesive patch or dressing. You replace the infusion set every few days.

The insulin pumps supply insulin in a steady constant stream. The pump supplies a one-time larger dose of insulin at meal times and when faulty programming by you, sometimes, causes the blood glucose level to increase above what you planned. You must frequently monitor your blood glucose levels to determine the proper dose of insulin to deliver and program accordingly.

Injection Ports

The ports look similar to injection sets without the long plastic tubing. They do have a cannula that you insert into the tissue beneath the skin. An adhesive patch holds the port in place. You insert the insulin into the port with a syringe and needle or a pen. Reducing the number of skin punctures is the main advantage of an injection port.

Injection Aids

Spring loaded syringe holders make the injection under the skin quickly. Some of these devices have a button that activates a plunger to inject the insulin.

High Pressure Insulin Jet Injectors

These apply a fine spray of insulin, under high pressure, onto the skin that penetrates without a needle or cannula.

Exercise? Great for Diabetics

Why Exercise?

Exercise is beneficial for diabetics by helping you manage blood  glucose levels. Blood capillary beds are increased and that increases the efficiency of your body cells. This makes the cells use of insulin better.

Activity, through exercise, helps you "burn"' calories. This requires you to provide glucose that eventually creates products that muscles use for movement. It also lowers your blood glucose that aids in glucose management.

Exercise distributes your blood into the increased blood capillary beds. This lowers your blood pressure and reduces your chance of stroke. 

Your heart is a wonderful muscle and, it too, increases its' capillary beds. This lessens the chance for heart related problems tied to oxygen deprivation.  The effects of a heart attack are minimized and recovery is quicker,

On a chemical basis, exercise raises good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. Keep in mind fat is necessary to provide insulation to myelinated nerves. Your body produces cholesterol naturally for this purpose. Too much fat in your diet is the problem. Anytime you can exercise is good for heart health.

Insulin need is reduced through exercise by reducing the amount of blood glucose. The pancreas produces less insulin because of exercise.

Weight control is better through exercise. Losing fat, a source of stored glucose in the form of glycogen, prevents the body from turning to this potential source of glucose. That, in turn, lowers blood glucose.

Exercise leads to quicker working energy by supplying glucose, needed for normal activities, faster. It also converts chemicals that make muscles "sore" faster. Your recovery time from good exercise is shorter.

Weight bearing exercise is excellent for other systems in your body. Blood flow back to the heart from lower extremities, like your legs, is enhanced by the "milking action" of muscles contracting in your lower legs and thighs. Bone health is enhanced by better blood circulation and repair of tissues in better and more efficient.

Swimming, a form of low-impact exercise, is very effective for increasing cardiovascular health without the risk of join damage associated with walking, jogging and running. The older you get the chance of damage or injury is greater with impact exercise.

Sleep, of course, is very important to your health. Exercise helps you achieve deep sleep which is necessary for psychological recovery. 

Stress, anxiety and depression recovery are alleviated through exercise and proper sleep habits.

The local gym, personal coach and, especially good, a physician trained in exercise programs for diabetics is a great place to begin your exercise program.