In the last part of our sugar and pain series let’s discuss the inflammation- sugar connection.

What’s going on?

When the body is overloaded with sugar, so much insulin is produced that the cells become desensitized to it, which builds up to excess levels in the blood stream where it can lead to the onset of a variety of conditions, including the cluster of increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease called Metabolic Syndrome, also known Syndrome X, as well as the hormonal condition known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – a leading cause of menstrual irregularity and female infertility. Unable to enter the cell, glucose is carried in the blood stream to the liver where it is converted to fat, which can lead to weight gain and obesity.

Insulin resistance disorders

There are those who now think that osteoarthritis is part of the natural progression of insulin resistance disorders, like metabolic syndrome and diabetes.  Consider the importance of this.  Doctors had thought for a long time that osteoarthritis was due to aging, or due to wear and tear.  A growing body of research later showed that people who were overweight or who had diabetes (insulin disorders) had a much greater risk to osteoarthritis.  With modern genetic and biochemical tools, it is becoming clear that osteoarthritis might be one of the expected outcomes of glucose- and insulin-fired abnormalities.

Doctors writing in Medical Hypothesis have suggested a series of events that might be simplified in the following way:

1) Weight and belly fat increase

2) White blood cells travel to belly fat

3) White blood cells take up residence in belly fat

4) While in the belly fat, white blood cells produce immune chemicals that cause widespread inflammation throughout the body

5) These immune chemicals act to damage joint tissue

These doctors write in a 2007 medical hypotheses paper that, “the fatigue and muscle weakness induced by insulin resistance and inflammation in obese patients with metabolic syndrome increase the frequency and the intensity of traumatic events of peripheral or axial joints that result in stretch and breaking of teno-periosteal junction and abrasive damage of cartilage and therefore in these patients with metabolic syndrome and pro-inflammatory state the reparative process of cartilage and peri-articular tissues would be severely modified by the growth factor activity in presence of high levels of insulin.”

This statement is a bit of a mouthful.  To simplify it just a bit, insulin resistance and inflammation are linked processes.  Because of this changing body chemistry, there is increasing trauma to parts of the joint where tendons attach to bone and where cartilage attaches to bone.  When people have high blood sugar and high insulin levels, repairing cartilage becomes difficult due to the biochemical “soup” bathing the joints.

If You Want Less Pain, Control Your Blood Sugar

If you wish to gain control over your osteoarthritis, one particular study should cause you to pay especially close attention to your blood sugar control.  Though the study is in dogs, it provides a very stern warning, as well as a great sense of hope:

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri fed dogs a diet that was either sharply restricted in calories or one that contained normal amounts of calories over a period of 12 years.  From ages 9 to 12, these researchers tested the dog’s blood sugar, insulin response, time to development of arthritis, and time to death.  They discovered that dogs with the lowest blood glucose and best insulin sensitivity were those who were the least likely to develop arthritis.

When they looked at what caused the better blood sugar and insulin control, it became clear what the major influence was, lower calorie intake.  Imagine, better blood sugar and insulin control delays the development of arthritis.

This study has some very important implications.  It could mean that anyone with osteoarthritis who is overweight, who has insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes can take charge of her joint health by gaining control of her blood sugar.  This is an extraordinary opportunity.

Low Calories  =  Better Blood Sugar Control  =  Delayed Development of Arthritis

Sugar also creates sugar-protein bonds that accumulate throughout our bodies as we age, so the sooner you can change your diet, and minimize your sugar intake the better.

Visit our website or contact our office today to see how we can help you realize your good health goals. No one should be in pain when they don’t have to be. Green Health Acupuncture wants you to attain a better pain-free you!

We offer a complete program for balancing your blood sugar and we monitor your success using blood tests so you can track your progress. Why wait until your problem is out of control? Act now and start feeling a whole lot better.