High Blood Sugar and Diabetes

Generally, high blood sugar is caused by either inadequate production of insulin or resistance to the normal function of insulin. Either way, blood sugar goes up and, ultimately, diabetes can occur. Type 1 diabetes is generally due to insufficient insulin production and classically occurs during childhood. Type 2 diabetes is much more common and relates to poor insulin function, a.k.a. insulin resistance. Either way, diabetes is primarily a disorder of decreased insulin function and impaired carbohydrate metabolism.

The conventional approach to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes often starts with putting the patient on a low-fat diet to improve cholesterol and weight. The next step is often aggressive use of medications to reduce blood sugar. Unfortunately, this preference for low-fat diets ignores the fact that diabetes is primarily a problem of carbohydrate metabolism and not fat metabolism. It also ignores the scientific studies that show that low carbohydrate diets are much more effective at reducing blood sugar and related problems. Low fat diets often lead to high blood sugar.

The widespread use of medications in type 2 diabetes, ignores the scientific evidence that most medications for type 2 diabetes will reduce blood sugar but are actually harmful to overall health. This drug-based approach definitely ignores the recent study showing that aggressive pharmaceutical regimens for diabetes often cause earlier death.

Dr. Doyle's approach to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes begins with a strong focus on diet and lifestyle including moderate exercise and a low carbohydrate diet to reduce blood sugar and weight. At the same time he works to identify and treat underlying nutritional or hormonal problems that may be contributing to abnormal carbohydrate metabolism and diabetes. He also selectively uses nutritional and herbal treatments that have strong safety records to help control blood sugar. When needed, Dr. Doyle will prescribe the only diabetes medicine that has been shown to increase life expectancy in type 2 diabetics. The multitude of other diabetes medications are generally avoided because none have been proven to improve life expectancy or overall health.

Patients who require insulin injections generally need to continue working with their endocrinologist, also.

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