lets talk about insulin

I read the article linked above, and while it does have some good points, I think that it dealing with folks with a normally functioning pancreas. The trouble comes in when the body's insulin response is not accurate - in the case of too much insulin response, which is a factor in insulin resistance, and the reactive hypoglycemia that hyperinsulinemia creates. (which triggers hunger, even when the person knows they just ate a couple hours ago and should not be hungry).

I think that the dietary advise of the decades to eat every 2 -3 hours never lets the insulin levels decrease, keeping people on a blood sugar roller coaster (unless they have a well functioning endocrine system and can keep it steady despite).

What I am seeing is that the endocrine system is so damn complex, and interdependent, I am leery of the experts that say do x,z, and z. As a type 2 diabetic, I just watch my glucose meter, labs, carb craving levels, and weight loss to see if I'm on the right track. But I am fascinated with the science of it.

The problem is that the bleating sheep of the general populace act as if they should handle insulin in the same ways that diabetics do. I'm not sure of the exact statistics, but I'm certain that most people do not have issues with insulin, and if they suspect that they do, they should really have it confirmed by a doctor before they presume that there diet is impacted by it.

What I mean is that there is a general fear that carbs and sugars somehow cause weight gain, when the reality is, that most people are not going to gain weight because they ate a banana.

I don't know...looking at the overweight/obesity stats and how prevalent it is, I don't know that we can say with certainty that most people do not have issues with insulin. The current way that "issues with insulin" is diagnosed is when people finally the reach the diabetic level. And even those stats are considered low by the experts - I believe that the ADA suggests that millions of people have diabetes and haven't been formally diagnosed. And before that, people think that if their blood sugar levels are ok, then they don't have an issue. But what they don't know is how much insulin is it requiring to keep your blood sugar ok? Is it a normal level, or is it a high, or super-high level?

I read the article linked above, and while it does have some good points, I think that it dealing with folks with a normally functioning pancreas. The trouble comes in when the body's insulin response is not accurate - in the case of too much insulin response, which is a factor in insulin resistance, and the reactive hypoglycemia that hyperinsulinemia creates. (which triggers hunger, even when the person knows they just ate a couple hours ago and should not be hungry).

I think that the dietary advise of the decades to eat every 2 -3 hours never lets the insulin levels decrease, keeping people on a blood sugar roller coaster (unless they have a well functioning endocrine system and can keep it steady despite).

What I am seeing is that the endocrine system is so damn complex, and interdependent, I am leery of the experts that say do x,z, and z. As a type 2 diabetic, I just watch my glucose meter, labs, carb craving levels, and weight loss to see if I'm on the right track. But I am fascinated with the science of it.

The problem is that the bleating sheep of the general populace act as if they should handle insulin in the same ways that diabetics do. I'm not sure of the exact statistics, but I'm certain that most people do not have issues with insulin, and if they suspect that they do, they should really have it confirmed by a doctor before they presume that there diet is impacted by it.

What I mean is that there is a general fear that carbs and sugars somehow cause weight gain, when the reality is, that most people are not going to gain weight because they ate a banana.

I don't know...looking at the overweight/obesity stats and how prevalent it is, I don't know that we can say with certainty that most people do not have issues with insulin. The current way that "issues with insulin" is diagnosed is when people finally the reach the diabetic level. And even those stats are considered low by the experts - I believe that the ADA suggests that millions of people have diabetes and haven't been formally diagnosed. And before that, people think that if their blood sugar levels are ok, then they don't have an issue. But what they don't know is how much insulin is it requiring to keep your blood sugar ok? Is it a normal level, or is it a high, or super-high level?

Well perhaps blood-glucose testing should be a regular fixture of the standard check-up. Have you ever considered that if someone with a normally-functioning pancreas suddenly decided to modify their diet as if they have insulin issues that the sudden underactivity of the pancreas could result in a pre-diabetic or hypoglycemic state?

So...
Let's start with the most basic question... what is insulin's function in the body? What does it really do?

My understanding is that it's basically a signalling chemical. It tells you cells when to build tissue. The higher your insulin levels, the stronger that signal to build will be. It is also my understanding that insulin isn't specific to to fat or anything else... that it simply tells your cells to build tissue, and what types of tissue they build is dependent on a variety of factors.

True? Completely wrong? What say you?

I am a fourth year medical student - whose almost done with rotations, so not a Dr but I will have my MD in a few months.

People on boards do freak out about insulin too much in my opinion so I'll just give you a basic overview then my thoughts on in it - however I just want to preface saying that I am going to be discussing it in regards to a healthy person, if someone has DM type II or I or is prediabetic then they are under a different set of circumstances

Insulin is secreted by your pancreas and has a number of functions - like you said it gives a 'building signal' which encourages adipose/muscle production, it opens certain glucose channels which allow sugar to enter certain cells including skeletal muscle tissue and it promotes the formation of glycogen which is a stored form of energy.

people typically spike insulin when they are post-prandial or in a post feeding state and a normal persons sugar will return to their 'baseline' level usually within two hours.

In regards to dieting: Insulin does not make you fat, people believe that their low carb diets are working because they arent spiking insulin but in reality the reason why low carb causes you to lose weight is because you are depleting your glycogen (which takes a lot longer then people think, you wont deplete all your glycogen in one hard workout, it takes a while) so your body has to oxidize fat - betaoxidation of fatty acids releases ketone bodies --> hence why people like to say they are in ketosis, just a fancy way to say you are producing ketones.

should you really be worrying about insulin? unless you are diabetic or have some sort of metabolic abnormality, in other words you are a 'normal' individual - no, just eat at a deficit and the weight will come off. Also as a note when you eat a large protein/fat based meal you will still spike an insulin level - it doesn't require some magic number of carbs.

If you are a person concerned about Insulin resistance then I encourage you to visit your Dr.

Thanks for your very well presented and informative post.

I appreciated the "soon to be MD's" perspective on this discussion. I guess I'm wondering how jacksonpt's question on what insulin is and how it works has somehow turned into a discussion of Insulin Resistance and diabetes. I do not agree at all that all of the general population is somewhere on a scale of insulin sensitivity issues. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that happens when this topic is brought up. People with an agenda get on the soapbox.

Seems to me if someone wants to start a thread about insulin resistance they should instead of hijacking this one.

Just as a reminder, this was the original question: "Let's start with the most basic question... what is insulin's function in the body? What does it really do?"
I don't see anthing there about insulin resistance and how that impacts obesity in the general population. Let's get back on track.

Sad, I thought this was a really good thread full of great points and respectful discussion.

I appreciated the "soon to be MD's" perspective on this discussion. I guess I'm wondering how jacksonpt's question on what insulin is and how it works has somehow turned into a discussion of Insulin Resistance and diabetes. I do not agree at all that all of the general population is somewhere on a scale of insulin sensitivity issues. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that happens when this topic is brought up. People with an agenda get on the soapbox.

Seems to me if someone wants to start a thread about insulin resistance they should instead of hijacking this one.

Just as a reminder, this was the original question: "Let's start with the most basic question... what is insulin's function in the body? What does it really do?"
I don't see anthing there about insulin resistance and how that impacts obesity in the general population. Let's get back on track.

Wow, thanks for reminding me why I have started to avoid forums all-together. It would seem that discussing how something works(or doesn't work) isn't that far off topic. It was not my intentions to hijack anything and apologize to the OP if that happened. Carry on....

I appreciated the "soon to be MD's" perspective on this discussion. I guess I'm wondering how jacksonpt's question on what insulin is and how it works has somehow turned into a discussion of Insulin Resistance and diabetes. I do not agree at all that all of the general population is somewhere on a scale of insulin sensitivity issues. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that happens when this topic is brought up. People with an agenda get on the soapbox.

Seems to me if someone wants to start a thread about insulin resistance they should instead of hijacking this one.

Just as a reminder, this was the original question: "Let's start with the most basic question... what is insulin's function in the body? What does it really do?"
I don't see anthing there about insulin resistance and how that impacts obesity in the general population. Let's get back on track.

Wow, thanks for reminding me why I have started to avoid forums all-together. It would seem that discussing how something works(or doesn't work) isn't that far off topic. It was not my intentions to hijack anything and apologize to the OP if that happened. Carry on....

mmapags is a very smart, well researched, and very helpful MFP member. I'm sorry you feel attacked by his statement, but I can guarantee that he was just trying to keep the conversation on course.

The problem that he and the OP are trying to discuss is how insulin affects the normal, average individual who is not insulin resistant. Too many people think insulin affects them in ways that are similar to someone who is diabetic/insulin resistant, when in fact it does not. The point of this discussion was to determine how insulin acts in a normal body and to educate those individuals so maybe they won't be so sensitive/concerned about insulin and related issues.

Does insulin resistance deserve in depth discussion? Absolutely. Does it need to happen on this thread? Probably not. (although the OP has now said he doesn't mind...but still, mmapags wasn't trying to attack you.)

Correct and thanks Lora!

Insulin is produced in response to eating. Eating High GI (glycemic index) foods results in more insulin being produced, than if you eat Low GI foods. The glycemic index of food is determined by how quickly the energy in that food is released into the body. Low GI foods results in lower levels of insulin being produced over a longer period of time, reducing the peaks and troughs experienced with high GI foods (these being refined flours and sugars, and any foods made from them.

The following is the advice I give the my clients about a healthy diet (including weight loss) and a healthy heart. Essentially this is a Low GI diet that is suitable for the general population, pre-diabetics, and those with insulin resistance. Suitable for most People with Diabetes as well.

Eat a variety of whole grains throughout the day (whole grain bread, whole meal pasta or a mix of 50/50 with white pasta; brown rice, or again a 50/50 mix with white rice; couscous is really easy and quick to make a salad with as well. These whole grains slow digestion and keep you feeling full for longer.

Lean protein (meat with all visible fat removed,) eggs, low fat milk, yoghurt, cheese, beans (kidney, green, edamame, chickpeas etc. (good for maintaing and building new muscle cells when you're increasing exercise or changing your workout.) Important to help maintain or build muscle mass required for strength as we age, and maintain or increase our metabolic rates.

Fruit and vegetables - a variety if different colours but a minimum of 5 servings per day. These are what give you the right nutrients for staying well, and assisting recovery after a hard workout.

Water - 6-8glasses per day, more when you exercise. Amount depends on how hard you work out or sweat. Helps to hydrate yor body and remove toxins.

The other thing I tell my clients is this:
if you think you have a lot of changes to make, pick one thing and work on it for the week. The next week, choose another change to add and so on. Eg. eat a minimum of 5servings of fruit and vegetables/day; exercise daily ( or whatever goal you set for yourself.)

Hope this helps some of you.

whey is encouraged post workout due to its digestibility. It is quickly digested and absorbed into the bloodstream where as some other protein supplements are much slower to digest and be absorbed.
I don't have any links, but I remember reading that thee is a measurable increase in amino acids in the bloodstream within 20 to 30 minutes of consuming a whey drink.

insulin helps to shuttle those amino's into the cells where they are used to create new hormones, new proteins for new cells, replace damaged proteins within the existing cells, etc.