Diabetes Mellitus is defined as a progressive metabolic disorder in which the body produces an inadequate amount of Insulin, or poorly responds to the Insulin after an intake of carbohydrates, resulting in an abnormal elevation of blood glucose level. This condition is accompanied by various other abnormal metabolic functions and abnormal vascular changes, which increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks and renal diseases. Currently, there is a worldwide epidemic of Diabetes Mellitus which is expected to have a devastating effect on the health and economics of most societies.

A popular management advice given by health professionals, in the management of Diabetes, is the restriction of carbohydrate intake especially high glycemic index foods. The glycemic index reflects the tendency of a food to increase blood sugar and Insulin levels. Is the advice of carbohydrate restriction good? Could this advice be partially responsible for the progressive nature of this disease? It is my belief, which is supported by science that this advice of restricting carbohydrates is wrong and is contributing to the acceleration and progressive nature of this disease. This scientific evidence is obvious if you examine the physiological role of the hormones, Insulin and Cortisol. Let us now look more closely at this evidence.

Insulin is the primary anabolic hormone of the body. This means that circulating Insulin encourages the body to produce and repair body tissues. Circulating Insulin is dependent on the dietary intake of carbohydrate. Restricting carbohydrates will reduce circulating Insulin and thus the repair rate of the body, in both diabetics and non-diabetics. This means that the healing of the diabetic disorder is prevented and is likely to get worse due to the normal wear and tear of our bodies with aging. Therefore carbohydrate restriction contributes to the progressive nature of diabetes. The reason put forward for restricting carbohydrates is because the body cannot produce enough Insulin to adequately metabolize this intake. Although this sounds plausible, it is not necessary, since treatment for the diabetic condition could supplement for the short fall in Insulin. Hence you would preserve the healing potential of Insulin while ensuring control of the diabetic condition.

Cortisol is the primary catabolic hormone of the body. This means that circulatory Cortisol will encourage destruction of body tissue. This destructive action includes it diabetogenic properties through the destruction of Insulin receptors on cells. Cortisol circulation is highest in the morning and is controlled by a twenty-four hour body rhythm or circadian rhythm. Exercise and stress increase circulating Cortisol levels. Cortisol’s main antagonist is Insulin. This means that the higher the circulating Insulin levels the weaker is the Cortisol effect, including its diabetogenic effect. This means that if carbohydrates are restricted, especially in the morning it would result in increased damage to insulin receptors and worsening or progression of the diabetic status. Diabetics are often advised to exercise regularly. Persons with the disease are also likely to experience psychological and financial stress as a result of this illness. All these factors lead to increased Cortisol levels which further aggravate the disease progression. Therefore, advising diabetics to restrict carbohydrate intake contributes to the progression of the disease.

Doctors and nutritionists need to review their dietary advice to diabetics. This advice needs to be structured to harmonize with the body’s physiology. It is by doing so, that we will be able to stem the tide of Diabetes Mellitus and change the disease from its progressive nature to a preventable and reversible condition