Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of Americans, children and adults alike. There are two major types of diabetes. Type I is a result of the body’s inability to produce insulin, a hormone that allows the body to convert sugars, starches and other food into energy. Type 2 is associated with insulin resistance and insulin deficiency. Unfortunately, most Americans are on the road to this type of diabetes due to a diet of highly-processed, rich foods. However, there are simple detours one can take to manage, delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes.

The road to diabetes has to do with something called the glycemic index. All carbohydrates are rated on this index with regards to the level of insulin reaction they produce. Foods that have a high glycemic index rating will cause your pancreas to release a lot of insulin to break down the amount of sugars and carbohydrates (which produce high amounts of glucose). The refined carbohydrates and sugars that make up the vast majority of the American diet rank very high on the glycemic index.

In youth, this pattern is continually repeated with little or no visible consequence. While children may gain a few pounds here or there, the possibility of acquiring diabetes is not usually considered seriously. Healthy systems recover quickly and easily. As we age though, the continued pattern takes its toll on our heart and circulatory system. The body becomes insulin resistant. That is, no amount of insulin works effectively to reduce blood sugar levels. At that point we become pre-diabetic or can acquire Type II diabetes.

A large part of the problem is the average American diet. Hidden sugars and highly processed carbohydrates work against our body’s natural metabolic processes. Certain foods are known to have a high-glycemic index. A glycemic index is a number that refers to the effect a carbohydrate has on our blood sugar levels. The higher the number, the more insulin the pancreas has to produce to convert the sugar into usable energy. Unfortunately, the American diet is rich in high-glycemic index foods.

With age, blood sugar and insulin difficulties become more aggravated. The condition is called “hyperinsulinism” and is a precursor for type II diabetes. It is normally accompanied by high blood pressure and high triglycerides.

In the Atkins diet, proteins are emphasized more in the plan. Proteins have little affect on blood-sugar levels. Therefore they help maintain a more steady balance in the body’s system. Low-glycemic index carbohydrates are incorporated as an energy source. While these still raise blood-sugar levels, it is at a much slower rate than highly processed, refined sugar and carbohydrates.

Of course, exercise and a healthy lifestyle are important components of delaying or preventing Type II diabetes. The Atkins diet, however, is one of the simplest changes a person can make to get on a healthy track. Balancing proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, the building blocks of nutrition, allows a person’s body to work efficiently and optimally. The result is stable blood-sugar levels, weight loss and more energy.

It is certain that continuing down the highly processed, high-sugar freeway is sure to thrust us into diabetes. Along with the extra pounds, mood swings, irritability, and depression we’ll face heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. These can all be delayed or prevented if we take the Adkins detour. Adhering to a better nutrition plan now lays the foundation for better health, tomorrow.