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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Fight Or Flight Syndrome - How It Affects Diabetes

I wanted to share some additional information in more detail on how stress affects the body, particularly in relation to Type II Diabetes. I will be quoting and paraphrasing from a previously mentioned book entitled, "One Son's Quest for The Cause and Cure of Diabetes" by Dr. James Chappell.

page 76 & 77:
As a master gland, pituitary abnormalities caused by any of one or more of the H.O.N.S.T.E.C components (see post on the book review listed above).

Pituitary gland challenges:

  • Excessive urination
  • Left side head pain, at level of eyes
  • Headaches - chronic at eye level
  • Abnormal weight size
  • Seizures - especially at night
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Loss of libido
  • Weak bones, ligaments or tendons
  • Mental illness

Again the ovaries, thyroid, testes, thymus, spleen, adrenals, and even the digestive function are strongly influenced by the pituitary.

Dr. Chappell then asks, "How many of you are taking a drug for a so called disease when you don't even have it?

He mentions that we become what we EAT, ABSORB and don't ELIMINATE. Our organs and glands are only as healthy as what we feed them. If they are not fed properly, they suffer imbalances, deficiencies, and over production and so will the rest of the body. Everything is related to everything else. God's word makes that clear also.

My input: I Corinthians 12:16 KJV "And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?" 

I Corinthians 12:15 KJV "If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"

From the book:The adrenals are located above the kidneys. They are known as the fright, fight or flight glands. The cortex portion produces androgen's (testosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol hydro cortisone) , mineral corticoilds (aldosterone),  and estrogen/progesterone (estradiol). The medulla portion produces drenaline (epinephrine), and noradrenaline (norepinephrine).

The adrenal glands are called the STRESS Glands, and if your are stressed to the max, you will adversely affect your adrenal glands. They are designed to provide a burst of strength and energy, when you are threatened with danger. They give you the needed energy and strength to "Run from the bear" OR to stay and "Fight the bear". It is meant to be a short lived scenario, and the problem arises when because of outside stress, physical pain, loss of your job, divorce, bitterness, fighting freeway traffic to get to work on time or your next appointment,  living on the edge (so to speak) indefinitely, the system breaks down.

Here is what happens:

The hypothalamus (brain) signals the pituitary gland to produce ACTH, which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. Cortisol is carried in the bloodstream and causes a dramatic but temporary increase in metabolism (energy) and stimulation of the body to move more quickly. In addition, adrenaline (epinephrine) and nor epinephrine are released. Adrenaline gives the body tremendous strength.

These hormones have a dramatic effect upon the body. They nearly halt the digestive process and increase blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and the rates of breathing and heartbeat.

The crux of the matter is when there is NO bear to fight or run away from, then we internalize our frustrations, fears, anxiety etc. We end up holding on to and storing these stress hormones. They were meant to be USED, not stored and what started out to be a healthy substance now turns into a toxic one for the body.

The continual release of these hormones because of stress, end up exhausting our adrenal glands and puts them out of balance. Dr. Chappell observed the following signs and signals in his patients:

Low blood pressure, loss of hunger, diarrhea, dizziness, bronchitis, weak heart, impotency, depression, mental instability, impaired digestion and asthma.

What about type II diabetes and your adrenal glands?

The medulla portion of the adrenal gland again produces adrenaline (epinephrine). This hormone normally temporarily elevates blood sugar. If your adrenal glands are compromised, you will end up with an overproduction of epinephrine and end up with a constant elevation of blood sugar. 


This raises the question of treatment. Are you being treated for elevated blood sugar or Type II diabetes when your real problem is  CONSTANT STRESS, and an out of whack over worked pituitary gland. One has to wonder in the early stages of,  or borderline Type II Diabetes, if the REAL problem isn't just STRESS and over worked glands. Most doctors instinctively prescribe drugs to lower the blood sugar and do not see the relationship between the MASTER gland and the hormones that produce the higher blood sugar levels.


Unfortunately, we seem to live in the age of "specialists". One Doctor is a heart doctor, the next one treats only diabetes, the family doctor treats high blood pressure etc. etc. There are certainly advantageous to having specialist practitioners, however the body although made up of  individual parts, works as a unit. If one part is affected, so are all the others to one degree or another.


A return to day's of old does not seem likely. That is why I personally feel that YOU have to take some responsibility for your own health and you need to have enough basic knowledge to realize if you are not a couch potato, and you eat right, and exercise etc. that the first sign of an elevated blood glucose test, may or may NOT mean you are a Type II diabetic.


Do a self examination of the stress level in your life


All of these types of situations can over work your pituitary and adrenal glands and drive your hormonal balance out of sync.

I am suggesting that you THINK about your situation, your lifestyle, the stress in your life etc. and then go over that situation in detail with your doctor. Then together your doctor and you can work out a plan to possibly deal with the stress, and then decide together depending on your glucose readings if further action needs to be taken. 

Dan


Don't go it alone. There is help out there for the asking:


Philippians 4:7 (King James Version)


 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


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