age is really just a number

Take it seriously. It does not have to lead to diabetes.

Your pants are tighter, your blood pressure is up, your blood sugar levels are rising, and your cholesterol levels are increasing. If this sounds familiar, this cluster of findings are the highlights of metabolic syndrome. This can also be called “pre-diabetic” or “borderline diabetic”. 

Metabolic syndrome doubles your risk of heart attack and stroke. The root cause is insulin resistance which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

The key to reversing metabolic syndrome is weight loss and exercise. Better than any medication, these work together to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as help improve insulin resistance.

Here are a few vital steps that you can take to reverse metabolic syndrome and improve your chances of avoiding diabetes.

A low carb diet helps in weight loss in people with metabolic syndrome because carbohydrates need insulin to be metabolized.  Once you reach your target weight, then a more moderate Mediterranean diet will help you maintain this healthy weight.

At least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise five days a week is recommended. It doesn’t matter whether you walk, run, bike, swim, or just dance in your living room. It is also advised that you add at least 20 minutes of weight training twice a week because as we’ve discussed previously, muscle mass makes you more insulin sensitive.

As your weight drops, your blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid levels will begin to normalize, and the dreaded metabolic syndrome will disappear altogether over time.

Many of my patients have come in with a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome and over time, with diet and exercise, have reversed these trends. 

You are worth it! It’s time to take charge of your health!

Exercise and a reasonable diet (that is NOT the current fad diet) is the best medicine physicians can prescribe for your metabolic syndrome.