The designation "Syndrome X" originates from 1988 where the endocrinologist professor Reaven described the symptom picture after having studied insulin resistance for a number of years. Other researchers had been on the scent of the problem many years earlier.
Many middle-aged individuals suffer from syndrome X. Typical indications that you might be suffering from this syndrome are tiredness - particularly after meals - difficulties concentrating, hunger - despite sufficient amounts of food, a craving for sweets, and early ageing.
The pieces of the Syndrome X jigsaw puzzle can be sketched as follows:
The effect of insulin in the body
Insulin is a small protein which is being produced by the so-called beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin was the very first hormone to be discovered and it has very distinct, effects in the body, although they can be somewhat different according to the particular kind of body tissue. It has anabolic properties, it regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, and it is involved in the metabolism of fats in that it contributes to transforming glucose into fat by transforming amino acids into protein.
After eating and starting to digest the food, the amount of sugar (glucose) in our blood will subsequently rise. As a result of this, the insulin production of the pancreas will increase in order for the body's cells to absorb the glucose and transform it into energy. It is the insulin, therefore, that lets the blood sugar be transported into the cells and in this way keeps the cells supplied with fuel. At the same time, the insulin contributes to keeping the amount of glucose in the blood within relatively narrow limits.
Glucagon
Another pancratic enzyme is glucagon which complements the insulin in the blood sugar regulation. When the blood sugar level decreases, glucagon releases stored sugar from the liver, muscles, and fatty tissue which counteracts the reduction in the blood sugar level.
High- and low glycaemic food
Some foodstuffs cause a rapid and large increase in the blood sugar level. This will be particularly carbohydrates such as sugar and other sweets plus white bread. These foodstuffs are called high-glycaemic compared to the foodstuffs that cause a much less steep and not nearly as large an increase in the blood sugar; examples of these foodstuffs that are called low-glycaemic are meat and other protein-rich foods. Carbohydrates can also be low-glycaemic - as most vegetables are.
Glucose intolerance
This is when the cells do not permit the glucose to enter them. Converted into numbers, it is defined by a plasma glucose level of more than 6 mmol/l after a minimum of 8 hours of fasting.
Insulin resistance
If the amount of blood glucose too often becomes too large as a result of too much high-glycaemic food, in time, what will often happen is that the cells will begin to lose their ability to react to the insulin. This will cause the blood glucose level to remain too high and the body will react by producing more insulin in an attempt to try to reduce the glucose load. In the end, the symptoms of this will be numerous on account of the many functions of insulin in the body.
The cells will not get the nutrition (glucose) they need. This will result in the mentioned symptoms with a sensation of hunger (despite eating enough), plus tiredness, etc.
Women suffering from insulin resistance will have their hormonal balanced disturbed in such a way that they will produce too many male sex hormones. This will cause their voice to deepen, their hair growth to become masculine, increase their muscle mass and their belly fat, and cause menstruation disturbances and an increased risk of infertility.
In the end, insulin resistance can lead to diabetes and possibly also depression, but the cause of insulin resistance, however, has not been fully clarified.
Consequences of insulin resistance
- Low energy level
- Difficulties concentrating
- A tendency to mood swings
- Early ageing
And an increased risk of developing:
- Heart disease
- Visual disorders
- Damages to the nervous system
- Diabetes
- Alzheimer's disease
- Cancer
Diabetes and low blood sugar
However, the insulin production of the body can fail and cause the blood glucose level to rise to dangerously high levels. This is called diabetes or hyperglycaemia. When the cells are not supplied with glucose, they will start to absorb fatty acids which are only slowly metabolized, and an accumulation of ketone bodies that lower the acidity (pH) of the body will take place. Diabetes is divided into two forms: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the beta cells of the pancreas are not capable of producing effective insulin. Type 2 diabetes is actually a completely different condition and it can be improved by making lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, exercising, and losing weight if your are overweight. Type 2 diabetes most often does not require treatment with insulin.
Contrary to diabetes, there is a suffering that causes too high a level of active insulin in the blood; this will result in too low a blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia).
Overweight
As insulin also contributes to the storing of fat, you will also risk becoming overweight even though not all individuals suffering from insulin resistance and syndrome X are overweight. All overweight people will suffer from some degree of insulin resistance. The fat is deposited on the abdomen. A petty 5 kg. (11 pounds) of overweight could cause problems.
Hypertension
There can be many causes of hypertension. When the blood vessels lose their ability to dilate on account of the inside of the vessels being covered with plaque, the blood pressure will rise. Stress is another well-known cause of hypertension. Adrenocortical hormones can also be responsible for hypertension: a high insulin level can stimulate the kidneys into retaining more salt which will stimulate the release of adrenocortical hormones which will in turn increase the blood pressure. A too high blood pressure will be above 140/90. Overweight will also result in an elevated blood pressure on account of the heart having to work harder in order to pump the blood around the body.
Elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels
The warning signals should go off when the total cholesterol number is more than 240 mg./dl. and the triglyceride number is more than 160 mg./dl. Even though the LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) itself is not elevated, a distorted ratio between the LDL and HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) can also be a health risk in itself.
