What is Hyperinsulinism

Simply out, hyperinsulinism is the condition that results from too much insulin being produced by your body. It is easy to see how this might happen when you realize there is a relationship between the kinds of foods you eat and the amount of insulin in your bloodstream.

Foods rich in carbohydrates – especially sugar, honey, milk and fruit, which contain simple sugars and refined carbohydrates such as flour, white rice and potato starch – are readily absorbed through the stomach, so they speedily convert to glucose. When these foods are eaten in excess, they require a lot of insulin for transport. Foods made of protein and fat, on the other hand require little or no insulin. (Protein in excess converts to glucose in the liver and required some insulin to transport it to the cells: fat requires essentially none.)

And what happens then when there is too much insulin? As an overweight person becomes heavier, insulin effectiveness may decline. The cells become desensitized to the action of insulin so it can no longer effectively transport glucose to them. This is known in medical circles as insulin resistance, which quickly leads to hyperinsulinism. Numerous studies have shown that insulin resistance is more prevalent among the obese, although even some individuals who appear slim and healthy may actually be insulin resistant.

What appears to happen is that the insulin receptors on the surfaces of the body’s cells are blocked, which in turn prevents glucose from reaching the cells for energy use. That is one reason overweight individuals may be tired much of the time. When insulin is ineffective in taking glucose to the cells, the liver converts more and more glucose to stored fat. Your body is, in fact, becoming a fat-producing machine instead of an efficient energy-producing machine.

Your body’s hormonal system is now in desperate straights. At this point, insulin is being secreted more and more frequently to deal with high blood-sugar levels, and it is doing its job less and less effectively. This makes you crave sweets and carbs, which compounds the problem in a vicious cycle. In time, even the insulin receptors that convert glucose to fat start getting worn out, forecasting diabetes.

Key Points

• Insulin is the hormone that transports glucose from your body to your cells, where it can be converted to energy. The liver will convert excess glucose to glycogen, which is stored in the liver and muscles for additional, accessible energy.
• Remaining glucose will be converted into fat and stored throughout the body.
• Excessive carbohydrate intake results in an oversupply of glucose, and thus insulin, in the body.
• An ongoing cycle of excess blood glucose overproduction eventually results in hyperinsulinism and ultimately diabetes.
• Hyperinsulinism is what makes it hard for many people to lose weight.
• By following a low-carb diet you can stabilize insulin production to make it easier to lose weight.
• High levels of triglycerides in the blood are a proven risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
• A low-carb diet can sharply reduce your risk of blood-sugar disorders – and by extension, heart disease and other serious ailments.