Celiac disease can be extremely uncomfortable, embarrassing, and downright miserable. Luckily, managing your insulin sensitivity can help prevent the gloom of celiac disease. You may have to stop eating some of your favorite foods. No one is going to lie and say this is easy, because, well, food is delicious! Although, think of how much better you’ll feel over time without bloat, diarrhea, gas, and constipation.
Understanding insulin resistance is important to balance hormones and avoid diseases and other health issues. Learn what causes insulin resistance and how to improve and manage it. You’ll find you have more energy, less fatigue, and most importantly, better overall health.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where damage is done to the small intestine when gluten is consumed and absorbed (1). Essentially, eating gluten sparks an immune response that attacks the small intestine and causes nutrient malabsorption (1).
People with celiac disease have bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation after eating gluten. Therefore, doctors suggest a strict gluten-free diet for patients diagnosed with celiac disease.
What is Insulin Sensitivity?
Insulin is a vital hormone produced by the pancreas. The pancreas is a stomach gland responsible for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels (2).
The level of sensitivity your cells have to insulin is defined as insulin sensitivity. Low insulin sensitivity, also known as insulin resistance, is bad. In contrast, high insulin sensitivity is good. To simplify, when you reduce insulin resistance, you raise your insulin sensitivity.
High Insulin Sensitivity
The food you eat is quickly broken down into blood sugar. Your pancreas then releases insulin to move this blood sugar into your cells. Now, blood sugar left over is used as energy. Once the blood sugar enters your cells, your blood sugar and insulin levels decrease. This is a normal healthy process. You have low blood sugar levels and energy throughout the day. Read about the benefits of insulin sensitivity and how to improve yours.
Low Sensitivity
A higher amount of blood sugar enters the bloodstream when you eat processed carbohydrates or high-sugar foods. To counter this, the pancreas pumps out insulin to transfer blood sugar into your cells. Although, if you are constantly eating processed or high-sugar foods, your pancreas cannot pump out enough insulin (3). Your pancreas then becomes overworked as your blood sugar continues to rise. This can make your body insulin-resistant because insulin is constantly being produced when it shouldn’t be.
Cells are not effective at absorbing blood sugar, so more insulin is needed; you are insulin resistant (3). Research shows that insulin resistance is a precursor for prediabetes and diabetes (4). You are also at higher risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and more. A family history of type II diabetes, being overweight, and consuming high-sugar or highly processed carbs daily creates insulin resistance (low insulin sensitivity).
Insulin Sensitivity and Celiac Disease
Many high-sugar foods and highly processed carbohydrates contain gluten. The most critical thing is to avoid gluten if you know it makes you feel crappy afterward. Continuing to eat gluten when you know it’s harming your body will create more serious health issues, such as celiac disease.
How do you reverse insulin resistance (low insulin sensitivity)?
- Weight loss
- Daily physical activity, especially walking after eating
- Reduce stress
- Good night’s sleep (and high-quality sleep)
- Gluten-free foods
Increase Insulin Sensitivity with Support from CentreSpringMD
Are you ready to reduce your risk of celiac disease and stop feeling bloated and gassy? CentreSpringMD, Atlanta’s premier integrative health and wellness center will give you the support you need to improve insulin sensitivity, manage it, and optimize your gut health.
Our team of integrative and holistic experts offer counseling, therapies, treatments, supplements, and other services to help you increase your insulin sensitivity. Some of our leading services are below that can start you on your journey to learning your insulin resistance and risk of celiac disease.
Get started now by scheduling an appointment with one of our expert integrative medical providers. Feel better knowing that you have an expert team of people waiting to heal your gut, mind, body, and spirit.
Resources:
1. https://celiac.org/about-celiac-disease/what-is-celiac-disease/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/insulin-resistance.html
4. https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/insulin-resistance
