Metabolic Syndrome X Treatments
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For years, doctors have observed that weight loss surgery resolves diabetes in over 80% of obese people with diabetes. Blood sugar levels improve dramatically almost immediately after gastric bypass surgery, and far before any significant weight loss occurs. Studies have found that when people lose the same amount of weight through diet as through surgery, those who had surgery experienced significantly better improvement in their diabetes than those who lost weight non-surgically. This indicates that the surgery itself -- not just losing weight -- is responsible for the metabolic shifts in the body.
This metabolic effect is significant for any person who is obese and is particularly compelling for those with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the combination of several medical problems associated with morbid obesity: high blood pressure, glucose intolerance/insulin resistance, excess body fat and high cholesterol.
All bariatric (weight loss) surgery procedures, including gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy improve diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The effects are most pronounced after gastric bypass surgery.
Doctors have studied the effects of metabolic surgery among people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above. Although we do not yet know what the underlying mechanisms are for this effect, we know that operating on people with these diseases causes a significant improvement in diabetes. We believe gut hormones play an integral role in this process and that a change in this milieu accounts for the results that are seen clinically.
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The treatment options for metabolic syndrome are closely related to those for weight loss surgery. They include the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, the adjustable gastric band, as well as the duodenal switch or the bilio-pancreatic diversion operation. Today, metabolic syndrome is most commonly treated with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the sleeve gastrectomy and somewhat to a lesser degree the adjustable gastric band.
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Medications treat metabolic syndrome X by remedying the individual conditions that increase your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Taking an aspirin once a day has been shown to help lower your risk for a heart attack, but such a regimen should only be started after talking to your doctor.
There are medications to treat your body's inability to process insulin. A drug called metformin will cause your body to be more receptive to insulin and allow the insulin to be absorbed by your cells. Antihypertensives are used to help lower your blood pressure through use of diuretics, beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Your doctor may also prescribe cholesterol medications to lower the amount of fat in your blood, decrease the LDL, bad cholesterol, or increase the HDL, good cholesterol. Medications like varenicline may be prescribed if you need help to stop smoking.
If you are unable to reduce the amount of fat around your midsection by changing your eating habits and getting more physical activity it may be necessary to take prescribed medication to help you lose weight.
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Alternative treatments for metabolic syndrome X include use of homeopathic remedies and nutritional supplements that target weight loss, and management of metabolic conditions without medication. For example: Testing positive for pre-diabetes markers is a common factor in metabolic syndrome X; Chinese herbal medicines have been studied for their impact on such markers as insulin resistance and elevated glucose in people with pre-diabetes, but results are not conclusive.
Adding nutritional supplements like flax seed, oat bran, fish oil, and artichoke extract to your diet is recommended by some naturopathic practitioners to help you lower your high cholesterol and aid you in weight loss. Supplements with high fiber properties have been shown to have an effect on cholesterol and weight management, but talk to your doctor before beginning any alternative treatments for metabolic syndrome X. Some supplements may interact with other prescribed medications.
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Treatments for metabolic syndrome X include changes to your life and medications to address individual symptoms of metabolic syndrome X. The easiest way to treat metabolic syndrome X is to make changes to your diet, increase your amount of daily physical activity, and remove unhealthy habits.
Eating a well balanced diet will not only help you address the excess fat around your midsection, it will also help your body work more efficiently, thus reducing stress on your heart and other organs. Increasing your activity level will increase the amount of calories you burn as well as improve your cardiovascular health. Weight loss has been shown to greatly reduce your likelihood of diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you smoke or drink excessively it may be necessary for you to quit those habits. Drinking excessively is shown to add to excess weight around your waist and smoking cigarettes has been linked to your body's inability to process insulin. If making changes to your life does not address the conditions associated with metabolic syndrome X then medication to individually treat your elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, larger midsection, and high blood sugar may be necessary.
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Over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin and fiber supplements, are sometimes used to treat the conditions that create metabolic syndrome X. If you are at risk for heart disease a doctor will often recommend an aspirin regimen to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Aspirin works to thin your blood and alleviate some of the symptoms of high blood pressure and excessive clotting of the blood, although it may not be as effective for metabolic syndrome as it is in preventing cardiovascular problems in other patients.
Fiber supplements can also be purchased without a prescription to increase the amount of fiber in your daily diet. Fiber has been found to effectively address insulin resistance, cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat issues.
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The goal of treatment is to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Your health care provider will recommend lifestyle changes and/or medicines to help reduce your blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar. Dietary Recommendations include: Lose weight. The initial goal is to lose between 7-10% of your current weight. This generally means that you need to eat 500 - 1,000 fewer calories per day; Lower your cholesterol by limiting saturated fat in the diet, and replacing processed grain products with whole grains (whole wheat flours, whole grain cereals, etc.); Lower your blood pressure by limiting salt and alcohol, and adding lots of fruits and vegetables. To learn the basics of eating with metabolic syndrome, and become a pro at planning healthy meals for yourself or family members, ask your health care provider for a referral to a registered dietitian.
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There is no cure for metabolic syndrome X, but with a commitment to adjusting your daily life you may be able to postpone its onset. Excess fat around the midsection, high cholesterol and elevated blood sugar can often be prevented with a nutritious and heart healthy diet.
Eating a diet that is high in whole grains, fiber and lean meat and low in salt, saturated fat and processed foods can ward off the factors that combine to create metabolic syndrome X. Participate in physical activity and exercise on a daily basis to increase calorie expenditure, heart health and blood circulation. Visit your doctor to get regular check ups and stay on top of your health.
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There's a tart and juicy breakfast fruit that might help keep metabolic syndrome in check. We're talking about grapefruit.
In a study, obese people who ate half a fresh grapefruit before meals showed improvements in two important measures related to the syndrome -- weight and insulin response. Not only did the grapefruit eaters shed pounds, but their insulin resistance improved, too.
Metabolic syndrome is bad news for your body. It's characterized by a combination of five serious health problems that can jack up your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Insulin resistance -- where the body fails to use insulin properly -- is one of the more serious markers because it can lead to high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood sugar and abdominal obesity make up the rest of the formula for metabolic syndrome.
