But what might actually be the cause is… inflammation!
I’ve already discussed how being overweight causes the release of a whole load of inflammatory chemicals that contribute to what Dr Barry Sears calls “silent inflammation”. Well, research on mice shows that inflammation provoked by immune cells called macrophages (the same cells that become foam cells and lead to blocked arteries – and that are also concentrated in fat cells) leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
This research was done in mice that were genetically engineered to lack a specific gene present in the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. These genes are sensitive to the inflammatory response caused by macrophages and when these mice lacked the gene they did not develop diabetes, even when fed an extremely high-fat diet.
Now this research was done in mice and applying it to humans needs to be taken cautiously, however there is a good argument to reduce inflammation to protect the pancreas.
Other inflammatory foods that can be very useful in protecting yourself from “silent inflammation” include:
• Oily fish rich in omega 3 fats
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Quercitin found in onions, broccoli, tea, wine and grapes.
