Q: Dear Dr Sears

May I use the peptide-c determination to calculate hyperinsulinemia?

Nelson

A: Dear Nelson,

C-peptide is the breakdown product of insulin as it is secreted into the blood stream. Its presence only indicates that you are secreting insulin properly. Hyperinsulinemia is caused by the inability of insulin to bind to its receptor. You will need fasting insulin testing to determine if you have hyperinsulinemia. Another indication of hyperinsulinemia is an elevated TG/HDL level (greater than 4).

Q: I am 36 years old and for the last 10 years I have been in the ICU every three months with diabetic ketone acidosis. I finally got an insulin pump and then was diagnosed with protein C deficiency after my second deep vein thrombosis. I am now on blood thinners for life. Is this diet safe for me, being diabetic and on a pump? I just want to make sure this would benefit me. Since getting my pump, I haven’t had DKA for one year but still have sugar levels of 250 daily. Can I actually lose weight with sugar levels in the 200s?

A: The MedWell diet plan is designed for diabetics, both type 1 and type 2. By decreasing the glycemic load of the diet, less insulin will be required to be secreted by the pump.

Q: I was diagnosed with a fatty liver. I'm in the medical field (nurse) so I realize that this is a condition common with ETOH abusers. Problem is … I don't drink. I'm wondering if the fatty infiltration of the liver is due to hyper-secretion of insulin. Would the MedWell 1-2-3 weight-loss plan correct both and is there any data on the effects of the MedWell eating plan on a fatty liver?

A: The most common cause of fatty liver is insulin resistance and the resulting deposit of triglyceride droplets in the liver. Insulin resistance causes hyper-insulinemia. The MedWell diet will correct both conditions.

Hi, Dr. Sears,

Q: Does the MedWell Diet have any impact on the stabilization of anti-diuretic hormone levels? I have something that appears similar to diabetes insipidus, but it only happens occasionally, so no one can figure out what it is. Some of the triggers appear to be eating sugar or simple carbs (doesn't happen every time), or going most of the day without eating carbs, so I'm wondering if stabilizing blood sugar with MedWell 1-2-3 foods has any impact on ADH.

A: I believe that maintaining a constant level of insulin may ideally stabilize the levels of ADH, especially since the extremes of carb intake seem to be associated with its swings.