Take Steps to be more "Sensitive"

By improving your insulin sensitivity, you may steer your body away from developing type 2 diabetes as well as other serious health issues. The National Institute of Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clinical trial found that lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet reduced the risk of diabetes by 58 percent. These steps also helped people with elevated blood sugar — not yet type 2 diabetes — return to normal blood sugar levels.

Get Moving

Exercise makes muscle cells more sensitive to insulin so they’re better able to use blood sugar for energy. Com- bining aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, with strength training has the most impact on insulin sensitivity. In one study, insulin-resistant adults who did 30 minutes of moderate walking three to seven days a week for six months reversed their insulin resistance.

Lose Weight

Losing excess body fat is also essential to improving insulin sensitivity. In the DPP trial, participants who lost weight were much less likely to develop diabetes than those who remained at an unhealthy weight.

Choose Your Foods Wisely

Avoiding elevated blood sugar levels after meals can im- prove your insulin sensitivity. One way to do that is to eat the right kind of carbohydrates. High glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates cause blood sugar to rise quickly and require more insulin to control those levels. Examples of high

GI foods include unrefined sugars, white bread and fries. Instead, choose low GI carbohydrates with higher fiber such as whole grain breads, brown rice; and non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, asparagus

and greens.

Blood Sugar 101

*With insulin resistance, your pancreas can’t keep up with the body’s demand for insulin. As a result, excess glucose builds up in the blood stream, which sets the stage for type 2 diabetes.

• Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of factors that come together in one person. These include belly

• Insulin resistance can increase a person’s risk of heart disease, even if the person does not have type 2 diabetes.

•People with insulin resistance may have an increased risk of stroke.

•Moderate physical activity and maintaining proper weight can help prevent insulin resistance.

•Studies have shown that exercise can improve your insulin sensitivity within just one week of training even without weight loss.

• Just one night of insufficient sleep can reduce insulin sensitivity.

• Losing just 5 to 7 percent of body weight prevents or delays diabetes by nearly 60 percent.

fat (apple shape), low HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar.

Ups & Downs of Blood Sugar Management

The Ups and Downs of Blood Sugar Management

Have you read the latest headlines? The rate of people with metabolic syndrome — the precursor to diabetes — continues to grow. And the prevalence is increasing in young adults as well. That means the threat of diabetes expands with it. Along for

the ride is insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s produc- tion of insulin can’t keep up with the demand, so blood sugar levels increase. It’s also a stepping stone to diabetes. This is a dangerous trend that must be reversed. Thankfully, Relìv has made inroads.

Two years ago, Relìv introduced GlucAffect®, a revolutionary, targeted nutritional supplement created to address the cascade of heath problems caused by metabolic syndrome. The product brings together an unprecedented array of clinically proven ingre- dients to lower blood sugar and tackle cardiovascular issues.

In an eight-week clinical trial of GlucAffect, participants decreased their fasting blood glucose by 30.4 percent, which returned participants to healthy blood sugar values; their HbA1c (which shows an average of blood sugar levels over time) decreased from 7.59 percent to 6.33 percent, which put them in normal range; and they lost an average of 15 pounds.

Results like these are being duplicated by people around the world. With the rising rates of metabolic syndrome, it’s vital we share GlucAffect and all Relìv products so more people can enjoy good health — and a brighter future.

To Your Health,

Dr. Carl W. Hastings Relìv Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer