Dr. David Clark, DC - Dallas, TX - shares startling information how a bacterial infection can cause Type 2 Diabetes.
Let's talk about the connection between H. Pylori infection and the risk for diabetes.
Let me give you the background. H. Pylori, also called Helicobacter-Pylori, is a bacteria that is known to cause ulcers.
There's a really interesting story about how they determined that. We don't have time for that but you can look that story up.
H. Pylori is an infection of the stomach, but can also infect the small intestine.
What does iH. Pylori do to you?
Well, one of the first things it does is it disturbs the levels of your stomach acid.
H. Pylori can cause these symptoms:
- Heartburn - especially when laying down or bending forward
- GERD
- Stomach pain or burning 1 to 4 hours after eating
- Feel hungry an hour or two after eating
- Excessive belching, bloating or burping
- Gas immediately following a meal
- Sense of fullness during and after a meal
And since H. Pylori can cause LOW levels of stomach acid, it can create problems with absorbing nutrients, especially iron, zinc and B Vitamins.
Many people have a Helicobacter-Pylori infection and don't know it.
For me, anytime somebody has those symptoms above, first thing I think of is an H. Pylori infection. So we get the right testing.
I don't do blood tests for H. Pylori because I find that the Urea Breath Test is the most sensitive--especially for STOMACH overgrowths. Another great test uses a DNA PCR typing test of the stool sample. It is also very sensitive for H. Pylori--especially for SMALL INTESTINE overgrowths.
H. Pylori also creates an inflammatory response and is linked to cardiovascular inflammation. Infections create inflammation.
Your immune system realizes you’re not supposed to have this bacteria hanging around, and it mounts an immune system response. That is inflammatory.
This is where the connection with diabetes comes in...
Inflammation is known to be associated with diabetes, but not much research has answered the question "Does inflammation cause diabetes, or does diabetes cause inflammation?"
A study released earlier this year, followed 700 elderly Latinos from 1998 to 1999. At the time that they were enrolled in the study they were tested for a bunch of different organisms such as toxoplasma gondii, varicella and H. Pylori.
And here's the most important thing.
Over the course of ten years, the people that tested positive (blood test positive) for H. pylori infection were two times as likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes as those people that did not test positive.
2 X as likely. Big difference.
If you've got Type 2 Diabetes, and you’re thinking, "How did this happen to me?"
Or, you already have Type 2 Diabetes but you’re not getting any better even though you've done the diet changes...
...and you've made the exercise changes...
...maybe you’re taking Glucophage® or Metformin®
...But STILL haven't improved very much...
You could have an H. Pylori infection. This should probably be investigated.
H. Pylori could be inflaming you-- destabilizing your blood sugar---making you insulin resistant. That is possible. I've seen it firsthand.
if you've got these symptoms...
- Heartburn - especially when laying down or bending forward
- GERD
- Stomach pain or burning 1 to 4 hours after eating
- Feel hungry an hour or two after eating
- Excessive belching, bloating or burping
- Gas immediately following a meal
- Sense of fullness during and after a meal
...plus diabetes or blood sugar symptoms, then you need to get checked for H. Pylori.
How do you get rid of H. Pylori?
Of course, this being a medical study they discussed using antibiotics. But there's a lot of very powerful botanical things you can use.
Please, please don't go take something just because you think you might possibly have H. Pylori and you go to the health food store and you ask them what to take.
Don't do that.
Work with someone that understands functional medicine, understands what I'm telling you here, because...
Your diabetes could be caused by something different than your neighbors' diabetes, or your relative's diabetes.
"Diabetes" is really just kind of a blanket term for, "You have elevated blood sugar. You’re not getting blood sugar in your cells."
But the mechanism for why diabetes happened to you could be different than why it happened to somebody else.
Inflammation is a critical factor. Anything that causes inflammation can contribute tod diabetes.
This study shows that H. Pylori infection, in particular, puts you at risk for developing diabetes - two times as likely, two times as likely.
So the takeaway message is you probably need to get checked for it. And if you've got it you've got to find someone who can help you get rid of it. You don't have to use antibiotics, but they can be effective -- and have side effects.
You need to know this, though --- a lot of medical doctors don't think H. Pylori is any big deal.
And I think those doctors clearly are out of touch and aren’t reading. This information came out this year, 2012. This study says H. Pylori IS a big deal.
H. Pylori anbd diabetes are definitely connected.
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© 2012 David Clark. All Rights Reserved.
THE PLACE FOR ANSWERS
Dr. David Clark, DC
Functional Neurologist (FACFN)
Diplomate College of Clinical Nutrition
Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist
Vestibular Rehab Specialist (ACNB)
214-341-3737
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Disclaimer: The contents of this site are for educational purposes only. Nothing here should be construed as medical advice. Nothing here is a substitute for actual medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional.
