Is Candida Causing Insulin Resistance?
I have heard some people say they believe that insulin resistance and blood sugar problems are caused by overgrowth of a type of fungus or yeast, known as Candida albicans. In fact some books have made the outrageous claims that Candida overgrowth or toxicity is responsible for many chronic medical conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, eczema, psoriasis, scleroderma, lupus, arthritis, attention deficit disorder, asthma, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism, food allergies, carbohydrate cravings, insulin resistance and diabetes. Proponents of the candida theory blame antibiotics, birth control pills and high sugar diets for yeast overgrowth. There’s even something they call leaky gut syndrome where they claim that Candida migrates from the bowels into body. The yeast in bread is blamed for causing diabetes (I blame the carbohydrates and calories in the bread). I have seen patients who take heavy duty anti-fungal medications to fight what they believe to be Candida overgrowth. My opinion and the opinion of many of my colleagues is that Candida has nothing to do with these conditions. Every human being has Candida in their intestines and in their stool as part of what is called the intestinal flora. Medical problems that lower the immune system, like AIDS and uncontrolled diabetes can lead to infections with Candida, primarily vaginal yeast infections and mouth infections (known as thrush). But a yeast infection is a consequence of high blood sugar, not the cause of it. Candida can infect the whole body and get into the bloodstream, but this is only seen in patients that have severe immune system problems, like AIDS or transplant patients. This condition, known as systemic Candidiasis, is a life threatening condition with seve Continue reading >>
Candida Yeast Infection's Effects On A Diabetes Sufferer
To understand the connections between Candida yeast infections and diabetes, it is important to know what the condition of diabetes is, and how Candida yeast infections develop and spread. Diabetes: An Overview Diabetes is a condition that makes it difficult or impossible for the body to naturally regulate insulin levels through production or proper use. The hormone insulin is required by the body to convert sugars into energy. Deficiencies in the production or use of insulin can lead to high or low blood sugars, both accompanied by unwanted symptoms. Candida Yeast Infections: An Overview Yeast infections are caused by a particular fungus, most commonly Candida albicans. The overgrowth of the bacteria Candida albicans is known as a yeast infection. Yeast infections can occur in most any place of the body that is warm and moist including the vagina, under the breast, penis, nail beds, and the lower abdomen. There are many circumstances that can lead to an overgrowth of the bacteria. Diabetes is one contributing factor. Symptoms: Vaginal Candida Yeast Infections There exist a variety of symptoms during the presence of vaginal yeast infections. Symptoms commonly include burning, itching, and vaginal irritation, the presence of a redness or a rash around the vaginal areas, and the presence of a cottage cheese like vaginal discharge, typically white in color and thick. Symptoms: Penile Candida Yeast Infections There are also a variety of symptoms that can be present with penile yeast infections in men. The most common symptoms include discharge from the penis, irritation and soreness located at the head of the penis, temporary rashes, and pain experienced during sexual intercourse. Symptoms are based on the individual, and may not be present in all cases. The Connections: Di Continue reading >>
Busted: Candida Myths
What is wrong with The Candida Diet? What is wrong with the popular Candida Diet? And what is a safer, healthier solution to eliminate candida overgrowth? You are in the right place and asking the right questions, because I have some answers for you! Sugar is healthy? What about Candida? Those were the common questions I received on my popular post How to Eat Sugar. “But I have candida issues,” folks commented and emailed me, “I can’t eat raw honey, fruits and maple syrup.” The popular Candida Diet takes many forms, such as the diet outlined in The Body Ecology book or The Candida Diet website. These anti-candida protocols all eliminate natural sugars like honey and fruit as well as starchy vegetables like winter squash and carrots. I’m here to tell you that you can and should eat natural sugars, even if you have candida issues. It sounds like a scary concept. Believe me, I was also hesitant to start incorporating healthy sugars back into my diet after my short and extraordinarily unpleasant stint on The Candida Diet. I am grateful that I escaped harmful candida myths, because now I’m healing my body and addressing the root cause of my candida overgrowth. So, without further ado, here are the three problems I have with The Candida Diet: 1. The Candida Diet doesn’t address the root cause First, candida overgrowth results from poor digestion and a leaky gut… not simply the consumption of sugar (although a high sugar, refined food diet can lead to the leaky gut down the road). Candida diets, which allow the consumption of gluten free grains, will not correct a leaky gut and therefore will not permanently address candida overgrowth. In most cases, it requires a grain free diet to heal and seal the gut lining. Why? Undigested food particles cause injury to Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms: Yeast Infection Could Be A Sign You Suffer With The Condition
The purpose of yeast in the body is to keep bacteria under control, and it can be found in moist areas such as the mouth, genitals and under folds of skin. However, when yeast builds up too much it’s classed as an infection. This can cause pain, itchiness, and discomfort. While there can be other reasons for yeast infections, those with poorly-controlled diabetes are at a higher risk of them. One is that when blood glucose levels are high, extra sugar may get into mucus, sweat and urine, and since yeast feeds on sugar it can cause an overgrowth. It’s not yet properly understood why but there are a number of suggestions. One is that when blood glucose levels are high, extra sugar may get into mucus, sweat and urine, and since yeast feeds on sugar it can cause an overgrowth. Another reason could be that poorly-controlled diabetes impacts on the immune system, and the body of someone with diabetes may have difficulty tackling a yeast infection. Similarly, once there has been an infection in a particular area, possibly due to poorly-controlled diabetes, there’s a higher risk of recurring problems. Dangerous bacterial infections Tue, January 24, 2017 Dangerous bacterial infections from food poisoning to meningitis. Symptoms of a yeast infection depends on the area, however if it’s on the skin there may be an itchy scaly rash or slight discolouration. In men, if the infection is in the genitals there may be an itchy rash on the penis. However, women are much more likely to suffer a vaginal yeast infection. Common signs of this include vaginal itching, burning, or pain, a cottage-cheese-like discharge, pain while urinating or an unpleasant odour. Fortunately, yeast infections are easy to treat, but it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Ways to prevent a Continue reading >>
Yeast, Diabetes, And Sex
Vaginal yeast infections are annoying, not dangerous, but they can seriously hamper your sex life, especially if you have diabetes. What’s the connection, and what can you do to prevent and treat yeast infections? According to Chris Illiades, MD, on the website Everyday Health, “Normally, Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infection, lives in balance with the other microorganisms in your body…. But anything that upsets this normal balance can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and can cause a yeast infection.” Diabetes is one of the things that can upset the normal balance because yeast love to eat sugar, especially glucose. In fact, they help make beer by eating sugar and turning it into alcohol, and they are crucial in bread-making because after eating sugar, they produce a gas that makes dough rise. When there’s extra sugar in your blood, there is likely to be more in your vagina and other tissues, so yeast grow better there. Yeast irritating the inside of your vagina is called “vaginitis.” In the tissues around the vagina – the vulva – such irritation is called “vulvitis.” Both are far more common in women with diabetes. There are many causes of yeast infections. One is the use of antibiotics, which can change the balance in the vagina by killing bacteria, thus allowing yeast to grow unchecked. A common pattern is for a woman to treat a bladder infection with antibiotics, only to wind up with a yeast infection that is just as annoying. According to Dr. Illiades, other causes of vaginitis include stress, illness, menstrual periods, pregnancy, and other medications. Diabetes Health writer Linda von Wartburg wrote that menopause may also increase the risk of vaginitis. Preventing Yeast Infections You can reduce your risk of vaginitis by ma Continue reading >>
The 7 Most Common Causes Of Candida
What triggered your Candida? Was it your diet, a course of antibiotics, or a prolonged period of stress? The causes of Candida include a high sugar diet, antibiotics, chronic stress, the contraceptive pill, chemical exposure, and diabetes. Usually, two or more of these triggers are to blame. For example, a diet full of inflammatory foods and sugars is more likely to cause a Candida overgrowth when combined with a course of antibiotics. It’s important to realize that most people have Candida albicans in their digestive tract already. It is a microorganism that is naturally present in your gut, part of the balanced system that helps you to digest food and stay fit and well. When people talk about Candida, they are really talking about the excess growth of Candida. So if it’s not something that you ‘catch’ like a virus, what causes it? Candida Related Complex is still in the early stages of being recognized by the medical community, but there has been a surprising amount of research conducted into this illness. The consensus is leaning towards a handful of medical and lifestyle factors that seem to be triggers for a Candida overgrowth. Here are the most common Candida causes: Are you are suffering from multiple Candida symptoms and looking to get your health back? Here are a few of the things that might be causing your health problems. A High-Sugar Diet The modern diet provides huge amounts of the sugar that Candida albicans needs to survive and thrive. That includes sugar itself, foods containing sugar, and also anything that converts to sugar. Refined carbohydrates, like white flour, and even fruits can all contribute to Candida overgrowth. Organisms like Candida albicans need organic, carbon-based compounds to provide them with energy. In practice this means sug Continue reading >>
Is Candida And Hypoglycemia Connected?
Yes, it seems that Candida and hypoglycemia are linked in a complementary manner. Hypoglycemic conditions are often a resultant of the inability of your body to balance insulin and glucose under certain conditions such as the ones presented by Candida overgrowth. Indeed, it is now an established fact that one of the crucial symptoms of Candida overgrowth is hypoglycemia. On the other hand, persons suffering from hypoglycemia have sugar cravings. They also resort to taking more sugars to reduce the symptoms of hypoglycemia but only ends up promoting the growth of the yeast. So, if you are struggling with hypoglycemic symptoms you might do well to look for Candidiasis. The hypoglycemic condition: Hypoglycemia is a condition of low blood sugar level which is the route cause of almost all types of sugar regulatory problems. Saunders has outlined in his book that generally hypoglycemia shows up as a sudden blood glucose drop in most of the individuals (2-3) hours after meal which tempts you to eat to restore this condition back to normality. Hypoglycemia is also countered by the muscle tissue breakdown and conversion of the proteins into glucose. You may experience a sudden dip in your energy level if having hypoglycemia. The aforesaid conditions are encountered under normal conditions. But if the hypoglycemia persists longer as with Candida overgrowth it may lead to other symptoms. Symptoms common to both hypoglycemia and Candida overgrowth: According to Dr. Cryer, the symptoms commonly observed in patients with Candidiasis and hypoglycemia include irritability, fatigue, cravings for sugar, brain fog onset, urination complications, gut disturbances, increased nausea and sweating. Infact there is so much similarity between the symptoms that a specific diet for one has been a Continue reading >>
Five Hidden Causes Of Yeast Infections
Ever been in a meeting or out running errands (because cruelly, you’re always in public) when suddenly you’re hit with an uncontrollable itch…down there?As soon as you feel it, you know what you’ve got: a dreaded yeast infection. Unable to play video. Neither flash nor html5 is supported! READ MORE: Four Ways to Prevent a UTI Yeast grows naturally all over your body, but it especially loves dark, damp nooks and crannies, so it’s often found in fat folds, armpits and, of course, vaginas. “Wherever there is sugar or carbohydrates (which the body has), the yeast will feed on that,” explains Rebecca Booth, M.D., a gynecologist in Louisville, Kentucky, and co-founder of the VENeffect skincare line. It’s actually a myth (or a pipe dream) that we can stamp out the yeast forever. “We don’t ever entirely rid our bodies of yeast,” explains Dr. Booth. “What we do is we keep it in check.”That’s done with probacteria, especially acidophilus, which creates an acidic environment that yeast doesn’t like. When acidophilus is running low or sugars are running high, the yeast gets a leg up and starts to multiply. Three out of four women get at least one yeast infection in their lives; nearly half have two or more; and about five percent of women get four or more in a single year. “When it keeps coming back, it’s almost always that something is wrong with the [body’s] defense,” says Booth. “There’s not enough acidophilus, too much sugar or a resistant variety of yeast infection.”Most women can tick off the well-known causes of yeast infections: antibiotics, douches, weak immune systems or tight clothes made from barely breathable fabrics. But there are other, hidden causes that can also be common culprits: READ MORE: Your Hormones Are Messing Wit Continue reading >>
Candida
Gilbert's Syndrome | The Detoxification System | Understanding the Mutations | GS Symptoms | Things That Help & Things To Avoid Connections To: Allergies | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Candida | Soy | Hypothyroidism Also: Forums | Survey | Contact This is a work in progress and is being updated regularly. Check back regularly, as I will be steadily improving the site and adding more information. Candida Overgrowth Moderate amounts of candida (and other yeast) live in every one of us without causing any harm, but when given free rein to grow unchecked, e.g. by wiping out the surrounding bacteria with broad-spectrum antibiotics, candida can change into its fungal form and spore through the intestinal wall into the rest of the body. Once through, it rampages around the body producing a multitude of symptoms. All it needs for Candida to invade your gut is for something to kill off the normal flora; the bacteria that aid digestion and protect the gut from yeast. Once the flora are damaged, yeast will invade. In ideal circumstances, Candida can double in quantity every half hour, so it takes very little time for it to populate a damaged intestine. Hormones, antibiotics, environmental toxins, heavy metals and poor dietary habits can all contribute or cause a yeast infection. Once in the gut, candida creates an environment that prevents the normal flora from repopulating. The lack of flora causes mal-digestion of certain sugars, carbohydrates, minerals and trace nutrients and leaves food to rot in the gut, creating an ideal environment for the Candida. According to the conditions it finds, candida can exist in 3 forms; a budding, multiplying yeast, a hyphae form, which penetrates the gut wall in search of nutrition in the blood and as highly invasive spores, which penetrate the g Continue reading >>
10 Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth & How To Eliminate It
Yeast overgrowth, often referred to as Candida, is one of the most common conditions I see in my clinic, especially among my autoimmune patients. I’ve seen thousands of patients suffer from digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog, recurring fungal infections, skin problems, mood swings, and more, all caused by Candida overgrowth! I have also seen the incredible transformation that they experience by beating their yeast. I’ve witnessed energy and vitality return, mental clarity restored, and chronic symptoms fade away. You might be wondering, “What on earth is Candida?” Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, a very small amount of which lives in your mouth and intestines. Its job is to aid with digestion and nutrient absorption, but when it is overproduced it breaks down the wall of the intestine and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems ranging from digestive issues to depression. How do you get Candida overgrowth? The healthy or ‘good’ bacteria in your gut typically keeps your Candida levels in check. However, the Candida population can get out of hand if a round of antibiotics kill too many of those friendly bacteria, you have a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast), high alcohol intake, are taking oral contraceptives, or any number of other factors including a high-stress lifestyle. Even a diet high in beneficial fermented foods like Kombucha, sauerkraut, and pickles, can feed Candida causing an overgrowth. 10 Common Candida Symptoms Skin and nail fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and toenail fungus Feeling tired and worn down or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia Digestive issues such as Continue reading >>
Diabetes
The Facts Diabetes is a condition where people don't produce enough insulin to meet their body's needs and/or their cells don't respond properly to insulin. Insulin is important because it moves glucose, a simple sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. It also has a number of other effects on metabolism. The food that people eat provides the body with glucose, which is used by the cells as a source of energy. If insulin isn't available or doesn't work correctly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay in the blood. High blood glucose levels are toxic, and cells that don't get glucose are lacking the fuel they need. There are two main kinds of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. More than 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2. A 2015 Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) report estimated that about 3.4 million Canadians have diabetes. Only about two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes are aware of it and are receiving treatment because, for many people, early symptoms are not noticeable without testing. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot make insulin. Everyone with type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not use insulin properly. It usually occurs in adults, although in some cases children may be affected. People with type 2 diabetes usually have a family history of this condition and are most often overweight. People with type 2 diabetes may eventually need insulin injections. This condition occurs most commonly in people of First Nations descent, Hispanics, and North Americans of African descent. Another less common form is gestational diabetes, a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy. According to the CDA, depend Continue reading >>
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20 Reasons For Blood Sugar Swings
Upswing: Caffeine Your blood sugar can rise after you have coffee -- even black coffee with no calories -- thanks to the caffeine. The same goes for black tea, green tea, and energy drinks. Each person with diabetes reacts to foods and drinks differently, so it's best to keep track of your own responses. Ironically, other compounds in coffee may help prevent type 2 diabetes in healthy people. Many of these will raise your blood sugar levels. Why? They can still have plenty of carbs from starches. Check the total carbohydrates on the Nutrition Facts label before you dig in. You should also pay attention to sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and xylitol. They add sweetness with fewer carbs than sugar (sucrose), but they may still have enough to boost your levels. One study found that people with type 2 diabetes who switched to a vegan (or all vegetable-based) diet had better blood sugar control and needed less insulin. A boost in fiber from whole grains and beans might play a role, by slowing down the digestion of carbs. But scientists need more research to know if going vegan really helps diabetes. Talk to your doctor before you make major diet changes. Blood sugar can dip dangerously low during shut-eye for some people with diabetes, especially if they take insulin. It's best to check your levels at bedtime and when you wake up. A snack before bed may help. For some people, blood sugar can rise in the morning -- even before breakfast -- due to changes in hormones or a drop in insulin. Regular testing is important. One option is a continuous blood glucose monitor, which can alert you to highs and lows. Physical activity is a great health booster for everyone. But people with diabetes should tailor it to what they need. When you work out hard enough to sweat and raise your h Continue reading >>
Diabetes Symptoms: Is Thrush A Sign You Could Suffer With Potentially Fatal Condition?
There are two types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2 - and it’s a long-term condition which causes a person’s blood sugar levels to rise too high. Type 1 involves the body’s immune system attacking and destroying insulin-producing cells. Similarly, type 2 diabetes - which affects 90 per cent of adults with diabetes - is where the body is unable to produce enough insulin, or its cells do not react to insulin. If the body does not make enough insulin, or does not know how to deal with it efficiently, then the sugar in the blood does not reach the body’s cells and levels can become too high. However, diabetes left uncontrolled could increase risk of other health complications, including infections of oral thrush. Controlling the sugar levels in the long-term can help sufferers minimise their symptoms. However, diabetes left uncontrolled could increase risk of other health complications, including infections of oral thrush. Thrush is the common name for yeast infections triggered by the microorganism Candida albicans which is found on the mouth, digestive tract and skin of most people. Normally the body’s immune system is able to keep it under control, but sometimes it is outpaced and a yeast infection takes place. Fri, August 19, 2016 Diabetes is a common life-long health condition. There are 3.5 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 500,000 who are living undiagnosed with the condition. Uncontrolled diabetes causes the level of glucose in the saliva to increase, and the increase in glucose fuels Candida, causing it to reproduce. While it’s a normally harmless and relatively common yeast infection, the combination of thrush and diabetes could be dangerous. It can make life very uncomfortable - due to painful lesions and bleeding - and Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Yeast Infections: What You Need To Know
Yeast lives naturally in our bodies. However, if it begins to overgrow and become a yeast infection, it may cause problems. Yeast can be found in the skin and near mucous membranes and helps to keep neighboring bacteria in check. A buildup of yeast is called a yeast infection and can cause pain, itchiness, and discomfort. In this article, we explore the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments for yeast infections. Contents of this article: Overview Yeast thrives in warm moist areas so yeast infections can occur in several places: the mouth the genitals beneath the breasts under folds of skin Out of these, vaginal yeast infections are the most common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 75 percent of women will have had a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lives. How diabetes and yeast infections are linked People with poorly-controlled diabetes are at a higher risk of more severe and frequent yeast infections. Researchers are still trying to understand completely how diabetes is linked to yeast overgrowth. However, there is evidence of several possibilities: Extra sugars in yeast-friendly areas When blood glucose levels are high, extra sugars may be secreted in: mucus sweat urine As yeast feeds on sugar, these secretions are the most obvious culprits for overgrowth. Increased levels of glycogen, a polysaccharide used to store glucose, also occur with diabetes. Extra glycogen in the vaginal area can lead to a decrease in pH, which aids yeast growth. A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides evidence for this, using female diabetic rats. Compromised immune system Poorly-controlled diabetes has been shown to hinder the immune response. This could be part of the reason why someone with diabetes might h Continue reading >>
7. Long Course Of Suppository Medication Most Effective If You Have Yeast Infections With Diabetes
People who are diabetic experience spikes in blood sugar. Sugar is a favorite food of different types of yeast. This includes candida. Mix the two together and you have a yeast overgrowth. And since vaginal yeast infection is said to have occurred when there is an overgrowth of yeast, this makes diabetes one of those conditions that increase the risks of a candida yeast infections -- oral, vaginal and any other. The first was that diabetic women were more prone to candida yeast infections as opposed to non-diabetic women (18.8% vs. 11.8%). The second finding was that women with diabetes had a higher risk of displaying yeast infection symptoms when compared to those who didn't have diabetes. The third finding was that when using fluconazole ( a vaginal yeast infection treatment), the diabetic group had a lower cure rate (75%, although this is still good) than those who didn’t have diabetes (86.7%). This was a study that was published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. You can find more details of the study here. According to Heathline, since high blood sugar levels encourage yeast infections, the best way treat the yeast infection is to take away the thing that is feeding it -- high blood sugar. Better management of diabetes is therefore a must if you want to keep yeast infections at bay. Treatment will also be easier as whichever medication you will be using will be fighting against a yeast-starved fungi ( candida, the yeast that causes most cases of vaginal yeast infections is a fungus). Do you have a yeast infection that keeps coming back? If your infection simply won’t go away, your diabetes might be to blame. It all has to do with the environment that your body creates. A healthy vagina can have yeast cells without causing any Continue reading >>
