Insulin Sensitivity

[Patches24]

I wanted to ask you people about something. I want to know if any of you have ever deliberately tried to increase your insulin sensitivity. And if so, how you went about doing that, or how you might recommend doing that.

I did some internet reading recently about this, and here are the suggestions that I've seen associated with improving insulin sensitivity:

- consuming cinnamon
- consuming cloves
- consuming dark chocolate, or preferably unsweetened cocoa
- chromium picolinate supplementation
- vigorous exercise 5 or more times per week, such as running. For some reason running/walking is the common suggestion.
- below average level of overall calorie intake
- significantly below average calorie intake at any one sitting.
- avoidance of high-glycemic carbohydrates
- small amounts of carbs at any one time, eating them with protein/fat
- reduction of bodyweight, if overweight
- stop smoking if one is a smoker

Anyone have an opinion as to the value of any of the above suggestions? Is there anything not in the above list that somebody here thinks might help improve insulin sensitivity? Aside from prescription drugs.

I realize this might be more the kind of question you'd ask a doctor, than the kind of question you'd ask a bunch of recreational bodybuilder/athlete types. I just wanted to ask this here anyway in case somebody else here has personal experience trying to address this issue, who might have something to say about it.

Thanks for reading, sorry if this is an inappropriate thread.

[naturalsux]

i ve been using 2-3 tsp of cinnamon in my oats every morning for the last 4 years. its suppose to keep your blood sugar more stable during the day.
a couple of things you listed work when combined.

[*Narkissos*]

I wanted to ask you people about something. I want to know if any of you have ever deliberately tried to increase your insulin sensitivity. And if so, how you went about doing that, or how you might recommend doing that.

I don't actively try to increase my insulin sensitivity... rather, i strive to maintain a high level of sensivity.

I'll highlight the methods i've used from the list below:

- consuming cinnamon

Almost daily

- consuming dark chocolate, or preferably unsweetened cocoa

Almost daily.

Where my diet doesn't allow dark chocolate, depending on the phase, i include cocoa sweetened with splenda.

- chromium picolinate supplementation

Daily.

- vigorous exercise 5 or more times per week, such as running. For some reason running/walking is the common suggestion.

'Vigorous exercise'... daily.

- below average level of overall calorie intake

no..

cycling calories..yes.

- significantly below average calorie intake at any one sitting.

Holds zero merit for the bodybuilder.

The addition of a nutrient partioning/glucose-disposal agent however helps.

- avoidance of high-glycemic carbohydrates

Generally.

- small amounts of carbs at any one time, eating them with protein/fat

replace 'small' with 'moderate'.. and yes, consumed with proteins and fats to modify the blood glucose response.

Anyone have an opinion as to the value of any of the above suggestions? Is there anything not in the above list that somebody here thinks might help improve insulin sensitivity? Aside from prescription drugs.

Increase dietary fiber intake.

-Narkissos

[Patches24]

Increase dietary fiber intake.

-Narkissos

Thanks for your input. Do you think Alpha Lipoic Acid supplementation is worthwhile, for somebody who wants better insulin sensitivity?

[*Narkissos*]

^^I think it's inconsequential honestly.

I honestly think chromium picolinate alone does it satisfactorily.

There's a threshold to how sensitive you can get.

Think about it.

-N

[Patches24]

^^I think it's inconsequential honestly.

I honestly think chromium picolinate alone does it satisfactorily.

There's a threshold to how sensitive you can get.

Think about it.

-N

I think you're probably right for athletes in general. I'm looking into this topic because my insulin sensitivity has been far lower than average. I'm one of those people with lots of family history of diabetes, so I may very well have a predisposition to insulin resistance/diabetes. I'm interested in at least knowing about anything that might help, because it might be abnormally difficult for me to reach the "threshold" to which you refer.