Pancreatic Cancer and Insulin Levels: A Wake-Up Call to Make Lifestyle Changes

A new study from the University of British Columbia has found a direct link between high insulin levels and pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. This is alarming news, but it's also a wake-up call to make lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of developing this disease.

High insulin levels are commonly found in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. This is because the body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream. When insulin levels are high, it can lead to inflammation, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.

The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. These include:

• Eating a healthy diet: Focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Avoid sugary drinks, processed foods, and red meat.

• Exercising regularly: Include strength training, high intensity interval training (HIIT), walking and yoga in your weekly routine

• Maintaining a healthy weight: Obesity is a major risk factor for pancreatic cancer, so it's important to maintain a healthy weight.

• Managing diabetes: If you have diabetes, it's important to work with your doctor to manage your blood sugar levels.

If you're the wrong side of forty, it's especially important to make these lifestyle changes. Pancreatic cancer is more common in people over the age of 50.

That is probably why I get so excited by the work that I do with people helping them change their habits, one at a time. I see the changes that nutritious foods, movement and a healthier lifestyle can provide an individual, time and again. Yes, it takes work and is a commitment. But it is so worth it. Aren’t you?

This week as a new group goes through the Fall Rewind: A Five Day Whole Food Cleanse (for beginners) we will explore new ways of eating, connecting with our food, and developing some new habits that will impact individual participants in a big way.

I have taken people through this process many times since 2017 and it is always clear that eating whole foods, that are not highly processed, making sure we get some physical activity in our day, getting enough sleep and just taking care of ourselves for a change can do wonders. And that is only five days. Imagine what you can do in a few weeks, a month, a year!

I didn’t mean to scare you but the facts are there. As we enter the last few months of the year, consider if it is time to make a change, for the better, in the coming year. It’s right around the corner, and yes, I will be hosting another seasonal cleanse in late January, so don’t worry. I got you!

University of British Columbia. (2023, October 31). High insulin levels directly linked to pancreatic cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 5, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231031111538.htm