Candida and Diabetes are two common conditions that occur as a result of past antibiotic use. Each condition supports the existence of the other, but fungal candida alone can create diabetes through direct and indirect means.
Diabetes is a condition in which regulation of the level of sugar (Glucose) in the blood has been altered. The hormone insulin is responsible for ensuring that blood sugar levels don’t get too high. Insulin, a protein-based hormone produced by the pancreas, moves sugar from the blood into the cells and tissues. There are two main types of diabetes, Type I and Type II. Type I is primarily diagnosed in children and is considered to be an autoimmune condition. Type II is primarily diagnosed in adults due to lifestyle and other factors. Type II is the most common form. There are over 20 million adults with diabetes, and 40 million with pre-diabetes.
Both the incidence and prevalence of diabetes and candida have risen steadily since the introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s. Diabetes has now become the leading cause of death among various ethnic groups and is the 6th leading cause of deaths in the United States. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 347 million people have diabetes and approximately 3.5 million die as a result of it.
In 1940, there were no recorded studies on candida. Now there are over 53,000 studies, with 2466 recorded in 2013 alone. The incidence of both systemic fungal candida and diabetes have risen sharply in recent years.
Candida affects the body through various means. One of its primary tools for destroying tissues and acquiring nutrients in the body is through enzymes it produces called Secreted Aspartyl Proteases (SAPs). SAPs are considered to be candida’s main mechanism of virulence or pathogenicity – how it spreads in the body and causes damage. Researchers at the University of California in San Diego found that this protease class of enzymes can cause pre-diabetes, immune system suppression, and high blood pressure. Pre-diabetes conditions include insulin-resistance and hypoglycemia. Insulin attaches to receptors on cells that then activate the absorption of sugar from the blood. These protease enzymes will chop off the receptors on cells causing blood sugar levels to increase.
Candida can also lead to diabetes by driving the production of Th-17 immune cells that are also known to cause diabetes.
People with diabetes have been found to a higher incidence of candida infections affecting various tissues and organs. Excess sugars are an excellent source of fuel that can rapidly increase the growth of candida.
Candida also plays a role in shaping of the intestinal flora, which has been found to regulate blood sugar levels through its effects on organs such as the pancreas and liver.
The ability of the body to eliminate candida is in part based on the effectiveness of white blood cells. High or low levels of sugar in the blood reduces the effectiveness of these white blood cells., leaving candida to create ongoing disturbances and imbalances.
While many of these effects are in regard to Type II diabetes, candida has been shown to be able to create autoimmune conditions such as Type I diabetes.
The connection between antibiotics, candida, and diabetes is without question. Effective management of the various factors involved can bring resolution to conditions such as diabetes and many others.
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