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for type 2 diabetics with insulin resistance, because performing just a single bout of exercise improves insulin resistance for several hours. A number of studies have shown that regular exercise improves blood sugar control, even if it doesn?t significantly improve weight loss.9 Because weight loss is so difficult for people with type 2 diabetes and because doctors have little else to offer (other than drugs) in the way of effective remedies, exercise is always near the top of the list of official guidelines.

HbA1c test offers the advantage of smoothing out a lot of this variability. A level below 5.5 is considered good; a level above 6.5 indicates a diagnosis of diabetes.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). This is a substance that goes up as a result of high blood glucose levels,

Fasting blood glucose. This test is performed after you have consumed no food or liquids (other than water) for at least eight hours. A normal fasting blood glucose level is between 60 and 110 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). A reading

Understanding the role of carbohydrate restriction in the prevention and treatment of diabetes is especially important because of the enormous scope of the diabetes epidemic.

fuel to keep your weight stable should come primarily from dietary fat so that you remain in a fat-burning mode. If you find that your weight is dropping below the desired level or experience fat hunger, you?ll need to allow a little more fat into your diet.

You?ve developed a whole set of new habits. ? You?ve experienced the empowerment that comes with controlling what you put into your mouth. ? You know how many carbs you can consume without regaining weight. ? You can distinguish between empty carbs and nutrient-dense carbs. ? You understand why eating sufficient fat is key to appetite control and the Atkins Edge. ? You?ve learned how to distinguish between hunger and habit and between feeling satisfied and feeling stuffed. ? You recognize the signs that a certain food or pattern of eating triggers cravings. ? You?ve experienced the exhilaration of feeling good and full of energy.

caloric restriction and reduced fat intake, even though metabolic syndrome can best be described as carbohydrate intolerance. Think of it as the first signs of the metabolic bully leaving marks. Low-carbohydrate diets therefore make intuitive sense as a first-line treatment.

are signs of insulin resistance,

Waist Circumference ? 40 inches ? 35 inches Triglycerides ? 150 mg/dL* ? 150 mg/dL HDL cholesterol ? 40 mg/dL ? 50 mg/dL Blood pressure ? 130/85 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension ? 130/85 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension Fasting glucose ? 100 mg/dL or use of medication for high blood glucose ? 100 mg/dL or use of medication for high blood glucose

metabolic syndrome includes the presence of more than one of several potential markers, the public health community has struggled with the decision of how best to define, diagnose, and treat it. Obesity is a common characteristic, particularly excessive fat in the waist and stomach area, which makes a person look ?apple-shaped.? Problems with fat metabolism manifest as high plasma levels of triglycerides, and although a patient?s LDL cholesterol is usually within the normal range, the size of the LDL particles tends to be the small, more dangerous type. High blood pressure is another common marker, as is elevated blood glucose. Additional markers include chronically elevated inflammation and abnormal blood vessel function (see the sidebar

Rather, we replaced fat calories with an abundance of carbohydrate calories, without understanding that many people have a metabolism that cannot process the additional carbohydrate. Basically, the low-fat approach has backfired.

by which your body protects you from unfamiliar and potentially damaging substances. As part of your body?s natural defense system, a certain amount of inflammation is healthy, especially when it responds to infection, irritation, or injury. But once the battle has been fought, inflammation should return to normal levels. Unchecked inflammation, which can be detected during the early phases of heart disease by elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), is now understood to be one of the best predictors of future heart

In simple terms, metabolic syndrome is a collection of markers that amplifies your risk for heart disease, including high blood triglyceride level, low HDL cholesterol level, and elevated glucose and insulin levels.

did you know that LDL cholesterol is actually a family of particles of various sizes and that the smallest particles are the most dangerous ones? The Atkins Diet eradicates small LDL particles like a strategic missile

Heart disease develops over decades, and a poor diet can aggravate and accelerate its progression.

you?ll have an early alert system if you start to regain weight and an economic incentive to take immediate action. 17. Prepare, prepare, prepare. If you?re eating out, check the menu online beforehand. If you?re going grocery shopping, make a list and stick to it. Anticipating situations in which temptation might well rear its ugly head is a powerful strategy. 18. Act quickly. If you detour from Atkins for a day or more, get back on track ASAP. The longer you?re off, the harder it may be to resume. 19. Remind yourself. Review your diet journal occasionally, and take a peek at your ?before? photo. 20. Savor your power. Remind yourself regularly of the tremendous accomplishment you have made and how it impacts not just you but your family and friends. You?ve made yourself healthier and more attractive and inspired others to do the same.

16. Get rid of your ?fat? wardrobe. If you have nothing to wear that hides extra pounds,

11. Eat before you go. Having a protein-plus-fat snack or even a meal before you go to a foodcentric event will take the edge off your hunger and make you more able to resist inappropriate items on the buffet table. 12. Take it with you. For work, on the road, or even a movie, pack snacks such as nuts or cheese so you won?t be tempted by the usual sky-high-carb offerings. 13. Use low-carb specialty foods carefully. Bars, shakes, and other specialty foods can replace their high-carb analogues, eliminating any sense of deprivation. 14. Compromise when necessary (and learn from the experience). When there are no good options, make the best choice available.

5. Keep sipping. Drink plenty of fluids and take your supplements.