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Insulin and HypertensionExcess insulin leads to hypertension, or high blood pressure, by three different mechanisms: fluid retention, narrowing of the blood vessels, release of an norepinephrine. Excess insulin causes high blood pressure by forcing the kidneys to retain sodium. Besides removing waste, the kidneys balance out electrolytes such as sodium in the blood. If there is too much sodium, the kidneys gets rid of it in the urine. If there is too little, they retain it. To keep the proper concentration of electrolytes, the kidneys also retains water. As the body retains more fluid in the presence of high sodium, blood volume increases and blood pressure rises. To counteract the rise in blood pressure, diuretics are prescribed to force the kidneys to get rid of more sodium and water than it would normally. Insulin also increases blood pressure by making the arteries less elastic. Insulin acts as growth hormone on smooth muscle walls of the arteries. As insulin level increases, excess stimulation of smooth muscle cells causes them to enlarge. The thickness of the arterial walls makes them stiff and less elastic which decreases the volume of blood that can be carried through the vessels. The heart must pump harder to get blood through the narrowed arteries, resulting in higher blood pressure. Excess insulin has one more detrimental effect on blood pressure. It stimulates the release of an adrenaline-like hormone, norepinephrine. And you know what adrenaline does to you: raises the heart rate and constricts the blood vessels. We call that a sugar high. The blood pressure shoots up. Good for a short burst of fight or flight energy, but harmful over extended periods of time. Since the culprit of hypertension is actually excess insulin, it makes sense to adopt a dietary solution instead of a medical solution. The dietary solution is The Insulin Control Diet. But---don’t stop taking any medication until your blood pressure readings are down and your doctor gives you the OK.
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