Were you aware that at least 3.5 million South Africans have been diagnosed with diabetes? About 200 million people worldwide have metabolic syndrome (diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol). Dr Arien Van der Merwe shared important information on how to screen for, diagnose and manage this prevalent health challenge.

1. Speaker : Dr Arien van der Merwe (www.DrArien.co.za)
Presentation Title : Metabolic Syndrome - Threat to
Workplace Productivity

2. Metabolic Syndrome incl. Insulin Resistance
& Diabetes
Presenter: Dr Arien van der Merwe
MBChB FRSPH MISMA NHA
www.DrArien.co.za

3. Outline
• Statistics, definition, diagnosis
• Symptoms, causes, HbA1c
• Anatomy, Physiology 101
• Hormones
• Inflammation
• Emotional component
• Solutions:
 Food as medicine
 Exercise
 Stress management, releasing trapped emotions
 Nutriceuticals, Herbal remedies
www.DrArien.co.za

4. Statistics
• >3.5 million diagnosed diabetes SA
• 2010 - 150 million people diagnosed with metabolic
syndrome
• <50% actually diagnosed - utmost importance of regular
health, wellness screenings
• Increase to 300 million by 2030
• Compare: 35 million HIV+ people globally, 22 million of
those in Africa
• Metabolic syndrome much bigger health challenge -
integrative medical and wellness solutions essential
www.DrArien.co.za

5. Metabolic Syndrome
• Waist circumference: abdominal circumference
> 102 cm men, > 88 cm women.
• Triglycerides: 1.7mmol/L or >
• HDL: < 1.0 mmol/L men; < 1.3 mmol/L women.
• Blood pressure : 130 mmHg systolic; 85mmHg
diastolic or >
• Fasting glucose >5.5 mmol/L
• Insulin resistance
www.DrArien.co.za

6. Definition & Diagnosis
• Fasting blood sugar finger prick test
• High: glucose tolerance test (GTT)
• Values over 5.5 mmol - high
• > 5.0 high normal, addressed as high blood sugar -
lifestyle changes
• To prevent levels from rising even more – true
preventative medicine
• Fasting insulin test part of regular screening, esp. > 50
www.DrArien.co.za

7. Symptoms of MetS
• High blood sugar, blood pressure might be
present for years without any symptoms
• Early symptoms might include extreme
thirst, frequent urinating, headaches,
fatigue, nausea – non specific
• Frequent candida (thrush) or other
infections, or sores on skin that don’t heal
www.DrArien.co.za

8. Causes of MetS
• Genetic predisposition
• Longterm disstress
• Environmental triggers:
diet
 obesity - carbohydrate intolerance, high insulin
levels, insulin insensitivity or resistance
Nutritional deficiencies – soil content / intake
www.DrArien.co.za

9. www.DrArien.co.za
Energy metabolism: glucose & insulin

10. Common denominator: Increased insulin – Insulin
resistance! Inner milieu: Stress filled – chronic trigger
www.DrArien.co.za

11.  Unhealthy food, high refined sugar, flour, trans-, hydrogenated fats, alcohol, artificial
ingredients - artificial sweeteners aspartame.
 Packaged, processed, foods loaded with hormones, antibiotics, colourants, preservatives
 Marginal nutritional deficiencies: B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, E, D, minerals chromium,
zinc, boron, selenium, calcium, magnesium, fatty acids
 Prolonged emotional stress (causing distress chemicals to continuously flood the body as a
fight-flight demand, as the body tries to fend of the imaginary ‘enemy’ to its survival) - toxic
inflamed & trapped emotions act as triggers for inflammation
 Environmental allergens - pollen, moulds (mildew/fungi), dust. Harmless substances trigger
hyper-reaction immune system - cause exaggerated inflammatory response.
www.DrArien.co.za
Common triggers/causes chronic inflammation

12.  Environmental toxins - mercury, pollution, pesticides
 Food allergens - immediate & delayed allergies - wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, yeast, corn,
peanuts, citrus, soy, shellfish, nuts
 Repeated infections or chronic low grade infection with viruses, bacteria, yeast (Candida),
parasites
 Sedentary lifestyle with lack of exercise
 Excess weight around the abdomen
 High cholesterol, especially triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol, with low HDL-cholesterol
 High C-reactive protein (CRP)
 Prolonged physical trauma and injury
 Sleep deficit Chronic disease related tissue breakdown
www.DrArien.co.za

13. Secret to Longevity: Eating Lightly, Featherheart Living
Sunlight, vitamin D,
fresh, raw, wellness
food garden,
intermittent fasting

14. Superfoods
• Berries
• Nuts, seeds
• Cereal grains, grasses –
wheatgrass, brown rice,
oats
• Oils – ref. coconut oil
• Raw honey
• Pulses/legumes
• Garlic
www.DrArien.co.za
• Mushrooms
• Bee pollen
• Sprouts
• Aloe ferox –
smoothie
• Seaweed
• Raw cacao – beans,
nibs, powder, butter

15. Feel good / long life: Serotonin,
Dopamine
www.DrArien.co.za
• Rice, potato, pasta
• Bananas, hot peppers
• Legumes/beans
• Walnuts, almonds
• Sesame, pumpkin seeds
• Negative ionizer
bedroom
• Exercise, making love
• Kissing: oxytocin
• 10-20 minutes sunlight
per day - early am, late
afternoon
• 5 HTP, St John’s wort
• Oils: lavender, rose,
orange blossom
• Feelings of peace, joy,
bliss

16. Wellness definition of fitness:
• Ability to meet the needs of your lifestyle with ease
• Exercise improves insulin sensitivity in muscles, better
glucose uptake, more energy/fuel in muscles, drop in
blood glucose levels. Interval training.
• Do something you enjoy – many health benefits: dance,
yoga, swimming, tai chi, walk. Music & mood
• Healthy spine, core: pelvis, chest, head
Regular physical activity
www.DrArien.co.za

17. Basic 3
1.Antioxidant
2.Calcium and
Magnesium
3.Omega- 3,6,9
Add system – e.g.
Glucose Balance
Support Physiology - Optimal Nutrition
www.DrArien.co.za

18. Herbal remedies
• Gymnema sylvestre: enhances blood sugar control, assists
regeneration pancreas tissue
• Cinnamon: reduces serum glucose, TGL, LDL cholesterol, total
cholesterol levels type 2 DM
• Fenugreek: reduce fasting blood glucose levels type 2 DM,
improve glucose tolerance
• Bilberry: treatment for diabetes in adults, eye protection
• Milk thistle: detoxification liver
• Hawthorn berry: normalizes blood pressure
www.DrArien.co.za

19. www.DrArien.co.za
www.DrArien.co.za
Stress Management

20. Step 1: Improve Oxygen Supply
- optimal cellular function & energy generation
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21. Step 2: Sleep Restoration
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22. Step 3: relax at least twice a day
Daily Relaxation for Optimal Resilience and Wellbeing
• Start, end day in alpha-theta mode:
stretch, tune in, connect to core – 10-
20 minutes
• Set intentions
• Tune in to emotions - reset
• Journaling
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23. Support
• Books, CD’s, Workshops,
Wellness Educator Training,
Health Coaching
• Nutriceuticals, herbal
remedies
• Online courses
• Support group sessions
www.DrArien.co.za
Books / Relaxation CD /
Online Health Courses