When prediabetes is mentioned, most people assume it is a condition primarily affecting overweight or obese individuals. However, renowned weight-loss physician Tieu Tiep Kien from Taiwan recently shared a new perspective, asserting that the true culprit behind the disease is visceral fat accumulated in the abdominal cavity, while body weight is merely a related factor.
According to doctor Tieu, if the fat can be shifted from the visceral organs to beneath the skin, blood sugar levels have a chance to return to normal.
On his personal page, doctor Tieu Tiep Kien recounted his own experience during his residency. During a casual morning blood test, he was shocked to find his fasting blood sugar level was 106 mg/dL, exceeding the normal level of under 100 mg/dL.
Notably, at that time, he was under 30 years old, with slender limbs and a body mass index (BMI) of just 22, which is considered ideal by medical standards. "I couldn't believe I was in the prediabetic stage", he recalled.
Doctor Tieu explained that the focus of reversing prediabetes might not lie in extreme weight loss. A study has indicated that abdominal visceral fat is the agent causing the body to resist insulin.
This phenomenon is called "ectopic fat accumulation", occurring when fat is not stored under the skin but invades the liver, pancreas, and areas around the intestines. This condition triggers a systemic inflammatory response, blocking insulin signals and leading to elevated blood sugar.
The doctor affirmed that the key to his escape from the risk of illness was not eliminating carbohydrates entirely, but adopting a strategy to reduce visceral fat and combat inflammation in the body.
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On non-exercise days, replace refined white rice with slow-absorbing carbohydrates like brown rice. Photo: Bui Thuy
Based on personal experience and scientific research, doctor Tieu Tiep Kien concluded four core rules for eliminating ectopic fat:
Implement "Carb Cycling":
On days without exercise, replace refined white rice with slow-absorbing carbohydrates such as brown rice and sweet potatoes.
Say no to sugary drinks:
Completely eliminate fructose, a direct cause of liver "overload" and visceral fat accumulation. This was a turning point that helped doctor Tieu successfully stabilize his blood sugar.
Combat inflammation with food:
Increase consumption of good oils rich in omega-3, such as salmon, mackerel, and extra virgin olive oil. These healthy fats act as a "fire extinguisher" to suppress inflammatory responses caused by visceral fat.
Walk 15 minutes after meals:
Just 15 minutes of light activity after eating helps consume free glucose in the blood, preventing it from converting into fat that accumulates in the visceral organs.
Doctor Tieu emphasized that correctly understanding the mechanism of fat accumulation will make the process of treating prediabetes more scientific and sustainable, rather than simply following strict dietary regimens.
My Y (According to SET)
