Obesity and type 2 diabetes have become two of the major health problems of the 21st century.They affect more and more people and, according to experts, it is not just about genetics, but about daily habits that we repeat.Dr. Isabel Belaustegui, a doctor and researcher specialized in metabolism, inflammation and fasting, states that "with so much insulin, our cells become deaf to it and we develop type 2 diabetes."
Belaustegui has spent years spreading the word about how the human body works and why modern nutrition is behind many metabolic diseases.In his clinical experience, the problem is not only what we eat, but the frequency with which we do it and the type of fuel we choose for the body.
Insulin is a hormone essential for life.Its main function is to allow glucose to enter cells and be converted into energy.The problem appears when it is constantly stimulated.“When we base our diet on sugars and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates, we are forcing the body to produce insulin over and over again,” explains the doctor.Over time, that overexposure has consequences.
According to Belaustegui, cells end up losing sensitivity to insulin."It's as if they stopped listening to it. At first the pancreas responds by producing even more, but there comes a time when the system decompensates and insulin resistance appears, a prelude to type 2 diabetes," he points out.
This process does not happen overnight.It is silent and progressive, and is usually accompanied by weight gain, chronic inflammation, persistent fatigue, and difficulty losing weight, even when trying to “eat well.”
Beyond calorie counting
One of the messages that the specialist repeats most is that weight control does not depend only on counting calories.“We have been made to believe that we gain weight because we eat a lot, but the body does not work like a simple calculator,” he says.The determining factor is the hormonal response that food generates.
That is why he insists on reviewing the basis of the diet.The excess of ultra-processed products, refined flours and sugars causes glucose spikes that force the body to secrete large amounts of insulin.“This hormone not only regulates blood sugar, it also tells the body to store fat and slow down its burning,” he adds.
In parallel, he defends the role of healthy fats, demonized for decades."Our brain is fat, many hormones are fat and so are our cell membranes. We need fat to live," he remembers.Extra virgin olive oil, avocado, oily fish or eggs are part of that fuel that helps stabilize energy and avoid metabolic ups and downs.
Another common mistake, according to Belaustegui, is eating constantly.“We don't need to eat food so many times a day or in so much quantity,” he warns.Resting the digestive system allows the metabolism to work more efficiently.
At this point, intermittent fasting appears to be a useful tool, as long as it is applied with common sense.Delaying breakfast or extending the hours without eating favors the so-called metabolic flexibility, that is, the body's ability to alternate between glucose and fat as a source of energy.“This protects against insulin resistance and improves weight control,” he explains.
The doctor also highlights the relationship between diet, inflammation and chronic diseases.Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism, but when it persists over time it becomes harmful.“It is at the basis of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems and many other pathologies,” he points out.
Again, daily habits make a difference.Diets rich in sugar, constant stress, sedentary lifestyle and lack of sleep feed this inflammatory state.Instead, a diet based on natural products, adequate rest and daily movement help reverse it.
For Isabel Belaustegui, one of the great lessons is to listen to the body's signals again.“Tiredness, bloating, constant hunger or brain fog are not normal, even if they have become normal,” he says.
