Disseminated Vascular Inflammation

Dr Tim Noakes argues that type two diabetes is "disseminated vascular inflammation" caused by an excess of insulin in the blood vessels over a long period of time. When the arteries are inflamed in this way the smallest blood vessels are destroyed, and larger blood vessels develop problems in their walls. This might be the beginning point for a build up of materials in the cell wall that partially obstruct the flow of blood.

Like most things that happen in the body, normally inflammation is tightly controlled. For instance when glucose is oxidized in the mitochondria, free radicals, or more correctly reactive oxygen species are produced. Simultaneously the anti-oxidants to control that release are also made.

However if your system isn't functioning well ROS are not controlled and damage to your tissues will occur. This sort of damage is typical of the aging process in the body.

Varicose Veins Improving

The following result is quite unexpected.

I've had varicose veins all my life. My mother had them badly. I've had six previous operations and some other treatments over the last 40 years. Today those operations are not available under the public health service. Back in 2013, because of the ulcer, my doctor and I were discussing future surgical options. I needed to start building a fund to pay for that surgery.

I had always believed that varicose veins were caused by faulty valves, and that it was a simple, incurable mechanical problem. Hence the surgical solution was obvious, even if it only worked for 10-15 years.

Early in 2016, I changed to the Banting diet. Two key things happened. I lost almost 20kg, and because I'm in ketosis most of the energy my body uses comes from ketones. There is very little surplus glucose in my body, and insulin levels are always low.

I think that as a result of my diet, the amount of inflammation in my blood vessels has gone down, apparently to zero. The photographs tell the story. Somehow those faulty valves seem to rediscovered their power. Not perfectly, because I still have varicose veins, but today there is no sign of that ulcer, although you can see where it once was.

Which leg would you prefer to have? The 2013 version or the 2017 version?

Leg swollen, painful to touch, itchy at night. Ulcer. Considering surgery.
My left ankle 2013. (About 50% full size.)
My ankle was sensitive to pressure, and often itchy during the night. You can see that the leg is full of fluid, swollen, and the veins are under pressure. Half way up the image, above the ankle bone, there is a wound from an ulcer not fully healed yet (now 6mm across), after three months of healing. It had been six times that size. Notice the blueness of the veins under the ankle bone.

Swelling gone. No pain or itchiness. No sign of the ulcer returning.
My left ankle 2017. (About 50% full size.)
My ankle isn't very pretty, but it's in much better health. Notice first that the swelling has gone, and while there is still some pressure in the veins it's not nearly as great. The ropes of expanded blue veins, that used to cross my feet have gone. The ankle is no longer sensitive to pressure and the itchiness has gone.

John Stephen Veitch