Possible causes of Diabetes from the Blood Type Diet Perspective

Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood, commonly known as blood sugar.

It occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or use insulin properly, to transport glucose into the various body cells. Accordingly, glucose levels start increasing in the blood.

This is because insulin is the hormone responsible for transporting glucose into the cells, in order to be used as a source of energy and nutrition.

According to the blood type diet, which was created by naturopathic physician Peter D’Adamo in 1996, your blood type determines your risk factor for chronic diseases like diabetes.

D’Adamo claims that diabetes is a “disease that impairs your body’s ability to use food efficiently” because insulin, the hormone that transports glucose to cells for energy, does not function properly.

The blood type diet classifies diabetes type I as an autoimmune disorder because the pancreas cannot produce insulin. The blood type diet cannot cure it, but it provides food options to help manage it.

Nevertheless, blood type diet suggests that type II diabetes is curable because it is a metabolic disease. If specific blood types eat the right types of food that boost immunity and improve insulin metabolism, they can treat or prevent type II diabetes.

Accordingly, three risk factors determine whether or not a person can develop diabetes:

1- Cortisol level: high cortisol level in the body is a risk factor for diabetes. Cortisol is a hormone involved in a variety of different bodily functions, such as an individual’s stress response, triggering a person’s fight or flight reaction. It also regulates metabolism, immune system function, and, most importantly, blood sugar levels.

Blood type A and AB individuals need to be careful because they naturally have more cortisol in their blood than type O or B individuals. As a result, they might have higher blood sugar levels than other blood types.

2- Breaking down food: the inability to digest or break down certain food groups is a risk factor for diabetes, especially if these foods contain harmful lectins that are incompatible with certain blood types.

D’Adamo maintains that the “overconsumption” of toxic lectins makes insulin resistance worse because the lectins act like insulin molecules.

Lectins can bind to fat cell’s insulin receptors preventing insulin from transporting glucose out of the bloodstream. The body then produces more insulin to try and transport glucose to the cells that need it, which decreases the body’s sensitivity to the hormone, leading to insulin resistance.

An individual’s reaction to lectins present in different foods varies depending on whether or not he or she secretes their blood type antigens into their bodily fluids like their urine or saliva.

Individuals who secrete antigens are called secretors, while those who do not are called non-secretors. Non-secretors are more likely to develop diabetes because they do not have antigens that protect against harmful lectins.

Accordingly, all blood types, but especially types O and B, can develop diabetes because the harmful lectins bind to fat cell receptors instead of insulin, preventing insulin from functioning correctly, leading to insulin resistance.

For instance, blood type A and AB individuals cannot digest fats and proteins while blood type O and B individuals cannot digest carbohydrates.

These food groups contain lectins that disrupt digestion and calorie utilization, increasing inflammation, and elevating blood sugar levels for these specific blood types.

Subsequently, if Type O and B individuals eat foods that are not compatible with their blood type, they would be more likely to develop Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood sugar, and excess fat around the waist. If a person develops Metabolic Syndrome, they are more likely to be at risk for diabetes.

3- Obesity: being overweight or obese is a risk factor for diabetes because more fat accumulates in the body. Excess fat disrupts the function of the hormone leptin, which is responsible for satiety and  the ability of the body to burn fats efficiently. Obesity causes “leptin resistance,” which means that leptin levels increase throughout the body.

However, leptin cannot function properly causing the body to store more food as fat. The higher the amount of fats in the body, the higher the blood sugar levels will be.

High blood sugar levels that do not respond to insulin lead to insulin resistance. Therefore, leptin resistance as a result of obesity is a “precursor to insulin resistance,” which may lead to diabetes.

Learn everything about diabetes and find all the natural solutions to treat it naturally, including various diet programs, alternative medicine, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicine, and home remedies.

Why the Blood Type Diet helps treat and prevent Diabetes

The blood type helps treat and prevent diabetes because it boosts metabolism, reduce insulin resistance, improve digestion, and improve thyroid function. It does this by recommending the suitable foods to achieve this for each blood blood type.

The blood type diet advises people against consuming foods that contain harmful lectins that bind to insulin receptors and inhibit glucose absorption in the body, elevating blood sugar levels.

The diet also recommends specific blood types to avoid foods with harmful lectins that lead to insulin resistance. Lectins that are incompatible with blood type also interfere with digestion and block proper nutrient absorption in the body.

Research shows that wheat lectins interfere with insulin function. In 2017, a study titled “Effects of wheat germ agglutinin on insulin binding and insulin sensitivity of fat cells” found that wheat lectins bind to insulin, preventing it from transporting glucose out of the bloodstream. 

This indicates that D’Adamo’s hypothesis behind the blood type diet is partly true. People can reduce their risk of diabetes by avoiding harmful lectins that interfere with their metabolism and insulin function.

However, this study does not examine the effect of wheat lectins on each blood type. Instead, it concludes that wheat lectins affect all blood types in the same manner, not just type O and B, as D’Adamo suggests.

Wheat products may also induce “Metabolic Syndrome,” which is a group of symptoms that lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These symptoms are high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, high blood sugar, and excess fat around the waist.

Excess fat, one of the symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome, is one of the main risk factors of diabetes because fat stimulates the production of insulin.

When a particular blood type avoids foods with harmful lectins, they may improve their metabolism, lose weight, decrease their blood sugar and insulin levels, and reduce their risk of diabetes.

How the Blood Type Diet works for Diabetes

The blood type diet works to reduce diabetes by prescribing specific foods for each blood type to help treat or prevent diabetes. It recommends that each blood type eat foods that contain “medicinal lectins” that improve the body’s utilization of different foods.

Blood types should avoid foods that contain lectins that are incompatible with their blood type antigens.

For instance, blood type A and AB individuals need to avoid eating foods with harmful lectins that impact their digestive system and metabolism.

Accordingly, they should avoid eating meat and other high fat and high protein foods to lower the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood.

Type A and AB individuals have lower lowers of Alkaline Intestinal Phosphatase (AIP), an enzyme that breaks down the fats in proteins. As a result, they cannot break down the fats in meat, which may increase their cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Therefore, avoiding high protein foods aids in digestion and glucose absorption and prevents insulin resistance, helping the body regulate its blood sugar levels.

Furthermore, type A and AB individuals naturally have higher levels of cortisol in their blood. Thus, they need to cut down on consuming fats because fats increase cortisol production.

Cortisol then releases leptin, which prevents fats from breaking down. Excess fat levels in the body then prompt the secretion of more cortisol, which elevates the body’s blood sugar levels and leads to insulin resistance.

Blood type O and B individuals need to avoid eating wheat or wheat-based products because they contain a harmful lectin called Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA).

WGA binds to insulin receptors, affecting glucose absorption in the body. When glucose is not absorbed properly, the body releases more insulin into the blood, causing insulin resistance. This can be the precursor to developing diabetes.

Therefore, people with blood type O and blood type B need to eliminate wheat from their diet to prevent “Metabolic Syndrome.” That way, they keep their cholesterol levels low and maintain a healthy weight, which helps prevent diabetes.

Furthermore, non-secretors of all blood types have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Therefore, they should be careful not to eat foods that contain lectins that interfere with the body’s metabolism, especially insulin metabolism.

One can easily determine one’s secretor status if one sends both a saliva and blood sample to a lab. Lab technicians can then identify whether the blood type antigens are present in the saliva. If they are, the person is a secretor. If there are no antigens in the saliva then the person is a non-secretor.

Blood Type Diet foods for Diabetes

The blood type is not based on the amounts of macronutrients or calories your body consumes. Instead, it focuses on restricting food groups for each blood type to help maintain proper body functions and prevent and treat diabetes.

The food types for each blood type are listed below:

- Blood Type O: can eat lean meat, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and fewer grains, beans, and dairy.

- Blood Type A: can eat more fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains with little to no meat (vegetarian diet).

- Blood Type B: can eat green leafy vegetables, eggs, most meats (except chicken and pork), and low-fat dairy. They should avoid wheat, corn, lentils, tomatoes, peanuts, and sesame seeds.

- Blood Type AB: can eat seafood, tofu, dairy, beans, and grains. They should avoid kidney beans, corn, beef, and chicken.

Blood Type Diet foods for Diabetes

Each blood type can prevent diabetes if they eat particular foods that regulate blood sugar, LDL (bad) cholesterol, normalize blood pressure, and improve thyroid function.

Below is a list of foods that help treat and prevent diabetes for each blood type below:

Foods for Blood Type O

People who are blood type O can eat these foods which help treat or prevent diabetes:

- Red meat (helps improve metabolism, builds muscle)

- Walnuts (improves insulin metabolism)

- Kale, broccoli, and spinach (helps improve metabolism)

- Seaweed, seafood, and sea salt (increase thyroid hormone production)

- Plums and pineapples (enhances insulin metabolism)

Foods for Blood Type A

People who are blood type A can eat these foods which help treat or prevent diabetes:

- Soy (improves insulin metabolism)

- Seafood, fish oil (improves insulin metabolism and prevents fluid buildup)

- Broccoli, spinach (improves metabolism)

- Mushrooms (improves insulin metabolism)

- Pineapples (improves insulin metabolism and helps digestion)

Foods for Blood Type B

People who are blood type B can eat these foods which help treat or prevent diabetes:

- Meat, liver (optimizes metabolism and improves digestion)

- Low-fat dairy (improves insulin metabolism)

- Broccoli, greens (helps improve metabolism)

- Walnuts (improves insulin production)

- Licorice tea (counters hypoglycemia)

Foods for Blood Type AB

People who are blood type AB can eat these foods which help treat or prevent diabetes:

- Soy (optimizes metabolism and helps with digestion)

- Seafood (helps regulate blood sugar)

- Cultured dairy such as yogurt and kefir (improves insulin response)

- Broccoli, greens (improves metabolic efficiency)

- Cherries and plums (improves insulin response)

Blood Type Diet for Diabetes: Recommendations to Follow

- Eat fresh and organic fruits and vegetables: fresh or organic fruits and vegetables have more nutrients. If people eat fruits and vegetables have been sprayed with pesticides, the chemicals in the pesticides could cause the body to believe it is under attack and overwork the body’s immune system, eventually weakening it.

- Take certain supplements depending on your blood type: the diet restricts the consumption of meat and dairy for specific blood types.

This may result in malnutrition, so some blood types must take nutritional supplements to ensure that they get the vitamins and minerals their body needs. 

o Blood type O individuals need to take Vitamin C, B12, iron, and folic acid supplements.

o Blood type A individuals need to take Vitamin B, K, calcium, and licorice supplements.

o Blood type B individuals need to take magnesium, ginkgo, licorice, and lecithin supplements. 

o Blood type AB individuals need to take Vitamin C, B12, and iron supplements.

- Exercise regularly: the diet recommends different kinds of exercise based on your blood type. 

The different types of exercise are listed below:

o Blood type O: People who are type O should engage in intense exercising activities like jogging or biking.

o Blood type A: People who are type A should focus on low-level activity and stress-relieving exercises like yoga or tai chi.

o Blood type B:  People who are type B should focus on moderate-level exercise and can include yoga or other mindfulness practices.

o Blood type AB: People with type AB blood can combine exercises from blood types A and B.

The Blood Type Diet for Diabetes: what you should avoid

All of the blood types should avoid:

- Processed meats: these meats contain high amounts of salt and preservatives that are not good for your body.

- Foods that are high in sugar: high sugar foods can increase blood sugar levels and cause weight gain.

- Simple carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates can cause weight gain because they are broken down and converted into fat.

- Drinking water with meals: do not drink water when you are eating because this can slow down digestion.

Specific foods to avoid by blood type:

The different blood types should avoid the following foods to prevent or reduce the risk of cancer:

Foods to avoid for Blood type O

These foods contain lectins that are harmful to type O individuals:

o    Wheat ( cause insulin resistance)

o    Corn (cause insulin resistance)

o    Cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower (inhibits thyroid hormone)

o    Kidney beans, navy beans, and lentils (causes insulin resistance and affects calorie utilization)

o    Dairy (poorly digested)

Foods to avoid for Blood type A

These foods contain lectins that are harmful to type A individuals:

o    Red meats (poorly digested and stored as fat) 

o    Dairy (creates insulin resistance)

o    Kidney beans, lima beans (increases insulin resistance and blocks digestive enzymes)

o    Wheat (increases insulin resistance and affects calorie utilization)

o    Corn and potatoes (creates insulin resistance)

Foods to avoid for Blood type B

These foods contain lectins that are harmful to type B individuals:

o Corn and potatoes (increases insulin resistance and affects calorie utilization)

o Wheat and buckwheat (increases insulin resistance and affects calorie utilization)

o Chicken (increases insulin resistance) 

o Lentils, peanuts, and sesame seeds (promotes insulin resistance and hypoglycemia)

o Processed sugar (increases insulin resistance)

Foods to avoid for Blood type AB

These foods contain lectins that are harmful to type AB individuals:

o Kidney beans and lima beans (increase insulin resistance) 

o Red meat (poorly digested and stored as fat)

o Chicken (increases insulin resistance)

o Buckwheat (increases insulin resistance and affects calorie utilization)

o Processed sugar (increases insulin resistance)

The Blood Type Diet for Diabetes: precautions

The diet can be restrictive for some blood types, like type A and type O, so the person must be careful to receive the vitamins and minerals that the body needs from other food sources.

Always consult with a health expert before starting any diet, especially if you take any medication or have a chronic health condition like diabetes. The American Diabetic Association advises against excluding certain food groups from your diet.

Peter D’Adamo recommends that blood type O individuals consume red meat. However, eating red meat is not suitable for people with diabetes because it contains high amounts of saturated fats that can increase blood sugar levels.

Therefore, type O individuals must make sure that the foods they eat fit into their diabetes treatment plan.

Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet or treatment.