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Does Negative Thinking Trigger Unnecessary And Harmful Immune Response?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Question: I have recently seen a number of type 1 diabetics that have reported marked improvements in their condition. They have found that they need less insulin. Most however soon fall back to the previous insulin usage. I have also seen that they are all holding various ideas. Some of them very negative.

A type 1 or type 2 diabetic who continually says to themselves and to others "I have damaged beta cells" might be unwittingly doing themselves harm. I have thought that maybe this signals to their immune system to launch an inflammatory response. So where they may have generated new beta cells those cells end up getting damaged because of their thinking and its effects on their body. What do you think? Could I be right that their thinking triggers an unnecessary and harmful immune response?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
HEllo

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Welcome to health care magic.com.
Noted your question.
I do agree with you that patients with Type 1 Diabetes, do improve soon after diagnosis and they require very less insulin or no insulin for weeks to months. This is called HONEY MOON PHASE. As you know, in Type 1 DM, pancreatic beta cells are more than 90% destroyed by the time diabetes is detected. Most often they present with a DKA. Once we improve their diabetes status, the remaining beta cells function effectively and that is the reason they require less insulin or no insulin for a while. This is the explanation behind honey moon phase.

But unfortunately, the auto immunity is progressive and to date, no effective treatment is available to stop that process ( BUT plenty of research are going on and few experimental drugs are in the pipeline). This progressive auto immune process will destroy the remaining beta cells and eventually they need full dose insulin ( based on their weight).

I do agree that mental stress increase bad hormones and cytokines etc, but that alone can not be considered as the cause of destruction of beta cells. But yes, stress can precipitate a DKA.

Anyway, Very interesting question. Few days back I had another question about auto immunity and diabetes from Australia ( Brisbane) and interestingly again today again from Australia, but this time from NSW. More than happy to answer.

Regards
Binu

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 days later)
You say "but that alone can not be considered as the cause of destruction of beta cells".

I appreciate that in the beginning there may be something different as the actual cause but it is the immune system that does the damage through an inflammatory response that is unnecessary.

I have been able to treat myself and remiss cancer by addressing thoughts and changing them. cancer is different and I have seen a different reason to the official medical view and that is that it is an over-reaction of the immune system and not a declined immune system or tricked by the cancer. The immune system is involved in stem-cell mediated immunity but that is erroneously ignited hence the cancer cells. I have used these to regenerate my organs!

Anyway in type 1 D, I am thinking in terms of the ongoing problem. On the diabetes forums you hear very, very negative view with respect to their diabetes and pancreas/ beta cells. What I am asking is that if they have an ongoing current belief that there is damage isn't the immune system going to launch an inflammatory response? If so then any beta cells that are regenerated from the Ghrelin stem cells in the pancreas get destroyed. If they changed their thinking it might help. Otherwise what else could do the damage if not the immune system?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (21 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Hi

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Altered response of immune system against beta cells are responsible for Type 1 DM. The regeneration from stem cells is possible in Type 2 Diabetes to a certain extent but the destruction rate exceeds regeneration rate. There is no scientific literature to support the view that negative thinking or positive thinking would alter the auto imune response. There is another type of Type 1 DM called as Type 1 b. Here, there are no detectable auto immune markers and the cause is poorly understood.
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1439 Questions

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Does Negative Thinking Trigger Unnecessary And Harmful Immune Response?

Brief Answer: HEllo Detailed Answer: Good day, Welcome to health care magic.com. Noted your question. I do agree with you that patients with Type 1 Diabetes, do improve soon after diagnosis and they require very less insulin or no insulin for weeks to months. This is called HONEY MOON PHASE. As you know, in Type 1 DM, pancreatic beta cells are more than 90% destroyed by the time diabetes is detected. Most often they present with a DKA. Once we improve their diabetes status, the remaining beta cells function effectively and that is the reason they require less insulin or no insulin for a while. This is the explanation behind honey moon phase. But unfortunately, the auto immunity is progressive and to date, no effective treatment is available to stop that process ( BUT plenty of research are going on and few experimental drugs are in the pipeline). This progressive auto immune process will destroy the remaining beta cells and eventually they need full dose insulin ( based on their weight). I do agree that mental stress increase bad hormones and cytokines etc, but that alone can not be considered as the cause of destruction of beta cells. But yes, stress can precipitate a DKA. Anyway, Very interesting question. Few days back I had another question about auto immunity and diabetes from Australia ( Brisbane) and interestingly again today again from Australia, but this time from NSW. More than happy to answer. Regards Binu