Everyone is aware that iron is necessary for bodily functions and that insufficient amounts can lead to illness.
However, an excess of iron can also be lethal. It takes balance to try to acquire the right quantity of iron in your body, as it does with everything in life.
One of the minerals that is thought to be most prevalent on Earth is iron. The human body is responsible for a few major functions. It is in charge of controlling cell growth as well as delivering oxygen to the cells. Hemoglobin in the blood contains around half of the iron in the human body. The protein known as hemoglobin is in charge of delivering oxygen to the bodily tissues. The term “hemoglobin” may be familiar to you from hemoglobin a1c. This is a measurement of the amount of glucose that binds to blood hemoglobin.
The myoglobin in our bodies contains the remaining iron. An additional protein called myoglobin is in charge of carrying oxygen into your muscle tissues and to proteins that help store iron for later use.
An excessive amount of iron in the body
A significant issue affecting over 80% of people worldwide is iron deficiency. Elevated iron levels are an other matter entirely, even though many people are aware of iron insufficiency.
This is due to data indicating that an excess of iron may raise a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes by as much as 28%. Elevated iron levels have the potential to harm muscular tissue, which will lessen the body’s capacity to effectively transport glucose from the blood into the body’s cells.
Additionally, this may obstruct the synthesis of insulin. Significant evidence has also shown that up to 80% of people with hemochromatosis, a condition that interferes with the body’s ability to absorb iron, later acquire type 2 diabetes.
A genetic disorder called hemochromatosis causes your body to absorb excessive amounts of iron. Subsequently, the elevated iron levels start to target your body’s organs, including your beta cells. This raises the chance of getting diabetes in general, not just type 2.
This is a condition that is more likely to affect people who are of Celtic descent. Some individuals absorb iron to the point where their skin turns light brown. Because of the color of their skin, the diabetes that results from this is frequently referred to as bronze diabetes.
To find out how much iron is in the blood, a ferritin test is performed. The body stores iron in a protein called ferritin. It’s a fantastic gauge of your body’s iron levels. Elevated levels may indicate hemochromatosis, whereas lower levels may indicate anemia.
Hemochromatosis Treatment
Treatment for hemochromatosis can help avoid more severe issues like arthritis or organ damage. The illness will continue to cause your body to store iron if you don’t get therapy. The potential for tissue and organ harm arises when the levels rise too high. Although it usually runs in families, some people can get the illness via alcoholism, liver problems, or heavy blood transfusions. Primary hemochromatosis refers to the inherited form, whereas secondary hemochromatosis refers to the disorder caused by other means.
Because women of reproductive age normally eliminate any excess iron storage during their menstrual cycles and even during pregnancy, men are more likely to have higher levels of iron built up in their bodies.
Hemochromatosis symptoms
It normally takes till age 40 or older to recognize symptoms. This is because it takes time for the body to accumulate too much iron over the course of a lifetime. Usually, the symptoms don’t show up until a specific level of iron has accumulated.
Early symptoms can be ambiguous and confused for other conditions. Early signs and symptoms may consist of:
- Joint discomfort
- Loss of Weight
- recurring urination
- Weary
- Deficiency
Given that hemochromatosis is inherited, you might wish to have your kids tested if you have the disorder. If you are aware that it may develop, you can catch it early.
Options for Treatment
Hemochromatosis treatments include the following:
Phlebotomy: This method of treatment, which involves regular blood donations, is thought to be the most common.
Chelation therapy: is one kind of medication that can assist in removing excess iron from the body. For those who are unable to undergo phlebotomy, it might be utilized as a kind of treatment.
The goal of treatment is to stop the disease’s progression and symptoms while also safely and quickly eliminating the excess iron from the blood. Another key objective of treatment is organ preservation. Many patients must receive medication for the rest of their lives, however a tiny percentage may be cured if their blood iron levels recover to a more normal range and it is determined that another illness is the cause of their hemochromatosis.
The fact that the illness runs in families does not guarantee that you will get it. Because of this, knowing whether you have inherited the gene that causes it can make you feel more at peace and, if you know which tests to do, even begin treatment earlier.
How Much Iron Is Needed Every Day?
Just from the meat in their diet, many people already get an adequate amount each day. There are more food kinds that also contain iron supplements. You might be surprised to learn that some meals and vitamins can either improve or impede the body’s ability to absorb iron. Iron absorption can be inhibited by diets high in calcium, however vitamin C has been shown to improve. Men over the age of 18 should only take 8 mg daily, postmenopausal women should take 8 mg, and women of childbearing age should only take up to 18 mg daily.
Read Also: Diabetes and Magnesium: The Great Deficiency
Foods High in Iron:
For those with lower iron levels, iron supplements are a possibility, but it is normally preferable to try to obtain your daily total through your daily food. Iron-rich foods include:
- Fish
- dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach or kale
- Peas
- Fruits that are dried
- Pork, chicken, and red meat
- Iron-enriched foods, such as cereal
In summary
Consult your physician if you have any concerns about elevated iron levels or the possibility of developing hemochromatosis. A straightforward blood test can assist in determining your levels or possibly your genetic contribution to the onset of the illness. So that’s the connection between iron and diabetes. What do you think? Please share your opinions here.
DiabetesCouncils Article | Reviewed by Dr. Sergii Vasyliuk MD on June 01, 2020
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