Why Do You Gain Weight Even After Quitting Sweets? Insulin Resistance Viewed Through 'Jeokchwi', the Culprit Ruining Your Body

When explaining Donguibogam's concept of accumulation and gathering from a modern medical perspective, it can be seen as a serious warning sign of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. When glucose enters our body, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, which directs glucose into cells to be utilized for energy or stored. However, insulin resistance refers to a condition where the body's cells do not properly receive insulin signals and instead resist them. Think of it as having a key to open a door, but the lock is rusted shut. No matter how much insulin tries to unlock the door, the cells remain tightly closed, causing glucose to linger in the bloodstream and driving blood glucose levels upward. The pancreas then excessively secretes even more insulin to bring blood glucose down, and when the pancreas eventually becomes exhausted and loses function, the condition progresses to type 2 diabetes mellitus. That is not all. Excessively secreted insulin promotes fat accumulation, causing abdominal obesity, raising blood pressure, increasing triglycerides, and lowering good cholesterol (HDL), creating a vicious cycle. These are the core features of metabolic syndrome. In particular, abdominal obesity serves as both the leading cause and the primary outcome of insulin resistance. Visceral adipocytes in the abdomen continuously secrete inflammatory substances that worsen insulin resistance throughout the entire body. These inflammatory markers circulate like toxins, diminishing cellular sensitivity. The dampness-phlegm and blood stasis described in Donguibogam function very similarly to the inflammatory substances released by this visceral fat. Furthermore, the frequent blood sugar spike seen in modern dietary patterns poses another problem. Consuming overly sweet foods or refined carbohydrates quickly causes blood glucose to surge sharply, prompting an explosive release of insulin. Afterward, blood glucose drops too low, creating a state of hypoglycemia that triggers cravings for sweets once again. These rapid fluctuations place a heavy burden on the pancreas and further worsen cellular insulin resistance, exhausting the body's glucose-regulating system as if riding a continuous roller coaster. Ultimately, insulin resistance extends beyond simple blood glucose issues; it can become the root of chronic fatigue, lethargy, impaired concentration, and serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. Donguibogam's wisdom is demonstrated once again through modern science.