High blood insulin levels

High blood insulin has the capability of scarring or acting almost as an acid on the inside of blood vessels. This damage to the intima, the inner layer on the inside of all blood vessels, stimulates a repair mechanism whereby circulating blood cholesterol is laid down almost like a bandage on the damaged areas in the blood vessels. Over a period of time this rough area in the affected blood vessels collect more cholesterol effectively narrowing the passage through which blood circulates with an end result of atherosclerosis.

Considering that type II diabetes or syndrome X is increasing in prevalence by double digits every year, this theory very well could be a major reason why heart disease is the number one killer in North America.  In syndrome X, insulin resistance is a normal side effect which in turn forces the body to increase the amount of insulin found in the blood, resulting in high levels of insulin in the blood which in turn can cause damage to the interior layer of the blood vessels.