Blood Sugar Myths & Facts
Healthy blood sugar regulation is essential for energy, mood, brain function, heart health, immunity, and whole-body wellness. (If you need to get caught up, read my previous blog .)
So, which of these blood sugar myths have you heard (or believed)?
1️⃣ MYTH: I need frequent snacks to keep my blood sugar balanced.
FACT: Feeling the need to snack often can be a sign of blood sugar swings (spikes and dips) rather than healthy blood sugar regulation. Grazing can expose your cells to repeated bursts of sugar and insulin, and contribute to insulin resistance.
2️⃣ MYTH: I look thin so my blood sugar must be fine.
FACT: The type and distribution of fat in the body matters more than outward appearances. Even people who appear thin can have unhealthy visceral fat (around internal organs) that can contribute to inflammation and insulin resistance.
3️⃣ MYTH: My body is changing because of perimenopause/menopause hormones, not blood sugar.
FACT: While it may be true that your body is changing because of hormones, declining levels of estrogen at menopause can increase the risk for insulin resistance - a major driver of body composition changes. Blood sugar imbalance is commonly associated with menopausal weight gain.
4️⃣ MYTH: I need to improve my cholesterol levels, not my blood sugar.
FACT: Higher blood sugars lead to higher cholesterol levels. When you eat more sugar than your cells can use for energy, the excess is converted into triglycerides (fats), and the liver makes more LDL cholesterol. Blood sugar dysregulation is a major driver of heart disease, as well as Alzheimer’s dementia and many cancers.
5️⃣ MYTH: Only people with diabetes need to pay attention to blood sugar.
FACT: Early changes in blood sugar regulation are driven by insulin resistance, which can develop many years before a diagnosis of diabetes. Detecting these changes early allows for effective treatment and prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. I frequently prescribe Continuous Glucose Monitors (GGM) for my patients showing early signs of insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation. CGMs provide valuable, real-time insight into how various foods, exercise, stress, and sleep affect blood sugar levels.
Are you surprised by any of these?
Are you ready for a fresh approach to your health and wellness? As a board-certified Integrative & Functional Medicine physician, I can help you “think outside of the box and dig deeper with a variety of laboratory testing to help uncover the underlying root causes of your symptoms and create a plan personalized for you that goes beyond the prescription pad to incorporate diet/lifestyle change, nutritional supplements, holistic therapies, health coaching and more! Contact us to get started!