Type 2 Diabetes

There’s an epidemic sweeping the nation. 

It currently affects 1 in 3 Americans, and unfortunately there is no magic cure. 

Diabetes is a serious condition that silently worsens for years before our bodies can’t overcompensate anymore.

First, you’re just “thirstier than normal.” But then you start having sleeping problems, and you feel nauseated all the time. You start to have a hard time remembering the last time your body really felt 100%. 

Sound familiar?

These symptoms could be associated with dozens of other possible diagnoses, so it can be difficult to catch it in time. But by conducting the right tests and making some lifestyle changes, diabetes can be completely prevented (and even reversed!). 

You can check out the video I did on this topic as well below.

 

 

Could you be at risk of developing this life-changing blood sugar imbalance?

If you…

• Exercise less than 2 times per week. 
• Eat a carbohydrate-heavy diet. 
• Have a hard time controlling your sweet tooth. 
• Constantly feel tired after eating a meal.  
• Experience constant mood swings. 
• Struggle with feelings of anxiety 

Then the answer is likely yes. 

Don’t be fooled. No specific body type or age is immune from the risk of diabetes. But by prioritizing your health and fueling your body proportionately, you can maximize your hormone health.    

Blood sugar management is for everyone. 

It is a common misconception that only diabetics should be mindful of their blood sugar. 

If you’ve ever known someone with diabetes, chances are you’ve seen them test their blood sugar level at least once. Typically, an insulin-dependent diabetic will test their blood sugar before and after every meal (if not more!). Their current blood sugar level dictates what they should be eating, and how much insulin to inject to help metabolize the meal. 

They have to do this because their pancreas (the organ responsible for insulin creation and distribution) does not function properly. This can be a result of an auto-immune (typically genetic) condition, an eventual result of an unhealthy lifestyle, or the natural aging process. 

If you do not suffer from blood sugar imbalance issues, you live a pretty stress-free life in comparison. Everytime you eat, your body is able to automatically assess how much sugar has entered your bloodstream, and how much insulin to pump back out to neutralize the blood-to-sugar ratio. You are able to eat without a second thought because your body is doing its job on autopilot. 

Don’t take this for granted and overdo it though…

Because eventually, if we overdo it and pump excess sugars and harmful fats into our bodies, the normal process will start to shut down.

But isn’t sugar bad?

Imagine this…

You’re just sitting at home, when your doorbell randomly rings. It's a surprise pizza delivery, free of charge. AWESOME right?

You’re so hungry, you gobble the entire pizza down yourself. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings again. You can’t believe it, but it’s a second free pizza. 

Never wanting to say no to free pizza, you put it in your refrigerator to save for later. But to your (now annoyed) surprise, the doorbell rings again with ANOTHER pizza. One person can only eat so much pizza! 

This happens again and again until eventually you are buried and can no longer reach the door (even when there is a visitor you DO want to see). 

In this case, insulin is the pizza, and your body’s cells are the house. When we are not exercising properly (burning glucose) or watching our carbohydrate intake (intaking glucose), eventually our cells stop following the normal glucose metabolizing process. They become so overloaded they are unable to accept insulin properly, or in other words, they become resistant to it. This prevents our cells from functioning properly which over time becomes a big problem. 

Sugar is the energy source our cells need and we can’t live without it. 

But like anything in life, too much of a good thing can cause some serious damage down the road.  

Recalibrate your cells 

If you’re struggling with controlling your blood sugar, know you are not alone. 

It’s never been easier to overindulge in refined sugars, excess carbs, and disguised harmful fats. Blood sugar imbalances are at an all-time high across the American population no thanks to drive-thrus, convenient delivery apps, and cheap fast food. 

If you’re worried about how your diet is affecting your body, the first step is to take a fasting glucose test. This blood test is typically taken after 12 hours of no food or water consumption and measures the amount of sugar found in the blood. If your score falls outside of normal ranges, it could be a sign that your cells are becoming insulin resistant. 

To take the data one step further, a Hemoglobin A1C test will assess the average reading of your blood sugar over a three-month period. This accounts for many more variables (like eating different things, different amounts of exercise on different days, etc) than just a one-time assessment. 

If you want to start making some positive lifestyle changes TODAY, you can:

• Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes per day, even if it is just a simple walk outside. 
• Avoid eating foods that are high on the glycemic index to prevent a blood sugar roller coaster. This includes processed and fast foods (eg. chips and fried foods), baked goods, and potatoes. Stick to fruit if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. 
• Consider supplementing Berberine, a plant alkaloid commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda to aid in blood sugar stabilization. 
• Focus on protein and healthy fat intake, keeping carbohydrates to only 30% of your total diet. 

A blood sugar hormone imbalance doesn’t have to be the worst-case scenario. If you commit to making the changes today, you will save your future self from a slippery slope that ends at the doctor’s office.