Are you riding the blood sugar roller coaster?
Do you crave sugar throughout the day?
Do you get to the end of the day and feel like you need something sweet?
Many of us ride a blood sugar roller coaster, and it may be affecting our health.
In clinic, we are even finding that people who eat a great, healthy wholefood diet can experience blood sugar dysregulation.
Common Signs of a Blood Sugar Imbalance
These may include:
- Fatigue, not just in the morning but also after eating
- Having trouble getting off to sleep and waking up in the night (hello, adrenals)
- Constant sugar cravings
- Feeling “hangry”, moody or anxious, especially if you don’t eat every two hours
- Having trouble losing weight
- Carrying extra weight around your middle
- Brain fog or poor memory
It’s Not Just About Diet
Clients experience blood sugar dysregulation for many reasons, and it is not just diet related. Please read that again.
Here are some of the factors that may contribute to blood sugar issues:
- Gut infections, such as parasites and pathogens
- Over-consumption of sugar (that is an obvious one!)
- Adrenal stress
- Not drinking enough water
- Not getting enough sleep
- Inflammation, including from foods that don’t agree with you
- Detoxification pathways that are struggling to clear toxins
- Mineral imbalances, for example copper
- Heavy metals, for example mercury, lead and arsenic
The Link Between Stress and Blood Sugar
To help support blood sugar regulation in the body, it is important to work on your stress levels. Stress is not just the everyday stress we feel. There is often hidden stress, which can be internal.
There is a strong relationship between your stress levels and blood sugar, because cortisol is your stress hormone, and one of its main jobs is related to glucose (sugar) regulation.
When you are under stress, you produce more cortisol, and your body uses glucose to deal with this stress. This is part of your “fight or flight” response.
What Can You Do to Help Balance Your Blood Sugar?
Interestingly, diet is not the only thing to think about when it comes to blood sugar.
- Investigate your digestion. Do you have enough stomach acid? Having enough stomach acid helps with overall digestion, including how your body uses sugar.
- Check for mineral imbalances. Magnesium, zinc, potassium, sodium and calcium all play a role in blood sugar regulation, and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis can be a useful place to start.
- Check your heavy metal status, as heavy metals may be affecting your blood sugar.
- Support your adrenals and liver.
- Cut back on processed foods, especially sugar and hidden sugars.
- Make sure you get enough quality fat and protein in your diet.
If you have diabetes or prediabetes, or you take medication for your blood sugar, please talk to your GP before making changes, and keep working with your medical team.
If you’d like to know more about blood sugar and whether it may be affecting you, book a free 30-minute phone call.