Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when your blood sugar is in a good range and in control?
If not, connect the dots the next time you're more irritable or your energy is lower than usual... then test your blood glucose to see how this ties together. Blood glucose that's in range is between 75-110 mg/dl and it's when we often feel our best! Slight variations of this range can also feel ideal to us individually throughout a busy day. As you probably know.. no two people or days are alike.
This is motivation enough to make a plan and begin to gain control of your blood sugar!
The downside to high blood sugar is how bad it makes us feel...tired, irritable, body aches and inflammation. It can make us more hungry which will only increase blood sugar even more if we give in to this false sense of hunger and eat. What I refer to as "blood sugar roller coaster ride",, which is not a fun ride at all. An important motivator to gain control of blood sugar is testing often and to be aware of the feedback our body is giving us.
Let me explain what the body goes through with Insulin resistance. Often it's when we consume a large amount of simple processed carbs (bread, pasta, french fries, desserts, etc.) along with very little fat and protein. Then our blood sugar spikes high and the pancreas frantically overcompensates by releasing more insulin. This overcompensation of insulin eventually causes insulin resistance and can lead to Type 2 Diabetes if poor dietary practices are continued. This same "up and then down" scenario occurs with Type 1 Diabetes, when we manually dose insulin to cover meals.
The good news is you can get off this roller coaster ride and gain control of blood sugar with a healthy diet and other lifestyle habits that help to balance blood sugar.
Now for some positive motivation and the upside of being in control and getting off that roller coaster ride:
- Since blood sugar imbalances perpetuate inflammation, stable blood sugar reduces inflammation and also helps balance hormones.
- Because stable blood sugar means reduced sugar or carbohydrate cravings, even stubborn weight starts to melt away with balanced blood sugar levels. We feel and respond better to life when we're in balance..YAY!!
With this said, the only way to understand our blood sugar trends is to use a blood glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor and test often to truly see where you're at. This is an affordable and easy option and the only reoccurring expense are the test strips. You'll find it helpful to monitor your blood sugar daily for up to a month while you are tweaking your diet and your other day to day habits.
Ready to create your plan and take charge of your health? Contact me...
*TIP* Start by keeping a journal to help track your blood glucose numbers along with meals, medicine, exercise, etc., this is a great way to see the trends of what's working or not working when setting your blood sugar and health goals.
Are you ready to put a plan into action? Comment below and share what your first step will be to gain control of your blood sugar!
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