Wednesday, March 13, 2024

High Blood Sugar And Insulin

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How Is It Treated

Causes of Eye Problems: High Blood Sugar & Insulin Dr.Berg

If you have diabetes and notice any of the early signs of high blood sugar, test your blood sugar and call the doctor. They may ask you for the results of several readings. They could recommend the following changes:

Drink more water. Water helps remove excess sugar from your blood through urine, and it helps you avoid dehydration.

Exercise more. Working out can help lower your blood sugar. But under certain conditions, it can make blood sugar go even higher. Ask your doctor what kind of exercise is right for you.

Caution: If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar is high, you need to check your urine for ketones. When you have ketones, do NOT exercise. If you have type 2 diabetes and your blood sugar is high, you must also be sure that you have no ketones in your urine and that you are well-hydrated. Then your doctor might give you the OK to exercise with caution as long as you feel up to it.

Change your eating habits. You may need to meet with a dietitian to change the amount and types of foods you eat.

Switch medications. Your doctor may change the amount, timing, or type of diabetes medications you take. Donât make changes without talking to them first.

If you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar is more than 250 mg/dL, your doctor may want you to test your urine or blood for ketones.

The Role Of Glucagon In Blood Glucose Control

The effect of glucagon is to make the liver release the glucose it has stored in its cells into the bloodstream, with the net effect of increasing blood glucose. Glucagon also induces the liver to make glucose out of building blocks obtained from other nutrients found in the body .

Our bodies desire blood glucose to be maintained between 70 mg/dl and 110 mg/dl . Below 70 is termed “hypoglycemia.” Above 110 can be normal if you have eaten within 2 to 3 hours. That is why your doctor wants to measure your blood glucose while you are fasting…it should be between 70 and 110. Even after you have eaten, however, your glucose should be below 180. Above 180 is termed “hyperglycemia” . If your 2 two blood sugar measurements above 200 after drinking a sugar-water drink , then you are diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes: Type I Type Ii And Type Iib Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that happens when your blood glucose is too high. Blood glucose is normally the main source of your energy, and insulin is the hormone that helps the glucose to make it into your cells. Depending on the type of diabetes, your body is either not making enough, or any insulin or it is unable to use it well.

Having too much glucose in your blood, however, can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, dental problems, kidney disease, foot problems, nerve damage, and eye problems . There are several forms of diabetes. Lets look at them one by one.

Type I Diabetes

The majority of people around the world have type II diabetes, however, about 5 percent of people with type I diabetes is already a significant portion of the population. About 1.25 million people in the US have type I diabetes and there are 40,000 new cases diagnosed yearly.

Though type I diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes, it is not a childhood disease and can occur at any age and in people of every race, gender, shape, and size.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune condition. If you have type I diabetes, it means that your body doesnt produce insulin. Without insulin, your body cannot help glucose to make it into your cells from the bloodstream. Insulin therapy and other treatments can help people to manage type I diabetes and to live a healthy life .

Type II Diabetes
Type IIb Diabetes
Autoimmunity and Type II Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes

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Improve Digestive Health And Use Probiotics

About 80 percent of your entire immune system is located in your gut. It is basically the foundation of your overall health. Having an imbalanced gut flora can result in a compromised immune system, inflammation, infections, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and autoimmune disease. To stabilize your blood sugar and reverse insulin sensitivity, it is important to improve your digestive health .

First, get rid of anything that negatively affects your digestion, such as inflammatory foods and toxins. Eat a nutrient-dense anti-inflammatory ketogenic diet to support your gut health. Collagen, aloe vera, bone broth, and l-glutamine can help you repair your good lining. Digestive enzymes can help to improve your digestion and absorption.

More importantly, add beneficial bacteria via probiotics to help your gut health. Probiotics can balance your gut and fight harmful invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Fermented foods, such kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, and kombucha can help to add more probiotics to your diet, however, if you are dealing with insulin resistance, inflammation, or other health issues, you can benefit from taking a daily dose of probiotic supplements.

The Problem With Too Much Insulin

The ultimate Guide to Insulin, Insulin resistance and more ...

Low insulin levels are common for people with type I diabetes, whereas high insulin levels are a sign of insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance increases your risk of prediabetes which is a precursor of type 2 diabetes .

Too much insulin in your body promotes inflammation and weight gain. Chronic inflammation is the root cause of most disease and chronic pain symptoms that people in our modern society are suffering from. Insulin resistance has been linked to obesity, high levels of fat in the blood, and hypertension.

It can increase the risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. If you have insulin resistance, your pancreas tries to produce more insulin to create balance. But eventually, it becomes too much for your pancreas and it wears out. When your pancreas cannot make enough insulin anymore to achieve healthy blood glucose levels, your body develops high blood glucose levels, prediabetes, and without appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes, eventually, type 2 diabetes .

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Insulin Resistance: 10 Ways To Stabilize Blood Sugar

Insulin resistance is an increasingly common problem people are facing today. Insulin helps your cells to absorb and use glucose for energy. Insulin resistance happens if your body is unable to respond to and use the insulin produced by your body. Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes, diabetes, and an array of other health issues.

An increasing number of people are suffering from diabetes every day. It is estimated that the number of people with diabetes will double during the next 25 years. The numbers will go from about 190 million to 325 million unless we do something about it.

The good news is that its possible to prevent diabetes and stabilize your blood sugar naturally through dietary and lifestyle changes. The first step to prevent and reverse prediabetes and diabetes is to reverse insulin resistance, improve insulin sensitivity, and stabilize your blood sugar .

In this article, you will learn the role of insulin in your body, what insulin resistance is, what causes insulin resistance, what are its symptoms and how it is diagnosed. You will learn what prediabetes is and which varying forms of diabetes commonly exist, and how they may affect your body. You will also learn 10 ways to stabilize your blood sugar naturally through simple dietary and lifestyle strategies, as well as via supplementation.

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

The FPG test measures your fasting morning blood sugar levels after at least 8 hours of avoiding any food or drink. Doctors advise skipping breakfast before the mid-morning blood test is performed. .

  • Normal FPG: Under 100 mg/dl is considered normal, though functional and holistic medicine doctors prefer to see this number under 90 mg/dl.
  • Prediabetes: Between 100 and 126 mg/dl, is considered prediabetic.
  • Diabetes: Over 126 mg/dl, diabetes is diagnosed.

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Alzheimers Disease: Type Iii Diabetes

Its been known in the medical and scientific community that type II diabetes can increase your risk of Alzheimers disease. However, there are recent developments regarding a new form of diabetes, type III diabetes which is directly linked to Alzheimers. An increasing number of researchers now call Alzheimers disease type III diabetes. Research has shown that insulin resistance is one of the main reasons behind memory loss and dementia that can lead to Alzheimers disease .

However, cognitive decline takes a long time to develop, and diabetes doesnt happen overnight either. The good news is that through appropriate dietary and lifestyle choices, diabetes and cognitive decline can both be prevented .

So What Affects My Blood Sugar Levels

Blood Sugar vs Insulin: what’s the difference?

It is important to understand what can make your blood sugar rise or fall, so that you can take steps to stay on target.

Things that can make blood sugar rise include:

  • A meal or snack with more food or more carbohydrates than usual
  • Inactivity
  • Changes in hormone levels, such as during menstrual periods
  • Stress

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The Basics Of High Blood Sugar

Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood sugar levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia.

When you eat, your body breaks food down into sugar and sends it into the blood. Insulin then helps move the sugar from the blood into your cells. When sugar enters your cells, it is either used as fuel for energy right away or stored for later use. In a person with diabetes, there is a problem with insulin. But, not everyone with diabetes has the same problem.

There are different types of diabetestype 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. If you have diabetestype 1, type 2 or gestationalyour body either doesn’t make enough insulin, can’t use the insulin well, or both.

Learn more about blood sugar Learn more about insulin

Risk Factors For High Blood Sugar

Doctors do not know exactly what causes diabetes. Some factors may increase the risk, however.

Type 1 diabetes

Researchers believe certain genetic or environmental factors may make people more likely to get type 1 diabetes.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases say certain genes play a role, and other factors such as viruses and infections may have an impact.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation say that there is nothing a person can do to prevent type 1 diabetes. Eating, exercise, or other lifestyle choices will not change the outcome.

Type 1 diabetes usually begins during childhood or early adulthood, but it can happen at any age.

Type 2 diabetes

People who have high blood sugar should discuss their target levels with their doctor.

They may need regular testing to keep these within a healthy range. Each person is different and levels can vary between individuals.

To find out their blood sugar levels, the person may need to fast for 8 hours, 2 hours after a meal, or at both times.

Some people may also take a glucose tolerance test, in which they drink a sugary liquid and have a blood test after.

The American Diabetes Association recommend a pre-meal blood sugar level of 80130 milligrams per deciliter . Around 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal, blood sugar should be less than 180 ml/dL.

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Reduce Stress And Practice Deep Breathing

Due to the increased release of a stress hormone, called cortisol, excessive and chronic stress can increase your blood sugar levels. Chronic stress can also increase emotional eating, overeating, and cravings for sugary junk foods and other unhealthy comfort foods, which can increase inflammation in your body and further increase your blood sugar. To stabilize your blood sugar and reverse insulin resistance, tackling chronic stress is crucial .

Meditation, relaxation exercises, yoga, journaling, coloring, using essential oils, creating some me-time, taking a relaxing bath, spending time in nature, and connecting with loved ones are natural stress relievers that can benefit your health if you are dealing with insulin resistance. These practices can help you to lower overall stress levels and respond to stress more effectively without ruining your health .

Deep breathing is another practice that can reduce stress and stabilize your blood sugar. Diaphragmatic breathing is one form of a deep breathing technique you can try. Breathe deeply through your nose, hold it in for four counts, then exhale for two through your mouth. Gradually increase the length of your breath until you can hold your breath for 20 counts and exhale for 10 counts. Repeat this two to three times a session for three times a day to reduce stress and improve insulin sensitivity. You can learn more about the benefits of breathing in this article.

Final Thoughts On Insulin Resistance

blood sugar process cycle

An increasing number of people are dealing with insulin resistance every day. Insulin is important for your cells to absorb and use glucose for energy. Insulin resistance happens if you body is unable to respond to and use insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes, diabetes, inflammation, and many serious health problems.

The good news is that through appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes, you can reverse insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity naturally. By following the 10 ways to stabilize your blood sugar, including following an anti-inflammatory ketogenic diet, reducing stress, improving sleep, exercising regularly, practicing intermittent fasting, eliminating food sensitivities, optimizing your vitamin D levels, improving your gut health, using anti-inflammatory nutrients, and taking probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and multivitamins, you can effectively stabilize your blood sugar.

If you want to work with a functional health coach, I recommend this article with tips on how to find a great coach. We do offer long-distance functional health coaching programs. For further support with your health goals, just reach out and our fantastic coaches are here to support your journey.

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How To Reverse Insulin Resistance

If you have insulin resistance, you want to become the oppositemore insulin sensitive .

Physical activity makes you more sensitive to insulin, one reason why its a cornerstone of diabetes management . Dont wait until youre diagnosed with diabetes to start moving more. The earlier you take action , the better off youll be.

Weight loss is important too, as is avoiding high blood sugar, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep .

These lifestyle changes really work. Talk with your health care provider about how to get started.

How High Blood Sugar Impacts Sleep

The symptoms you may experience with high blood sugar at night could make it difficult for you to sleep, including falling and staying asleep. Depending on when you eat prior to bedtime, your digestive system may wake you up at odd hours.

A related issue is known as the dawn phenomenon, which is when you wake up with high blood sugar in the morning. This can also be caused by overeating foods in the evening that cause high blood sugar.

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Insufficient Insulin Coverage Of The Carbohydrate

It is important to know how many grams of carbohydrate are covered by one unit of insulin this is your insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio. If you think the ratio is out of balance, ask yourself these questions. Did you count the carbohydrates correctly? Did you take the proper blood sugar correction dose before you ate? Were you more or less active than usual? Under any unusual stress?

The solution: Once you have eliminated these variables, you may need to adjust the insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio to get more insulin at the meal or snack. Consult your medical provider about insulin dose adjustments.

What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Levels

High Insulin Before High Blood Sugar Levels Dr.Berg Answers Why!

Signs of high blood sugar levels include:

  • Peeing a lot: The kidneys respond by flushing out the extra glucose in urine. People with high blood sugar need to pee more often and in larger amounts.
  • Drinking a lot: Someone losing so much fluid from peeing that often can get very thirsty.
  • Losing weight even though your appetite has stayed the same: If there isn’t enough insulin to help the body use glucose, the body breaks down muscle and stored fat instead in an attempt to provide fuel to hungry cells.
  • Feeling tired: Because the body can’t use glucose for energy properly, a person may feel unusually tired.
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Breaking The Cycle Of Insulin Resistance

To reverse insulin resistance, you must change your diet if you want to improve the health of your body and brain there are no exceptions to this. You can no longer simply eat what you want when you want if your diet is based on sugars and processed carbohydrates. The worst thing a person with insulin resistance can do is overeat or eat more carbohydrates than he or she can tolerate on a regular basis.

A few basic rules apply to balance your blood sugar metabolism and improve your brain health:

Sticking to a diet that stabilizes blood sugar is challenging at first due to intense cravings, the addictive nature of certain foods, and how ubiquitous and heavily marketed these foods are in our culture. Also, unidentified food intolerances stimulate the adrenals so that people can get an adrenaline rush from the foods to which they are sensitive, which also creates intense cravings. However, knowing this can help you work your way through the cravings. Many people report once they have become accustomed to a whole foods diet and their health has improved, they naturally find whole foods more desirable and are turned off by junk foods.

The biggest clue your blood glucose levels are stable is that you have an appetite at meal times and when you eat there is no change in your energy levels.

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