Are you concerned about your blood sugar? What is blood sugar and why does it matter so much?

It is possible, you have heard the term “blood sugar” before this article. Most people think of blood sugar and they think about the “blood sugar crash” we’ve all experienced before – feeling low energy, raging hungry and maybe even feeling shakey or experiencing those annoying tension headaches. What most people don’t realize is that this blood sugar low, it is almost always a result of a previous blood sugar high. The blood sugar spikes are what inevitably lead to those major crashes, but we are rarely talking about “blood sugar spikes” and what leads to them.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of blood sugar, it’s important to note that blood sugar isn’t just ‘a diabetes thing’ and it isn’t just an obesity thing. Every human, no matter their size, their age or their body type has blood sugar and any human can have blood sugar imbalances.

What is Blood Sugar / Blood Glucose?

Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the amount of glucose present in your blood stream. Glucose in the bloodstream is affected most by the foods you eat. Your body creates glucose in the bloodstream by digesting these foods into a sugar that circulates in your bloodstream. Our body will then use that blood sugar for energy, then what isn’t currently needed for energy will get stored in the cells for later use.

Blood glucose levels are raised most significantly with carbohydrate foods, foods made from refined grains, breads, noodles and pastas, baked goods and pastries, sugar and sugary foods, but these carbohydrates also include grains in their whole state, starchy vegetables, fruits, etc. Yes, some of these carbohydrate foods can absolutely be a part of a healthy and well-balanced diet, it’s all about how much of these foods you eat at once and in what combination – this is what we need to be most aware of when it concerns blood sugar imbalances.

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

Where blood sugar (AKA blood glucose) is concerned, every single time you eat your blood sugar will rise, this is a natural, human response to food and energy production, how much so will depend on both the kind of food you are eating including the macronutrient profile of the food (which we will get to), as well as the quality and the quantity of that food and of course, the current health state of your body.

Unfortunately, thanks to the modern diet rich in simple carbohydrates (a diet common for many folks), the balanced, even blood sugar that our body has adapted to handle and manage with ease is far less common than not. A large influx of simple carbohydrates in a single meal, think pancakes with syrup at breakfast, a bagel, cereal, toast, a gigantic bowl of pasta for lunch, etc – this will lead to a swift rise in blood sugar levels. With a quick rise in blood sugar, our body sees this as an emergency that must be dealt with immediately.

How does the body deal with these blood sugar spikes? Let’s get into the basics of blood sugar regulation.

Blood Sugar Regulation

‣ When blood sugar rises this stimulates the pancreas to release insulin to help bring down blood sugar levels by storing away excess glucose as glycogen and triglycerides to be used later for energy.
‣ But insulin can overcorrect, causing blood glucose levels to drop too low (called reactive hypoglycemia), which the body also sees as an emergency.
‣ The central nervous system then signals the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine, followed by cortisol, to bring up blood sugar levels by converting glycogen and amino acids to glucose.

Especially when we over-consume simple carbohydrates — which is very easy to do, for a variety of reasons including our genetic programming, the instant mood and energy boosts that we are often craving (thanks to stress, lack of sleep and blood sugar imbalances) and easy access to hyper-palatable processed foods — this same cycle can repeat over and over again throughout the day, eventually leading to blood sugar dysregulation, insulin resistance, possibly adrenal / HPA Axis issues (thanks to the excessive output of cortisol) and a myriad of symptoms associated with each of these.

The big players in the blood sugar system:

• Pancreas
• Adrenals
• Adipose Tissue
• Liver
• Skeletal Muscle

AKA  (the “PAALS”)

As well, the central nervous system works in tandem with these 5 primary hormones to help regulate blood sugar levels:

How the Food You Eat Affects Your Blood Sugar

Every single food we eat can be broken down into three macronutrient groups:

‣ Carbohydrates

‣ Protein

‣ Fat

Foods found in their whole food state are almost always dominant in one of these macronutrients over the others, but many foods contain a mixture. As  mentioned previously, while all macronutrients will cause some increase in blood glucose levels, as you can see above carbohydrates will cause a larger increase than others, meaning the post meal crash that results will also be larger. Being aware of not only what types of foods you are consuming and how it affects your blood sugar is the first and easiest way to start balancing blood sugar levels and avoiding big spikes and huge crashes.

While you may be able to, at this point, do some simple reasoning and see how a meal of JUST carbs can cause an extreme blood sugar spike and crash, you may not still understand what foods fall under which categories, so let’s look at some other common foods.

Some examples of various foods and their dominant macronutrient group:

• Sweet potato: unrefined carbohydrate
• Boneless skinless chicken breast: protein
• Broccoli: unrefined carbohydrate
• Bacon: protein and fat
• Bowl of pasta: refined carbohydrate
• Apple: unrefined carbohydrate
• Eggs: protein and fat
• Steak: protein and some fat (more or less fat depending on the cut)
• Spinach: unrefined carbohydrate
• Whole Grain Rice: unrefined carbohydrate
• Avocado: fat and some carbohydrates
• Beans: unrefined carbohydrate and some plant-based protein
• Ice cream: refined carbohydrate and fat

In nature, carbohydrate-rich foods, in their whole food state almost always contain significant amounts of fiber. The fiber found in unrefined carbohydrates will actually slow down the effects on blood sugar as compared to a refined carbohydrate like a pastry, baked good, bread, pasta, juice, dessert, etc. which often have little in-tact fiber remaining. While fiber itself is a carbohydrate, it should not cause an increase in blood glucose or insulin as it is not digested by the small intestines and instead they make it to the large intestine where they are broken down by bacteria. In some cases fiber can actually decrease glucose and insulin levels. Fiber can been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease heart disease risk and foster beneficial bacteria in our guts. Another benefits to fiber is that it “bulks up” and helps you to feel satiated and full.

In this same way when we combine our whole food carbohydrates with protein and fats, which we will get to in just a moment, the fiber found in whole food carbohydrates can provide an additional blunt to the blood sugar spike we would get from the carbohydrates alone. When we refine foods away from their whole food state, grains made into flour for baked goods, fruits that get juiced, sugar that is stripped of any nutrients, we are taking a direct hit of sugar to the blood and you know what comes next.

Added processed and refined fibers added to packaged and processed foods aren’t exactly the same as the in-tact fiber found in whole, unrefined foods as they are found in nature. Often these products advertised as low or no carb (because of the net carb approach) and they will often be loaded up with fibers, but it doesn’t mean these products are a good choice. Fibers added to processed foods like these may not cause the same response in the body that fiber found in whole foods will. Meaning it may still cause a glucose and insulin response and in some cases it may also cause some aggressive digestive issues. The FDA is currently investigating many of these “false fibers”.

PLEASE READ THIS AND THEN READ IT AGAIN:

Nutrient-dense, non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, celery, cucumber, eggplant etc etc – these foods, while they are certainly more dominant in carbohydrates than protein or fat, they are so low in carbohydrates and so rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals — that these should be consumed in unlimited abundance at every meal, without concern for blood sugar levels.

It’s also important to note that these main macronutrients are not the only foods / things that can cause a blood glucose spike. One randomized trial study showed that caffeinated coffee can impair the body’s ability to manage dietary glucose, resulting in higher blood sugar levels.¹https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/87/5/1254/4650389 so it is important to always stay curious. In part two of this series we will be talking more about these other factors.

The consequences of constantly eating high sugar and high carb foods

As you can see, starting the day off with a carbohydrate-rich breakfast sets the tone for the day right out of the gate with a big blood sugar spike. Then comes the drop and if your choice for a snack, for a quick jolt of energy to bounce back is carb or sugar rich, you can see how the cycle continues. Your first meal sets the tone for the day and having balanced blood sugar levels all day means controlled energy levels, balanced moods, less cravings, no crashes or headaches and you aren’t continuously chasing your hunger.

How to Get off The Blood Sugar Roller Coaster – What Can You Do?

‣ Eat Enough Healthy Fats and Quality Proteins

Fat and protein have very little affect on blood glucose levels, compared to carbohydrates. Protein and fat also blunt the insulin release from the carbs on your plate. Protein and fat also send signals to your brain that you are full via important hunger hormones that help you avoid overeating. At every meal, prioritize a quality protein on your plate first, be sure you are including some healthy fats (read more about health fats here) if the protein you are eating is lean and doesn’t include enough on it’s own and fill the rest of your plate with nutrient-dense, colorful, in season non-starchy veggies. Dark leafy greens are one of my favorites for lots of important nutrients and fiber.

‣ Reduce Your Refined Carbohydrate Consumption and Avoid Excessive Sugar

Focus on quality of carbohydrates, balance of macronutrients (carbs not being the dominant), bio-individuality, everyone needs different amount of carbohydrates. Prioritize nutrient-dense whole food carbohydrates, think of a food that you could eat that you can imagine growing in nature, exactly as it is on your plate. These foods should be prioritized as your source of carbohydrates over refined carbohydrates and sugar-rich foods. The amount of carbohydrates each individual may need will depends on many factors, hormone health, HPA-axis health, age, gender, activity level, etc.  If you determine that you do want/need to include more carbohydrate-dominant foods in your day, I recommend saving your starchy-veggies or carbohydrate-rich foods for your last meal of the day, this way, any drops in blood sugar are happening at a time of day where your energy would naturally be dipping to prepare for bedtime, any cravings that result won’t be a struggle. You will be asleep. Start the next day with a strong, protein and fat-rich breakfast so you can continue to keep things level and balanced throughout your day, with ease.

‣ Avoid Unnecessary, All-Day Snacking

Continuously eating, all day, will keep blood sugar levels either continuously elevated which means elevated insulin all day or it will be stuck in the loop of going up and down, all day. It’s not that snacking is inherently bad, but if you struggle with energy issues, if you crash halfway through the day, if you experience high highs and low lows that make you feel like you need to snack – this could be an indication you aren’t eating enough or properly at meal time or that your blood sugar is significantly imbalanced. Consider eating more at meal time and prioritizing protein and fat over carbohydrates and be sure you are eating enough. If you are eating protein and fat as the main focus of your meals and you are still feeling the need to snack all day, that this means you are likely not eating enough food. Focusing on both of these should help with the need to snack. If reducing your refined carbohydrates and sugar is a new way of eating for you, snacking may be helpful until your blood sugar levels are more balanced, so it is suggested that you consider protein and fat forward snacks when you you do snack. This post includes lots of options.

‣ Move Your Body

In our current, modern lifestyles where stress and sympathetic nervous system dominance becomes the norm, if we remain sedentary we the cortisol being released into our blood streams to keep circulating longer than it should. This can have detrimental long-term consequences but at the very least it can further dysregulate blood sugar levels. Physical movement can help stress management overall, but it can also help process out stress hormones that are present in the body more quickly, but movement is also an incredible method for using up excess blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity. Even just one 30 minute session has  been shown to improve insulin sensitivity by decreasing glycogen synthesis.²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3381815/

Looking for more support?

‣ Strong All Day Long

if you are experiencing daily energy crashes, hanger, cravings, mood swings and you are looking to make a few simple, easy-to-implement shifts right away, this 5-day program and 7-day meal plan are for you!! I am giving you the 5 big solutions I share with EVERY one of my 1:1 nutritional therapy clients, these shifts bring huge results with minimal efforts. There’s no diet, there isn’t a list a foods to avoid and nothing to track. You will learn how to create healthy plates of food, go more in depth on the various delicious quality proteins and fats to include, tips for meal planning to make eating easy, plus hidden sources of sugar and lots more. This is a focus on the foundations, simple approach to getting your blood sugar under control!! Learn more and get instant access to the program and your meal plan here.

‣ Keto for You

this program is designed to assist you in using a food-as-medicine, healing ketogenic approach to support your body is switching away from relying on sugar as it’s source of fuel. If you are the constant blood sugar roller coaster has resulted in metabolic dysfunction, an inability to lose fat, inflammation and joint pain, hormone imbalances and beyond and you are ready to get on the other side of these once and for all – this fully personalized nutrition program and masterclass will help you in finally taking control of your health and ditching the constant dieting roller coaster of on-again / off-again extreme restriction that never works. This 8 week program is full of customized nutritional protocols, supplement recommendations, 8 weeks of meal plans and recipes, weekly mindset practices, amazing expert guest teachers and in-depth learning so you can create a sustainable lifestyle that will be right for you. Learn more and sign up now here.

This program is designed to support you in using a ketogenic approach as a powerful intervention and healing tool to guide you in creating a sustainable fat-fueled lifestyle for yourself for long-term, so you can adjust and shift as life changes – so you can finally ditch the sugar fueled, blood sugar crashing, inflammation-causing approach that hasn’t been working for you. Head here to learn more and sign up. Enrollment is open for just a short time and the program will not be available again until later in 2020. If you aren’t sure if keto is the correct approach for you, you can watch this FREE online workshop Is Keto for You? to learn more or book a FREE 15-minute call with me and I am happy so answer your questions.

‣ 1:1 Nutritional Therapy and Health Coaching Support

If you are concerned there is more going on at a root cause level, possibly gut imbalances or pathogens, food sensitivities, complications from autoimmune disease or if you are looking for more direct 1:1 support including personalized action plans, lab testing and interpretations, supplemental support, if you are craving accountability and someone to help you dig deeper along side you, with nutritional support, lifestyle recommendations, mindset and mindfulness practices and more – working together one-on-one would be a really great option for you. You can apply to be a client here. Once I review your application, I will contact you about scheduling your FREE discovery call and we can decide if we are a good fit for one another.

PLEASE NOTE: Low post-meal blood sugar levels can happen to folks with normal fasting blood sugars, it can happen to someone who is insulin resistant and obviously in individuals with diabetes but it can also be a symptom of some types of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – with all of these scenarios, this type of low blood sugar is referred to, as mentioned above, reactive hypoglycemia. In most cases this type of low blood sugar can be treated with a lower carbohydrate approach, to balance blood sugar levels. Medically diagnosed hypoglycemia is different and should be treated with a health care practitioner, if you experience consistently low blood sugar levels and you are a diabetic on medication you may need to work with your doctor on changing your medication levels to match your carbohydrate intake. Ongoing low fasting blood sugar levels can also occur in people who do not have diabetes and can be the result of a serious underlying medical condition. If you have continuously low fasting blood sugar levels and do not take diabetes medications, you should see your healthcare provider.

Please Stay Tuned for Additional Articles in this Series Where You will Learn:

The Long-term Consequences of Imbalanced Blood Sugar

How Stress Affects Blood Sugar

Other Factors to Consider that Could Raise Your Blood Sugar

and More.

Got questions you want to be sure get covered in future articles, leave your comments below.