What is Insulin Resistance?

Basically, when our blood sugar spikes often, our pancreas gets worn out trying to produce a lot of insulin to help get glucose into our cells. After a while our cells get resistant. They will block insulin from letting glucose into our cells.

Normal Process of blood sugar regulation:

-food is broken down into glucose (sugar).

-glucose enters the bloodstream, which signals the pancreas to release insulin.

-Insulin helps glucose get into the body's cells for energy.

-Glucose enters cells and leaves the bloodstream which signals the pancreas to decrease insulin too.

-Lower insulin levels signal the liver to release stored glucose so energy is always available, even if you have not eaten for a while.

When Insulin Resistance occurs:

-A lot of glucose enters the bloodstream.

-The pancreas makes more insulin to get the glucose into cells.

-Over time, cells stop responding to insulin, they become resistant to insulin.

-The pancreas keeps making more insulin to try to make the cells respond.

-Eventually, the pancreas gets worn out and can't keep up, and glucose levels in the blood keep rising.

High blood sugar levels in the bloodstream are bad for the body. There is lot of extra insulin telling the liver and muscles to store blood sugar. When they get full, the liver sends the excess blood sugar to fat cells to be stored as body fat. What's worse is it sets us up for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.*

(I find it easier to learn with pictures, hope this helps)

Where Do You Start?

Tiny Steps Add Up!

Recently, I came across a book that had some tips on starting to eat healthy. The book is Glucose Revolution: The life-changing power of balancing your blood sugar by Jessie Inchauspe (the Glucose Goddess). You can also google Glucose Goddess to hear her on several Podcast interviews. In her book she shows simple graphs of how WHAT we eat affects our blood sugar.

Start letting this new science help you to decrease carvings to help your body work for you!

I can show you many more evidence based things you can do to help you improve your cellular insulin sensitivity.  Together we explore ways to help you shift your path from not feeling well to one of vitality and good health.

*Only 12 percent of Americans are metabolically healthy: Joana Araujo et al, "Prevalence of Optimal Metabolic Health in American Adults: National Health and Nutrition examination Survey 2009-2016, "Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders 17 no. 1 (2019):46-52, https://pubmed.ncbinlm.nih.gov/30484738/