Is Your Blood Sugar Normal or Optimal?
I have been learning so much from a client with Type 2 Diabetes. He reports to me daily his: Fasting Glucose, Hours of Sleep, Meals containing Proteins and/or Starches, Hydration, Energy Level, Weight (for curiosity, not for quick weight loss results). In one month we have watched his blood sugar go from the 280 mg/dL to 85 mg/dL. We didn’t do anything extreme or depriving, just experimented and observed how his body responded. We noticed his body was a bit exhausted and this caused his liver not to be able to convert glucose to glycogen well.
Glycogen is formed by the liver from glucose in the bloodstream and is stored in the liver; conversion of glucose to glycogen (glycogenesis) and hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose (glycogenolysis) together are the usual mechanism for maintenance of normal levels of blood sugar.
Normal measurement for a fasting Blood Sugar is 80-120 mg/dL, over 120 you are pre-Diabetic. Also, you want to observe your blood sugar after meals to see if you insulin is responding. Glucose is needed by cells for respiration. It is important that the concentration of glucose in the blood is maintained at a constant level. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates glucose levels in the blood. The more optimal blood sugar range is 70-90 mg/dL (even mid 80’s mg/dL for healthy people). Also, testing 2 hours post meals can offer more information. Some studies show that even after a high-carb meal, normal people’s blood sugar rises to about 125 mg/dL for a brief period, with the peak blood sugar being measured at 45 minutes after eating, and then drops back under 100 mg/dL by the two hour mark. The ADA suggests that 140-199 mg/dL is “normal”. We want your hormones and organs working optimally, normal isn’t good enough anymore, you deserve the best.
So, do you have to prick your finger every day and find out what your sugar is? If you a concerned physician who wants to put you on Diabetes medication, then yes, I recommend to become pro-active. Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented, managed, and even reversed.
In one word, we want to achieve Homeostasis. This balance occurs when you have a safe environment with healthy parameters to nourish your body and achieve optimal wellness. What does this mean for you?
More energy with your loved ones?
Less confusion on what to eat?
Eliminate digestive issues?
You name it?
How do we do this? The turtle wins the race. Mindfully adding in baby steps to discover what your body is truly needing.
1. Eat first BEFORE your coffee or tea. This is called Break the Fast. Your body needs nutrition after all of its efforts during your sleep. Even if it is a handful of quality nuts. Add IN nutrition. I bet you will have more energy in the mid afternoon:)
2. Drink 24 oz of water BETWEEN meals. This is when your body needs hydrating the most. Allow digestion to happen organically, then add in the water.
3. JOURNAL: Check in with your body every day. Observe, sleep habits, especially if you have a Fit Bit. If you did not sleep well last night, then tonight your main focus is on how to support yourself to have the best sleep ever. Email me for a Sample Journal Day.
The Conscious Nutrition Jump Start program is my favorite program to help people balance their blood sugar. We check in every day for 5 days and follow simple parameters to guid the body back to Homeostasis aka. BALANCE.
Happy Balancing,
Heather Fleming, C.C.N
