Understanding Blood Sugar
Diabetes is a condition of the metabolism, where the body is unable to convert glucose (sugars from food) into the energy needed to power cells. With diabetes, sugars build up in the bloodstream to the point where they can damage vital organs. This is what “blood sugar” refers to; too much sugar is a primary symptom of diabetes. Too little blood sugar, on the other hand, indicates Hypoglycemia.
Blood sugar maintenance is largely determined by your endocrine (hormone) system. The pancreas is the gland that produces the hormone insulin – which controls levels of blood sugar – but the proper functioning of the pancreas is dependent upon the health of the other glands in the body. In order to reverse diabetes and glycemic dysfunctions, you must first determine the specific needs of your endocrine system. Do you need certain minerals? Are your adrenal glands producing enough cortisol to trigger metabolic processes? Or are they producing too much cortisol because of unceasing stress? And how’s that thyroid doing?
Diet is also key to recovery: both your body and brain need energy in order to function. First, you must learn which foods you can digest easily, thus reducing the strain on your pancreas if your body is screaming for more digestive enzymes.
Are you hungry for breakfast? Do you eat three meals daily? Do you feel like you are digesting your food?
Optimally, your system should get a surge of fuel from your breakfast. But part of your breakfast should digest slowly, too, allowing for gradual infusions of fuel (glucose) for your cells throughout the morning.
Good Maintenance is Essential
If your body was an expensive sports car, would you give it the cheapest possible gas and forget to replace the spark plugs? Would you red-line it every time you took it on the road? Would you drive with the “check engine” light on, neglecting to take it to the mechanic for weeks on end?
Like with a finely-engineered car, the human body runs best with high-grade fuel, intelligent maintenance, and a diagnostician who understands its inner-workings. Don’t ignore problems with blood sugar regulation! If you do, sooner or later, the vehicle that carries around your heart and mind will be headed to the junk yard.