Blood Sugar Balance
Nearly all carbohydrates we eat are converted into sugar by the body. The body depends upon a constant supply of sugar to keep it functioning properly. Your cells use sugar for energy, to fuel the brain, and keep your organs working. Just like all things, too little or too much of a good thing is not good. Drastic changes in blood sugar have been linked to many serious health diseases. I believe that blood sugar balance is the number on key to establishing or maintaining health. When you do not have enough blood sugar it is called hypoglycemia or lower blood sugar. The most common symptoms of low blood sugar are:

• Craving for sweets
• Irritability, lightheaded or shaky if meals are missed
• Dependency on coffee for energy
• Eating relieves fatigue
• Feeling jittery or shaky
• Feeling agitated or nervous
• Poor memory, forgetfulness

Each time you eat carbohydrates the body releases insulin from the pancreas to help clear sugar from the blood and either use or store it. When someone chronically overeats sugar the body begins to store sugar everywhere. Too much sugar is toxic to all cells, especially nerve cells. To stop the onslaught of sugar, and in an attempt to survive the body makes changes in the cells reducing how much sugar they take in. This change in the cells is defined as insulin resistance.

Once the cells are insulin resistant more insulin then ever before is required to get sugar into the cells for energy. Eventually the body gives up and develops diabetes.

Insulin resistance symptoms:

• Fatigue after meals
• General fatigue
• Constant hunger
• Craving for sweets that is not relieved by eating them
• Must have sweets after meals
• Waist girth equal to or greater than hip girth
• Frequent urination
• Increase appetite and thirst
• Difficulty losing weight
• Migrating aches and pains

If you eat a meal and you feel sleepy after it (i.e. 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.) this is often due to insulin resistance blocking sugar from getting into the cells to make energy. The body wants to normalize blood sugar levels and changes sugars to fat, a process that demands and uses high amount. Now, since most of your energy is used to create fat (yuck!) you become sleepy. Insulin resistance can eventually lead to metabolic syndrome. This is seen with a combination of physical issues and laboratory values.

The metabolic syndrome is present when 3 or more of the 5 criteria are met:

• Abdominal obesity
  - Men: Waist circumference > 40 inches - Women: Waist circumference > 35 inches
• Fasting glucose > 110 but less than 126
• Blood pressure > 130/80
• Triglycerides > 150
• HDL cholesterol -Men < 40 -Women < 50

Metabolic syndrome can affect hormones, male and female reproduction, erectile dysfunction, menopausal symptoms and cause all the symptoms associated with insuline resistance.

Diabetes
An article written by us was published in the Palm Beach Post labeled "Diabetics DO NOT exercise." Far too many diabetics could be worsening their problem with exercise. Exercise is a stressful event to the body and should only be performed in healthy individuals. Exercises can create inflammation with raises blood sugar. The stress from exercise calls on the adrenal glands for help burning fat. If your adrenal glands are not functioning properly exercise will once again raise blood sugar and store it as fat. There are certain criteria that we use to determine if you can exercise and specifically how.

We have provided natural solutions for diabetics for years and have been effective at reducing the need for insulin, and lowering glucose levels. When you schedule your appointment bring one months worth of readings from your glucometer and your most recent blood work, as this will monitor your progress as we move forward. Often times there are additional labs that will help us pinpoint other issues that may be worsening your condition.

If you suffer from or have any of the following symptoms call our office today. We will find a program to correctly help balance your labs and life.