There’s more to the weight loss equation than diet and exercise

There is more to weight loss than diet and exercise. Sure, these things are part of the equation, but it’s much more complicated than you’ve been led to believe. If you’ve been eating “right” and working out, and you aren’t able to lose weight, listen up, this blog is for you. You should be monitoring your blood sugar. Why?

 

High insulin levels prevent fat burning

Many people who struggle to lose weight feel they’ve tried everything. But have you tried managing your blood glucose? Probably not. In recent years, medical professionals began analyzing how important blood sugar is in non-diabetic patients. The science doesn’t lie, it’s important. 

 

The science behind blood glucose and weight gain

For decades, we’ve been trained to track calories and watch fat. While this is good advice to some extent, it’s not the whole picture, and it’s not enough to prevent weight gain and promote good health. A missing piece of the puzzle is: blood sugar. 

 

When our blood glucose (aka blood sugar) spikes, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the cells in the body absorb glucose and use it for energy. Insulin signals the liver, muscles and fat to take glucose from the blood. It is then used for energy or stored for later use. If your body is spiking too frequently, this process repeats itself over and over, causing too much glucose to be stored in the body. 

 

The consequence of too much glucose

What’s wrong with too much glucose in storage? Several things can happen when there is too much glucose stored in the body, including: 

 

• Weight gain – when glucose is not immediately needed for energy, it is stored as glycogen or fat. Over time, this can lead to weight gain and obesity.

 

• Insulin resistance – If cells are constantly exposed to high levels of glucose, they may become resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. This can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

 

• Fatty liver – Excess glucose can be stored in the liver as glycogen, but if the liver becomes overloaded, that excess glucose may be converted to fat. This leads to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can cause liver damage and inflammation. 

 

• High blood pressure – Excess glucose can also lead to the buildup of fatty deposits in the blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.

 

• Inflammation – When cells are exposed to high levels of glucose, it can trigger inflammation in the body, which can contribute to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and arthritis. 

 

Mood, fatigue and more linked to blood sugar

If your glucose is on a rollercoaster ride, constantly spiking up throughout the day, you are most likely experiencing symptoms you may not even connect to your diet. Glucose irregularity can wreak havoc inside your body, but there are outward signs you may notice, too. These include cravings and hunger, fatigue, mood swings and irritability. 

 

Hopefully you’re convinced that everyone – not just diabetics – need to pay attention to glucose. Every patient at Innovative Vitality wears a glucose monitor, shares data with your provider, and learns how to eat for metabolic health. To learn more, schedule your first visit with one of our providers.