Page 23 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017 - Online Magazine

by Rachelle Atkinson, NTP
The Radiant Table, LLC
Blood Sugar rollercoaSter (970) 217-8220
rachelle.atkinson@yahoo.com

What is blood sugar and why is it important? an unbalanced meal that is high in carbohydrates: toast,
The term ‘blood sugar’ is interchangeable with the term cereal, skim milk and orange juice. Such a meal will cause
‘blood glucose’, which refers to the amount of glucose in a quick, heavy dump of glucose into the bloodstream,
the bloodstream at a given time. Glucose is fuel for the body setting the stage for a stressful blood sugar rollercoaster.
and the brain and is a sugar that is found in simple sugars On the other hand, a balanced meal such as eggs,
and carbohydrates. Your body can also make glucose by spinach, avocado and herbal tea is low in carbohydrates,
breaking down protein. high in healthy fats and protein and rich in vitamins and
minerals. The protein and fat in the meal will help to keep
It is important for the body to keep blood sugar levels in blood sugar levels in normal ranges until the next meal,
a narrow range. That optimal range is between 80 and providing steady energy for the body and the brain.
110 mg/dl. These terms and numbers are important when
it comes to pre-diabetes and Type II diabetes. Over time,
blood sugar levels that stay too high are the main factor If you are struggling with the symptoms of low blood
contributing to pre-diabetes and the development of Type sugar, blood sugar swings, weight gain, cravings, or
II diabetes. pre-diabetes, meeting with a nutrition therapist can
help you learn more about foods that will support
What causes high blood sugar? healthy blood sugar levels, optimal weight and
Diet is a primary influence on blood sugar levels. All vitality! You can learn more about Rachelle at her
carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, one of which website, breatheeatheal.com
is glucose. We term carbohydrates ‘simple carbohydrates’ if
they are made up of short chains of sugars and break down
quickly, or ‘complex carbohydrates’ if they are longer chains
of sugars and take a little longer to break down in the
digestion process. However, the fact that any carbohydrate
consumed will break down into at least some glucose
means that any carbohydrate can have an effect on blood
glucose levels. This includes complex carbohydrates such as
brown rice and whole grain breads, for example, or refined
carbohydrates such as white sugar and sodas. When the
carbohydrate load is high in a meal, blood sugar is affected,
whether the carbohydrates are simple or complex.

What are the physical effects of high blood
sugar?
Glucose in the bloodstream is escorted into the body’s cells
by a hormone called insulin. Secreted by the pancreas,
insulin is a fat storage hormone. Insulin directs any excess
carbohydrate in a meal to be converted to fat, as fat is
less damaging to the body than sugar. After insulin has
successfully swept sugar out of the bloodstream, a blood
sugar low may be experienced, along with fatigue, brain
fog, mood swings and the feeling of a ‘crash’. At this point
cortisol is released, which is a stress hormone and also a
fat storage hormone. These swings of blood sugar between
high and low points are stressful for the body and lead to
weight gain, cravings, unstable moods and energy levels at
the least, and insulin resistance and disease at the worst.

How does my diet affect my blood sugar levels?
Again, diets that are high in carbohydrates will affect
blood sugar levels in negative ways. Take, for example,

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