Understanding Blood Sugar and Testing: The Key to Optimal Health and Energy
How’s your blood sugar?
Blood sugar dysregulation – too high, too low, or unstable – is one of the most common root causes of fatigue and energy crashes.
Sugar is our primary source of energy, and it’s important to have steady blood levels to maintain focus and function throughout the day.
When we ingest carbohydrates, digestive enzymes in our gut break them down into sugars.
Those sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream and taken into cells.
Our cells then take those sugars, and through a series of chemical processes requiring lots of vitamins and minerals, converts them into energy.
Our body uses that energy to run everything from the thoughts you think to the beating of your heart.
If you don’t have tight control over your blood sugar levels, then you’re in trouble because your body literally can’t manage its energy supply.
If you…
Frequently wake in the night around 2-3AM
Have trouble getting going in the morning despite 8+ hours of sleep
Experience energy crashes mid-day or during activity
Feel shaky and weak in between meals
…then it’s likely you have hidden blood sugar problems.
Not only does your energy suffer, but so do your hormones, your emotions, your waistline, your performance, and your ability to recover from exercise.
Bottom line: blood sugar dysregulation = poor health.
And the longer it goes untreated, the worse the problem gets.
Before you ask your doctor to check your blood sugar, you should know that a glucose test isn’t enough; it doesn’t provide the full picture.
You need to know your glucose levels PLUS your A1c, insulin levels, and glycemic variability.
Here’s what these tests check for:
Glucose – current blood sugar level
HbA1c – average blood sugar for the past 3 months
C-peptide – sensitive measure of insulin, the hormone that helps blood sugar get inside cells
Glycomark – a measure of glycemic variability, or how often your blood sugar fluctuates
All FOUR of these blood tests are included in the Proactive Health Audit lab panel to accurately assess blood sugar.
That way we know exactly where the problem is, so we know what to do to optimize your energy levels and keep you in the game.
Drs. Mike & Natalie