Blood Sugar Imbalance

Remember the concept -

Inflammation and Metabolic Dysfunction → Free Radicals → Oxidative Stress → DNA and Mitochondria Damage 

Dysglycemia is a broad term that refers to an abnormality in blood sugar stability. This can include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Blood sugar is regulated through insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. It helps cells in your body take in glucose (sugar) to use for energy. Another important organ for blood sugar regulation is your liver. Excess glucose is stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. When blood sugar drops, your liver breaks down glycogen into glucose and releases it into your bloodstream. This helps your body maintain relatively stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.

In people with dysglycemia, this system doesn’t work correctly. Glucose is a main fuel source for the mitochondria and ATP (energy) production, and imbalances have a major negative impact on the mitochondria and DNA of the cell. Blood sugar imbalances are a major cause of chronic illness and reduced lifespan and are a high priority when trying to heal from or prevent chronic disease.

Read on to learn more about the symptoms of dysglycemia, underlying causes, and how to heal this condition for optimal health and function.

• Fatigue after meals
• Weight gain, even on a low-calorie diet
• Sweet cravings
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Joint aches and pains
• Depression
• Increased thirst and appetite
• Muscle cramps while at rest
• Increased urination
• High triglycerides
• High cholesterol

• Irritable if a meal is missed
• Lightheaded if meals are missed
• Moody if meals are missed
• Shaky/jittery if meals are missed
• Wake up during the night often
• Low blood pressure

1. Reduced blood flow and oxygen to the cells, tissues, and organs. Oxygen is perhaps one of the most essential elements to heal the body and prevrnt disease. 

2. Inflammation via increased NF-KB activation/Cox-2 (inflammatory proteins) that increase oxidative stress and damage to the DNA and mitochondria. These inflammatory proteins also signal microglial activation, which in turn causes neuron degeneration.

3. Reduced cellular energy — The mitochondria also use glucose for energy. When there is either insulin resistance (high sugar) or hypoglycemia (low sugar), the mitochondria are impaired. This is detrimental to cell health, early aging, and chronic disease.

4. The liver is the most overlooked yet one of the most important organs for blood glucose control. The liver both stores and produces glucose:

• The liver makes sugar when needed, called glycogenolysis.
• It can use proteins, fat byproducts, etc., to make sugar through gluconeogenesis. Ketogenesis is glucose made from fats when sugar supplies are low.
• Inflammation can also lead to intestinal permeability and dysbiosis, which, in turn, can cause liver biotransformation impairment.

5. Increased leptin, which leads to hypothalamic leptin resistance, increasing appetite and further raising glucose levels.

6. Increased cortisol and the aldosterone response — This influences blood pressure and fluid balance.

7. Disrupted functional pH balance (acidosis) and electrolyte imbalance.

8. Increased insulin receptor resistance, which can activate adipocytes.

9. Insulin resistance causes insulin surges, leading to hormonal shifts:

• In females, it increases 17,20 lyase, raising testosterone levels.
• In males, it increases aromatase activity, converting testosterone to estradiol.

As you can see, blood sugar imbalance is a serious condition and a major cause of chronic symptoms, early aging, poor health, and chronic disease. It is a high priority to address if you want to heal.

• Autoimmune Conditions/Inflammation — Immune system attacks self-cells/tissues. Symptoms include fatigue, achy muscles/joints, neuropathy, exacerbation of pain, fibromyalgia.
• Digestive System Malfunction/Leaky Gut — Gastric reflux, irritable bowel, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, constipation, or loose bowels. Symptoms can also include increased inflammation, swelling, asthma, allergies, depression, etc.
• Liver Toxicity — Fatigue, abdominal pain, itchy skin, nausea, pitting edema, joint pain, easy bruising, diabetes, headaches, to name a few. The liver is “always” involved due to the amount of toxins we are exposed to daily.
• Anemia — Usually in the form of B12/folate anemia, pernicious anemia, iron deficiency anemia, or anemia of chronic disease. Fatigue and weakness due to low oxygen are common symptoms. If anemic, it is impossible to heal due to lack of oxygen to tissues.
• Adrenal Malfunction — Fatigue, inability to deal with stress, feeling worn out, inability to lose weight, anxiety, blood sugar issues, sleep issues (insomnia), muscle wasting/fat deposition, depression, tiredness upon waking even after long sleep.
• Hormone Imbalances — Anxiety, depression, fat deposition, hot flashes, headaches/migraines, loss of motivation or zest for life.
• Brain Malfunction — Symptoms include brain fog, depression, poor memory, anxiety, chronic fatigue.