Happy New Day, Friend!

Spring is springing here in western Missouri! Flowers are bursting forth, sparrows are checking out the birdhouse right outside my office window, and the sound of lawnmowers can be heard around town. For my family, this also means my track kiddo is running and my soccer kiddo is itching to score some goals :)

It also means Easter baskets and plastic eggs stuffed with candy are close on the horizon.

For real, though, isn't there ALWAYS a candy holiday we're trying to get ready for while still trying to recover from the last one?

Even if you don't indulge in much candy or sweets at all, blood sugar is a topic you absolutely must become familiar with, if not for yourself, for your kids, grandkids, and others around you.

It's a good thing you're on my email list, because I'm going to fill you in on what you need to know over the course of the next several emails!

Is someone already coming to your mind as one who could benefit from hearing this info, too? Forward this email to them and encourage them to click the link at the bottom to sign up and get the rest of this series in their own inbox!

Why is knowing about blood sugar important?

Blood sugar is something you've probably heard of, but unless you or a close loved one is actively tracking their blood sugar due to diabetes, it may be something that only fleetingly crosses your mind once a year if you get annual lab work done.

Even then, unfortunately, your doctor may not talk to you about your test results. The CDC reports that less than 20% of individuals are aware that their blood sugar is elevated to the point of approaching a diabetes diagnosis. Unless you know the info I'm going to share, you could easily be in the uninformed 80%!

What exactly is blood sugar anyway?

The term blood sugar is the common way to refer to blood glucose. This is can be a bit confusing because sugar and glucose are not exactly the same thing.

When we think of sugar, usually table sugar comes to mind. Table sugar is actually called sucrose and is made of equal amounts of two types of sugar: glucose and fructose. Lactose, the sugar found in milk, is made of the two sugars glucose and galactose.

At its most basic, blood sugar is the amount of glucose in the bloodstream at any given time. I use the terms blood sugar and blood glucose interchangeably.

A person with optimal blood sugar regulating capacity has approximately 1 teaspoon worth of glucose in their blood. Every cell in the human body is able to use glucose for energy, so having a bit of that energy ingredient readily available to any cell in need is critical for survival. The brain and nervous system in particular make use of glucose for working efficiently, including maintaining our consciousness! Every organ and tissue in the body functions better when the amount of glucose in the blood is well-regulated.

Because this is so important, the body has several processes to make sure there is not too much or too little glucose in the blood at any given time. These processes are regulated by the pancreas, which secretes different hormones depending on what is needed: insulin to remove excess glucose from the blood, and glucagon to release glucose into the blood from the liver (where it is stored) when levels are getting low.

To be clear, blood sugar itself is not the problem - is essential to the functioning of the body and mind. The common problems occur when

• there is too much glucose in the blood
• when the level of glucose stays high for a long period of time
• when blood sugar is elevated multiple times throughout the day
• when blood sugar goes too low (ever been 'hangry' or had a mid-afternoon energy slump?)

Throughout out this email series I will talk more about how blood sugar regulation works, the most common problems that arise when blood sugar is not controlled well, and how to maintain or regain healthy blood sugar control.

Stay tuned, and don't forget to share this information with a friend or family member who may be concerned about their blood sugar!

​

With Hope for your Health and Healing,

Valerie

​

Did you get this email from a friend? Lucky you :) Sign up here to get my emails in your inbox!

The content of this email is intended for inspirational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your routine.