Understanding Blood Sugar: Why it Matters for Your Health
Sugar, also called glucose, is one of the body’s main sources of energy. Every cell in your body uses glucose to function, and your brain is particularly dependent on a steady supply. While we often hear about blood sugar in the context of diabetes, blood sugar dysregulation can manifest years before disease shows up, and can contribute to more than just diabetes. For instance, did you know that there is a link between blood sugar dysregulation and Alzheimer’s disease?
As part of our metabolic series, this post will provide you with all the blood sugar basics – how our blood sugar is regulated, signs of dysregulated blood sugar, impacts of dysregulated blood sugar on health and disease, and tools that can give us insight into blood sugar regulation. Don’t worry, our next post will cover all of the naturopathic tips and tricks for blood sugar regulation, so stay tuned!
Blood Sugar Basics
Blood sugar levels naturally rise and fall throughout the day in response to what we eat, how active we are, and even our stress levels. After a meal, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream and provides energy for our cells. Excess glucose can be stored in the liver and muscles for later use. While slight variations in blood sugar are healthy and normal, hormones like insulin and glucagon function to keep blood sugar levels within a certain range to prevent dangerously high or dangerously low levels. Put simply, when glucose levels are high, insulin signals cells to absorb glucose, and when glucose levels drop, glucagon triggers the release of stored glucose into the blood.
Several lifestyle factors influence how smoothly this system works. For instance, the types of foods you eat can cause blood sugar to rise faster or slower. When consuming simple carbs like white bread, pastries, or sugary drinks, blood sugar rises much faster as compared to complex carbs like whole grains, legumes, or vegetables which cause a more gradual increase in blood sugar.
Sleep, exercise, and stress all play a role, too, because they affect hormone levels and impact how efficiently your body uses glucose. While it’s normal for blood sugar to fluctuate throughout the day, consistently high or low levels can leave you feeling drained, irritable, or foggy, and may signal that your body’s regulation isn’t as balanced as it could be.
The Highs and Lows of Blood Sugar
Blood sugar levels that stray too far in either direction can affect how we feel. When blood sugar is higher than usual, you might experience fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, or even difficulty concentrating. On the flip side, low blood sugar can leave you feeling shaky, dizzy, lightheaded, or unusually irritable.
Our bodies are built to handle normal fluctuations throughout the day – spikes after meals or dips between meals are part of a healthy rhythm. The problem arises when blood sugar consistently stays too high or too low. Persistent imbalances can signal that the body’s regulation system isn’t operating as efficiently as it should, which can affect both daily energy and long-term health.
Dysregulated Blood Sugar; From Health to Disease
So what happens when blood sugar becomes consistently dysregulated? The body can handle occasional spikes and dips in blood sugar, but frequent and repeated spikes (such as from a diet high in refined carbohydrates) can put stress on the system. When blood sugar is consistently high, cells are exposed to insulin over and over again. Over time, they become less responsive to its signals – this is called insulin resistance.
As a result, the pancreas has to produce more insulin to move the same amount of glucose into cells. While this can maintain normal blood sugar for a time, the extra workload strains the pancreas. Eventually, if insulin production can’t keep up with the resistance, blood sugar remains chronically elevated and type 2 diabetes can manifest.
It’s important to remember that this process is gradual. It often starts with subtle, repeated spikes in blood sugar after meals. The body compensates at first, but over time, persistent imbalances wear down the system. Early signs like fatigue, brain fog, or sugar cravings can appear long before a formal diagnosis, offering clues that blood sugar regulation is becoming impaired.
Understanding this progression shows us why keeping blood sugar stable matters – not just for energy in the moment, but for long-term metabolic health and overall wellness.
Beyond Diabetes: How Blood Sugar Dysregulation Affects the Whole Body
Blood sugar imbalances don’t just set the stage for diabetes, they can affect nearly every system in the body. When glucose levels stay too high or fluctuate wildly, they trigger stress pathways that drive a range of health issues, including:
- Cardiovascular disease – High blood sugar damages blood vessel linings, promotes inflammation, and accelerates plaque buildup, even when cholesterol is normal.
- Weakened immunity – Elevated glucose disrupts immune cell signaling, lowering resistance to infections and slowing recovery.
- Neurodegenerative disease – Chronic hyperglycemia can inflame and damage the brain, contributing to conditions like Alzheimer’s (“type 3 diabetes”).
- Slow wound healing – High glucose impairs tissue repair and recovery.
- Worsening inflammation – Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma may flare due to added immune and vascular stress.
Prevention is the Key
Even before diabetes develops, your body often gives clues that blood sugar regulation is off balance. Common symptoms can include:
- Low energy or fatigue after meals
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Strong sugar or carb cravings
- Irritability, shakiness, or dizziness when going too long without food
- Frequent thirst or urination when blood sugar is high
To dig deeper and assess for blood sugar dysregulation, labs like fasting blood sugar, Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) may be ordered.
In addition, modern technology like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) offers a powerful way to see your blood sugar in real time. These small sensors are worn on the skin and send continuous data to your phone, allowing you to watch how your blood sugar responds throughout the day. Because everyone’s body reacts a little differently to food, stress, and activity, CGMs can provide personalized insights that help you fine-tune your diet and lifestyle for more stable blood sugar.
Whether you experience symptoms of blood sugar dysregulation or you simply want to act preventatively and assess your glycemic control, our Naturopathic Doctors are here to support you! Click the link below to book in with one of our blood sugar experts today.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. While we strive to present accurate and up-to-date information, the field of naturopathic medicine is continually evolving, and individual health circumstances vary. Therefore, the information herein may not apply to your specific health situation.
Please be aware that engaging with this blog does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. For personalized medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment plans, we recommend scheduling a consultation with a qualified naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider.
In the event of a medical emergency, contact emergency services immediately.
References:
Chronic Hyperglycemia Mediated Physiological Alteration and Metabolic Distortion Leads to Organ Dysfunction, Infection, Cancer Progression and Other Pathophysiological Consequences: An Update on Glucose Toxicity. Giri B, Dey S, Das T, et al.Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie. 2018;107:306-328. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2018.07.157.
Metabolic Stress and Cardiovascular Disease in Diabetes Mellitus: The Role of Protein -GlcNAc Modification. Chen Y, Zhao X, Wu H. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2019;39(10):1911-1924. doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.312192.
Glucose Metabolism and Hyperglycemia. Giugliano D, Ceriello A, Esposito K. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;87(1):217S-222S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/87.1.217S.