Let’s start from the simple explanation of the function of the blood glucose in the human body. Do you know what happens in your body when the sugar enters your blood stream? Why do you need sugar? Where do we get it from?

What is the blood sugar?

Blood glucose is the main source of energy for the human body. Your body converts the sugar molecules into energy, so that way your body and brain can perform their functions. The blood glucose is carried and transported to every single cell in your body via your blood. In fact, the food you eat is the main source of your body glucose. That is the reason why having well balanced healthy diet is a huge factor in managing blood sugar levels, specially in obese, overweight, pre-diabetes and diabetes people.

Key negative factors, affecting blood sugar levels

There are many factors affecting blood sugar levels in a negative way. I will mention few of them:

• Poor diet. This includes ready meals, high sugar and carbohydrate diet, low protein, low fiber, fizzy drinks, processed and pre-packed foods, full of artificial colourings and sweeteners, alcohol, cigarettes. All of these foods are highly inflammatory. They increase the oxidative stress and the inflammatory markers and processes within the body. Hence, they do not have any positive effect on the blood sugar levels.
• Lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle. Your body needs to be active. Activity plays a huge role in maintaining optimal wellness. Being active and exercising regularly can help and improve your blood glucose levels at optimum ranges.
• Elevated stress in the daily life. High stress levels can lead to many unpleasant health conditions and diseases. It can naturally increase cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone of your body, and hence your blood glucose levels increase.
• Dehydration. Hydration is such important factor for the human body. If you do not drink enough water, your blood gets sticky. That means the proteins, nutrients and substances that your blood transports can slow down the processes within the body and lead to some imbalances. You may notice you have headache, constipation, pain around your kidneys, etc. Even more, your liver and kidneys need water to get rid of the waste substances, that your body does not need. This will optimise all bodily functions and support entire body.

Factors, affecting blood glucose levels in a positive way

Very little simple steps could improve dramatically blood glucose levels and maintain it at optimal ranges.

• Increasing water intake. Drinking of approximately 8 glasses of filtered water daily is very good tool to keep your hydration up and provide a healthy environment for your bodily cells to function.
• Including 3 regular meals and add low glycemic foods. What is low glycemic food? These foods do not give a quick rise to your blood sugar levels. These are whole grains, vegetables, legumes-beans, lentils, chickpeas, brown/wild rice, good fats, nuts, seeds, proteins. In that way your body can maintain normal blood sugar levels up to the next meal time.
• Walking and exercising regularly is an easy step to follow. Maybe start from 6000 steps per day and gradually aim for 10000 steps.

Best supplements for blood sugar regulation

• Chromium. This mineral is one of the most popular in this field. It can naturally support blood glucose levels.
• ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid). It can improve glucose control with long term intake.
• Magnesium. Amazing supplement, which our bodies so much need for so many functions in the body.

Remember always check with your nutritionist regarding any food or supplement changes, you may want to make. They will be able to support and provide you with the best nutritional plan, because one size does not fit all. This is how nutritional therapy work. Functional medicine approaches the whole person not the symptom.

Let’s start with what is diabetes? Diabetes is a health condition where your blood sugar level is out of balance. This means your pancreas is not functioning at optimal level. There are different types of diabetes. I will only mention the most common ones. Type 1 and type 2 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which your Pancreas cannot produce insulin. So, the sugar molecules circulate your blood stream and it cannot enter into the cells. For that reason, people with type 1 Diabetes need to take insulin externally. In type 2 diabetes, the scenario is a bit different. Your pancreas produce insulin, but the cells do not have insulin sensitivity to open their doors (receptors) for the sugar to enter. Diet, food and lifestyle have a strong impact on managing both types. Let’s have a look how.

How to manage Diabetes with food and diet?

People don’t often realise how important food is for our health. Diabetes is a very common disease, in which food plays a huge role for its management. I have a few suggestions for you and if you try to introduce few of them, you could see the difference in your blood sugar response, not long after you start. Even small changes can have an impact on the blood sugar management. For example swapping white bread with wholemeal, white rice with wild or brown rice, white pasta with brown pasta. Nevertheless, cutting out of a processed carbohydrates and sugars, including more fiber like fresh fruit and vegetables. Replacing white potatoes with sweet potatoes or celeriac, would be an easy step to take in the beginning. Legumes such as lentils, beans and chickpeas are full of fiber, protein and are low glycemic, which plays a positive role on your blood sugar levels. It does not give you an immediate spike or blood sugar dip. Including protein at each meal is a key factor to regulate an imbalanced blood glucose levels. Another important aspect of the Diabetes diet is the good fat, such as seeds, nuts, omega3.

Lifestyle and Diabetes

Lifestyle and activity level is very important aspect in managing Diabetes health condition. Regular walks and exercises are the best natural way to not only improve this health condition but to support general health and feeling of wellbeing. Another factor is the stress. Stress can have such a negative impact on your body. It can affect all bodily systems at the same time. Reducing the levels of stress in your daily life, can be a game changer for any health condition.

Supplements and Diabetes

I will mention few safe supplements, which could possibly help and improve Diabetes, however you should always check your nutritionist before you start any supplements or make any other nutritional changes. Magnesium is one of my favourite supplement. It plays hundreds of functions within the human body. It has been researched that Diabetes patients have a lack of this mineral. There are different forms of Magnesium. This is why you should check with your health care provider which one of them is the best form for you. Another good supplement for Diabetes is Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). It has been proven to increase cells insulin sensitivity. Please be advised and always tell your Nutritionist if you are taking any medically prescribed drugs, so they can check drug-nutrient interactions.

Thyroid gland is a small gland in the neck, in front of the trachea. It has butterfly shape. Thyroid gland is part of the human endocrine system. It produces hormones that regulate body’s metabolism, takes part in the growth and development of the body. When thyroid gland does not function properly at optimal levels, this could lead to two conditions. When your thyroid gland produces hormones in excess, this could lead to a condition, called hyperthyroidism. When your thyroid gland produces less hormones, this could lead to hypothyroidism. Both conditions are serious and need to be discussed with your health care provider.

Who is at risk of having abnormal thyroid gland function?

Thyroid gland dysfunction can affect anyone, infants, teenagers, men, women ant any age. One of the risk factors is having a family history of thyroid dysfunction. Other factors could be a presence of any other autoimmune condition, medications, menopause, low or high intake of the mineral iodine.

Risk factor could also be person exposed and tested positive to a viruses, such as EBV. This is very common picture and many of the patients pest positive in such conditions.

What nutrients does thyroid gland need to function properly?

Thyroid gland need optimal levels of the following nutrients: iodine, selenium, zinc, iron and few more vitamins and minerals to function at optimal levels. Vitamins and minerals are not the only factors affecting this endocrine gland. Stress, diet, lifestyle and person’s activity levels are also taking part in this process.

What might be the symptoms with low thyroid function?

Well, if we know that thyroid gland is maintaining our body’s metabolism, hence it is close to the mind that this condition will slow down the body’s metabolism. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, low energy, cold extremities, constipation, loosing part of the eyebrows are one of the common ones.

What symptoms to look if we suspect high thyroid function?

It would be the opposite the above condition. The heart rate would be high, increased metabolism, feeling hot, sweating, loosing weight, irritability, high energy, mood changes, diarrhoea.

It is always good to listen to your body. The symptoms you might be experiencing, can actually tell you that there might be something wrong within your body. That is why, I would always say speak to your nutritional therapist or health care provider about your health. It is always easier to fix something, if it has not grown and progressed to a bigger health issue.