Feb
People often ask me questions about insulin sensitivity, so I thought I’d share some basic information with everyone regarding this topic. Insulin sensitivity, as it sounds, is how sensitive your body is to insulin. When you eat and digest food, your body breaks it down into glucose, released into the bloodstream. Your pancreas will release insulin to shuttle the glucose into your cells which use it for fuel, and this process becomes less efficient (think Type 2 Diabetics). So their body needs more insulin to shuttle the same amount of glucose, and over time, this can cause damage at the cellular level resulting in chronic inflammation and more severe health issues.
You can watch insulin sensitivity by using a blood glucometer to test your blood sugar in a fasted state upon waking. Healthy individuals should show a reading less than 100 mg/dL, and as a coach, I prefer this reading to be <90 mg/dL. Pre-diabetes begins at => 100mg/dL so we’d like to steer clear from that!
Several things can affect insulin sensitivity, from both an acute and chronic standpoint:
1. Dehydration
2. Increased Stress (and Cortisol).
3. Hormone Imbalances.
4. Obesity or Overfeeding (on carbs and fat)
Depending on what the cause(s) are, there are typically a few things I implement to reduce FBG from both acute and chronic standpoints:
1. Hydration
2. Low carb diets/steps after meals
3. Implementing a GDA
4. Fasting
5. Implementing cardio/Resistance Training
As a coach who has overseen the health and well-being of hundreds of clients, insulin sensitivity is the holy grail in terms of getting your physique ready to change. Insulin resistance leads to diabetes and is a component of obesity and a primary driver in women who suffer from PCOS. Get insulin sensitivity under control and watch as your body heals and finally changes in front of your eyes.
