With a little research I learnt that blood sugar spikes are caused when my blood sugar rises, causing glucose to build up in my bloodstream. To understand why our blood sugar spikes, I needed to first understand how glucose and insulin work together. Glucose is the main fuel supply for my brain, muscles and organs to function properly unless I was able to change this! But how? I discovered the Ketogenic diet.
Blood Sugar Spikes and How Insulin Works
When we eat food, especially carbohydrates, it is broken down into glucose which signals the pancreas to secrete insulin into our bloodstream. Imagine insulin as being a bus taking the passengers (glucose) around your body to different locations. This is what happens and as the cells take up the glucose your blood sugar drops as with the insulin.
However, if we have little to no insulin, the sugar in your body will build up. Left untreated, it will cause serious complications such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and much more! I was already heading down this road.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is when the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Maintaining a normal blood sugar level, is done by injecting insulin to meet your body’s needs. Unfortunately there is no known cure or way to stop Type 1 diabetes. A few of my family members were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes!
Type 2 Diabetes
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes! Unlike Type 1 Diabetes, the symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be controlled by making lifestyle changes. This should include eating healthier, doing more exercise and getting your body weight down.
This is why I considered a ketogenic diet which would control my blood sugars, and reduced them to normal. Amazingly I managed this in under 10 days!
** Type 2 diabetes does not turn into type 1 diabetes. It is also uncommon for 1 diabetes may develop in adulthood.**
Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
I had them all and more! Increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, headaches, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision were just a few of the signs which I had ignored. Unlike type 1 diabetes, if caught early, type 2 diabetes can be reversed without the need for any medications. See my footnote!
What causes Blood Sugar Spikes
Carbohydrates, (carbs) are one of the biggest causes, and more people today are suffering from obesity, combined with diabetes. This included myself. I start by counting and keeping track of my carbs with every meal and most importantly – stop snacking. Eating between meals, did’t leave enough time for my blood sugars to come down.
High carbs combined with snacking is a recipe for disaster! (Pun intended)
Can Type 2 Diabetes be Totally Cured?
Yes, and No! Due to my terrible diet I had developed type 2 diabetes and was recommended by my doctor to start taking medication. I was fortunate enough to learn about Ketogenic diets and combined with intermittent fasting, my diabetes could be reversed.
My conclusion, based on my own personal experiences, was that the Keto diet and intermittent fasting controlled my blood sugars but didn’t actually cure it.
A person with non diabetes can eat a chocolate bar and within the next few hours or fasting, would revert back to normal blood sugars. However, even though my blood sugars are now normal, if I were to eat that same chocolate bar, it would spike by blood sugar until I got back onto a keto diet combined with fasting. This may not work for everyone but I discovered it’s how my body works!
Blood Sugar Spikes
Perhaps over a longer period of time; although I am now over a year into my new lifestyle change, my sugars would become normal per se! But then again, why would I want to start eating those unhealthy foods again!
If you have any different experiences please add a comment below as I’d love to hear from you.
