How Sugar Spikes Make you Sick

Before I begin, I want to let you know that I’m using two terms interchangeably.

Sugar = Glucose

Let’s jump right in….When you eat food, it’s broken down into sugars (glucose) and proteins (amino acids) and enters the blood stream. The blood then transports the sugar throughout the body - to the brain, liver, muscles, skin cells, everywhere…. Any sugar that’s not used is then stored as fat - either under your skin or around your internal organs.

Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is crucial for overall health and well-being. Glucose (aka sugar), from the food we consume, serves as the primary source of energy for our bodies. However, when glucose levels experience sudden spikes, it will have negative effects on our health over time. Let's delve into the consequences of glucose spikes on the body and understand why maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential.

Insulin Resistance:

Your body uses a chemical hormone called insulin to take the sugar from the bloodstream into muscles and other organs. Hormones, by definition, are secreted by one organ in the body and after transportation through the body, have effects on other organs of the body. Think of insulin as the key to open the flood gates to let sugar in Insulin is produced and released from cells in the pancreas and then travels through the blood to the rest of the body.

Frequent spikes in blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means either your pancreas cells tire out and can’t make and release the insulin, or the cells on the receiving end of the insulin, such as muscle and organ cells, burn out and can’t receive the insulin - the insulin doesn’t work to open the gates any longer. Either way, this leads to elevated levels of sugar that remain in the blood, because the sugar you take in just sits in the blood stream. High sugar levels in the blood, over time, cause damage to the blood vessels themselves. And when you damage your blood vessels, you decrease the blood flow to organs, eventually damaging the organs themselves. This is why uncontrolled diabetes can cause loss of limbs, brain damage and overall organ failure.

Energy Fluctuations:

Let’s say you just ate the classic American meal.. a cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake …. This is a meal heavy in carbohydrates (which are sugars!) and will cause your blood sugar levels to spike…Blood sugar spikes are followed by rapid drops and will cause energy fluctuations throughout the day. While the spike may provide a temporary burst of energy, the subsequent crash can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. These energy imbalances can negatively impact productivity, cognitive function, and overall quality of life.

Weight Gain:

As previously mentioned, elevated blood sugar levels trigger the release of insulin from the pancreas. While some of the insulin helps cells and organs take in necessary glucose for basic functioning, excess insulin signals the body to store fat. It’s essentially saying, “hey body! We have extra sugar over here, so let’s store it as fat so that we can survive the winter”. However, the problem is, we’re not cave people or nomads any longer, and we usually don’t encounter any periods of food shortage. Also, even if you’re taking in an appropriate number of calories for your body size and metabolism, if those calories are in the form of high sugars, the frequent and excessive sugar spikes cause excess insulin to accumulate in the blood stream, again signaling the body into storage mode or weight gain mode. Lastly, the abrupt drop from very high to then low sugar, signals your brain to want more sugar! So not only have you launched your body into fat storage mode, but you’ve also created an issue with excessive sugar cravings from the initial sugar spikes themselves.

Cardiovascular Health:

As I stated before, elevated blood sugar levels over time damages the blood vessels. It promotes the formation of plaques on the inside of the vessels, which block blood flow, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.

Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is crucial for overall health. The effects of glucose spikes on the body can range from insulin resistance and energy fluctuations to weight gain and cardiovascular problems. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and portion control, you can mitigate the risks associated with glucose spikes and get yourself looking and feeling healthy. Consulting with a healthcare professional who is trained in nutrition, can also provide personalized guidance in managing blood sugar levels and reducing the adverse effects of glucose spikes on the body.

In peace & love,

Dr. Dana