Credit: iStock/Md Saiful Islam Khan Imagine you’ve got diabetes and are at the doctor’s office. You leave your appointment reassured; your A1c is “good,” neatly packaged into a single number that suggests control, stability and safety. It feels definitive. But physiology rarely speaks in averages. A1c measures how much glucose has been sticking to the … Continue reading What Your A1c Doesn’t Tell You
Blood Sugar
Spotlight On: Gestational Diabetes
Credit: iStock/lostinbids A person’s body changes in many ways during pregnancy to support a growing baby. One change involves how the body controls blood sugar. Insulin is a hormone that helps transport sugar from the blood into cells so it can be used for energy. During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones that make the pregnant … Continue reading Spotlight On: Gestational Diabetes
Physiology Helps You Protect Your Health
American Physiology Summit attendees listen to research findings presented at the meeting. Scientists who study physiology gathered in Long Beach, California, last week for the inaugural American Physiology Summit—a brand-new conference dedicated to sharing discoveries on the cutting edge of bioscience. Studies highlighted at the Summit span from the effect of cannabis extracts on blood … Continue reading Physiology Helps You Protect Your Health
Spotlight On: Insulin
Credit: iStock Sugar is one of the most important fuels our bodies use to produce energy and survive. However, too much sugar can cause damage to our organs. Our bodies naturally produce a hormone called insulin that helps regulate how much sugar is circulating in our blood at any given time, even when we eat … Continue reading Spotlight On: Insulin
Try Fidgeting to Control Blood Sugar
Credit: iStock We usually associate autumn with several sensations that delight the senses, including crisp air, warm colors and the smell of woodsmoke. Many of us will spend time surrounded by loved ones, which may include benevolent grandmothers and aunts indulging us with food and sweets. Pecan pie, pumpkin pie and cobblers may be delicious, … Continue reading Try Fidgeting to Control Blood Sugar
Ketogenic Diets: Passing Fad or Nutritional Hack?
Read recent headlines or scroll through your social media feeds and you’ll likely see people talking about “keto” diets and keto-friendly recipes. This popular diet has gained attention for a variety of reasons ranging from weight loss success stories to the unexpected body odors some people on the diet experience. If the term “keto” is … Continue reading Ketogenic Diets: Passing Fad or Nutritional Hack?