Blood Sugar Disorders
Why was Galactomune added for the patient from the Week 20 Nutrition Diabetes and Other Blood Sugar Disorders case study?
Chris Kresser: Galactomune is a prebiotic, and numerous studies have shown that prebiotics and certain fibers can reduce blood sugar....
Working with diabetics, is finding increasing BUN, or blood urea nitrogen, on serial blood tests, when they were normal before interventions. Many times creatinine and eGFR will not change significantly in other kidney markers. Urine, for instance, stays normal as well. Concerned that perhaps driving some patients into sarcopenia, and curious how to address this.
Dr. Amy Nett: Yeah, that’s a good question, and you know, I actually don’t have that many diabetic patients. And...
What do you think of using glutamine for strong sugar cravings? This person tends towards low blood sugar at times but does not seem to be satisfied with a piece of fruit or a small amount of sugary food like honey or dark chocolate. They’re doing the Paleo diet but really struggling with sugar cravings.
Dr. Amy Nett: There are so many different options for sugar cravings, and really difficult food cravings are hard to...
A multipart question/case study: A 72-year-old male with diabetes, on insulin, no oral diabetic meds. C-peptide 2.8. After four to six weeks on a Paleo-type reset, able to keep blood sugars in the normal range without insulin. Five months later, still off insulin. Latest A1c 5.7, down from 7.7. I thought Chris had mentioned type 2 diabetes as not often reversible in contrast to prediabetes, but we have seen many insulin patients like this with similar improvements as long as C-peptide is normal. On a separate note, the patient is still losing weight and still pretty low carbohydrate. He would like to increase muscle mass and strength, but tends towards blood sugar spikes if carb loading with exercise or going to moderate carb in general. I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place with the carb situation with him and other thin diabetics.
Dr. Amy Nett: Yeah, I think we do see type 2 diabetes being reversible. I’m not certain which context that...
Robb Wolf’s new book Wired to Eat talks a lot about testing your blood sugar to determine individual response of food or carbs on blood sugar. Do you see 14Four adopting this concept or using his approach especially when treating people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, insulin?
Chris Kresser: Good question. Not for 14Four typically because I look at that as just a starting point. But certainly...
What are your thoughts about elevated alpha-hydroxybutyrate as biomarker for insulin resistance? Mine came back elevated on the True Health panel
Chris Kresser: Do not trust it at all is my answer there. I see alpha-hydroxybutyrate elevated on nearly every patient...
The Freestyle Lite blood glucose monitor is available at Wal-Mart, so I bought one since it comes recommended for better accuracy and ease of use. However, it appears fairly challenging to find test strips. Is the meter being phased out?
Amy Nett: As far as I, I don’t know if the meter being phased out. I actually, it’s good to...
A 43-year-old male diagnosed with glioblastoma in February of this year. He’s been in ketogenic diet but having a challenge keeping glucose levels low because of steroids. Is there anything he can add to help control the glucose level?
Dr. Amy Nett: That’s a tricky one because, I mean, steroids, unfortunately, as you know, they’re going to be increasing...
Can type 1 diabetes be triggered in an adult male after a calorie-restricted diet? A 45-year-old male recently diagnosed. He’s a wine rep that put himself on a very calorie-restricted diet. His niece has type 1 diabetes since birth.
Dr. Amy Nett: I don’t think a calorie-restricted diet would trigger an autoimmune condition because if anything, calorie-restricted diets, right...
I know you recommend glucometers for monitoring blood glucose, but I’d like to know your thoughts on devices like FreeStyle Libre and Dexcom. Are they reliable or inaccurate?
Last one from Chi, “I know you recommend glucometers for monitoring blood glucose, but I’d like to know your thoughts...
