Why you need to understand Glucose – Part 2

What if when you knew when you were 40, that you were going to have Alzheimers and you could reverse it?

What if you knew that something wasn’t right in your brain and your mental sharpness when you were in your 50s, and at that moment there was something you could test, and address, that would stop a future diagnosis of Alzheimers or dementia?

Would you do it?

Your waist line AND your brain are highly connected.

Symptoms of bloating, skin tags, weight gain around the middle, poor memory – all are so highly connected.

Insulin resistance left alone for more than ten years increases your likelihood of developing Alzheimers disease up to 75%.

I have to preface this email with the politics of the creation of pathology and why it’s good to question “normal” feedback.

THE POLITICS of PATHOLOGY

Back in the 1920s, in Waco, Texas at Baylor University one man was given a grant to create what we know today as modern blood work.

He set up the ranges and standard tests.
He worked as a medical doctor. And,
He worked with pharmaceutical companies to create many of the pharmaceutical drugs we know to treat many of the conditions we know today.

One man. Given an incredible amount of power and influence..

His position was broken up and divided amongst a group of many people.
But he was not happy about this break up of his control.

Very reluctantly, this man was forced to give up several roles because he couldn’t possibly look at all the implications of pathology and how to treat each outcome reference.

This is important to understanding what is tested today and how it’s looked at.

One man with power and influence and a complete reluctance to let go of that power.

Women were granted voting rights in 1918 in Texas.This was just a few short years PRIOR to the investment into setting up pathology ranges.

Are we getting the right testing for Peri/Post Menopause today?

Fast forward to perimenopause and menopause today.

In the 1920s and 1930s, women’s health wasn’t invested in the same men’s health was. Let alone at a time when women were only just being seen in Texas as an equal citizen.

Standard blood work looks at top line markers that can show IF there is an life-threatening problem that needs a medical intervention.

This is why we are so incredibly passionate about women’s health.
We need to take a deeper look at that pathology to address the changes that can be addressed without medication to address symptoms.

The Alzheimers Society is referring to Alzheimers and Dementia as “Type 3 Diabetes”.

HBA1C is significant in the early detection of alzheimers.
But, is normally only looked at when a doctor suspects or has a concern for a patient that has diabetes. HBA1C is the test used to diagnose diabetes.

For most women, according to Lisa Mosconi, PhD, the brain and menopause thought leader, we are most vulnerable to developing “insulin-onset” alzheimers and/or dementia during peri-menopause and menopause.

This is where the ten year window comes in.

During peri/menopause, women can reduce the risk and stop the development of alzheimers, dementia, and even a stroke, by significantly reducing insulin-resistance and getting an optimal HBA1C.

What can do you do about it?

If you are noticing changes in your weight, bloating, or feeling less sharp, please ask to test your HBA1C.

All through peri-menopause and menopause, women think we need to look at our reproductive hormones or take HRT or bio-identical hormones to make it all go away.

But, with the patients we see, whilst we do look at the reproductive hormones, it’s really important to dig into the metabolic dysfunction.

Weight gain and brain fog doesn’t stop just because you take oestrogen and progesterone.
It often helps with other symptoms. But, weight gain and brain fog aren’t as common.

It’s not just the hormones that change from 40, cytokines are also changing.
This is why many men start to have symptoms, like fatigue, anxiety, digestive discomfort, skin issues, or getting sick easily. (Cytokine change happens at this time for men too.)

And insulin resistance increases with inflammation. It can also cause inflammation which is more sensitive at a time when your inflammatory markers are going up

Doctors don’t yet understand exactly how cognitive decline and insulin resistance are connected, but they do know that high blood sugar or insulin can harm the brain in several ways:

• Raises the risk of heart disease and stroke, which hurt the heart and blood vessels. Damaged blood vessels in the brain may contribute to cognitive decline.
• The brain depends on many different chemicals, which may be unbalanced by too much insulin. Some of these changes may help trigger cognitive decline.
• High blood sugar causes inflammation. This may damage brain cells and cause dementia to develop.

Early warning signs that you may have insulin resistance:

• HBA1C above 5.0
• Fibroids, cysts, or polyps
• Adenomyosis
• PCOS

Symptoms of Insulin Resistance (especially during Peri/Post Menopause):

• Weight Gain that doesn’t shift
• Heavy bleeding during cycles
• Poor concentration
• Short memory
• Skin Tags
• Dark shades of skin on neck, under arms, or in groin
• High Visceral Fat
• Joint Pain and/or Bursitis

We have a comprehensive Metabolic Reset webcast that is extremely helpful on how to get your HBA1C and insulin resistance down. You can watch the full webcast here: https://naturalhormonebalance.co/free-training-metabolic-reset/

If you would like to be supported and start feeling like your old self again, we offer a Free Introductory Consultation. You can organise that here: https://calendly.com/nz-naturopathy/intro-consult

Looking forward to connecting again soon.

Have a great Sunday!

Warmly,
Carrie