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“Every afternoon like clockwork, I’d crash so hard I could barely keep my eyes open,” James explained during our first consultation. “I’d get irritable, shaky, and couldn’t focus—but then I’d eat something and feel better for a while before the cycle repeated.”
At 48, James considered himself generally healthy. His annual physical consistently showed normal fasting glucose and A1c levels, so his doctor had dismissed his energy fluctuations as simply stress-related. “Maybe cut back on caffeine,” his doctor had suggested, despite James having already eliminated coffee months earlier.
What makes James’s story particularly relevant is how common it is. Millions of Americans experience blood sugar dysregulation that significantly impacts their daily life yet falls below the threshold for clinical diagnosis and intervention.
Comprehensive testing revealed what standard screenings had missed: while James’s fasting glucose and A1c were indeed within normal reference ranges, his insulin levels were significantly elevated—an early warning sign of insulin resistance that conventional testing typically ignores.
More telling was his glucose response pattern throughout the day. Using a continuous glucose monitor, we discovered dramatic swings from high to low levels after meals—particularly ones high in refined carbohydrates. His “crashes” precisely coincided with rapid drops in blood glucose following these spikes.
This pattern, often called “reactive hypoglycemia,” creates a roller coaster of energy, mood, and cognitive function—despite looking “normal” on standard blood tests that only capture single points in time.
For James, understanding this pattern was transformative. We created a personalized approach focused on:
Metabolic stabilization through meal composition and timing:
* Ensuring adequate protein with each meal (minimum 20-30g)
* Pairing carbohydrates with healthy fats to slow absorption
* Spacing meals appropriately to maintain stable glucose
* Front-loading carbohydrates earlier in the day
Strategic movement to enhance glucose utilization:
* Brief walking after meals to improve glucose uptake
* Resistance training to build insulin-sensitive muscle tissue
* Timing exercise to optimize metabolic benefits
Sleep optimization to support overnight metabolism:
* Consistent sleep-wake schedule to maintain circadian rhythms
* Strategies to improve deep sleep, which regulates glucose metabolism
* Avoiding late eating that disrupts overnight blood sugar regulation
Targeted supplementation to support insulin sensitivity:
* Key minerals like chromium and magnesium
* Specific herbs shown to enhance glucose utilization
* Alpha lipoic acid and other compounds that improve cellular energy production
The improvement in James’s quality of life was remarkable:
* Within two weeks, his afternoon crashes diminished significantly
* By one month, his energy remained stable throughout the day
* His mood swings and irritability resolved
* Concentration and mental clarity improved dramatically
* His sleep quality deepened, creating a virtuous cycle of improvement
“The difference is night and day,” James shared at our follow-up. “I didn’t realize how much those blood sugar swings were affecting every aspect of my life until they stabilized. It wasn’t stress or lack of willpower causing my symptoms—it was a physiological pattern that had a straightforward solution once we identified it.”
James’s story illustrates why functional medicine looks beyond basic blood sugar screenings to identify patterns of dysregulation that affect your quality of life—even when they don’t meet the criteria for clinical diagnosis. By addressing these subtler imbalances before they progress to disease, we can often resolve symptoms that conventional approaches miss entirely.
Throughout November, we’ll explore the complex factors affecting blood sugar regulation and how addressing these foundations can enhance energy, cognitive function, and long-term health—often years before conventional screening would identify a problem.
You are invited to join Perks of Wellness
In person, Quantum Surfing: An Energetic group session. Come get energy work done is a group setting, by donation. Tuesday, November 10th at 6:30pm. You can sign up by responding to this email or calling the office. See our Meetup group or go to Perksofwellness.com for more information.
Ask the Doc, a virtual Q&A for 30 minutes. Each month come and ask your questions are a particular topic, join the free conversation. This month we will be looking at blood sugar balance & insulin resistance (Live Q&A) on, Tuesday, November 17th at 6:30pm. The Meetup will be online, the Google Meet link will be emailed the day of to anyone who RSVPed. RSVP in the Meetup group or responding to this email.
Blood sugar balance & Insulin resistence will be on Tuesday, November 24th at 6:30pm. The Meetup will be online, the Google Meet link will be emailed the day of to anyone who RSVPed. RSVP in the Meetup group or responding to this email.
🌐 **Join Our Community:** I’m also excited to announce the launch of our new virtual Meetup group, Perks of Functional Medicine. This group is dedicated to exploring the world of functional medicine and getting to the root causes of your health issues. Whether you’re a seasoned health enthusiast or just starting your journey to wellness, there is something here for everyone. Join us for informative discussions, workshops, and events that will empower you to take control of your well-being and live your best life.
Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/perks-of-functional-medicine/)
P.S. If you found this tip helpful, keep an eye on your inbox. I’ll be sharing more valuable insights to help you take control of your health each week.
Be Good to Yourself,
Dr. Brian Perks DC, MPH
Perks of Wellness
2333 First Avenue #105
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-0345
drperks@perksofwellness.com
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