Blood Sugar Management to Assist With Hashimoto’s

High blood sugar is one of the primary perpetrators of chronic disease. Diabetes, dementia, heart disease and autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s, chronic pain and hormone imbalances all arise in relation to high blood sugar levels. HbA1c blood panels, however, are tools that allow you to regularly test and determine whether your blood sugar levels are safe or leading to chronic disease.

Complications resulting from high blood sugar can include:

• Chronic inflammation, which can lead to autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism
• Radical hormone imbalances such as high estrogen in men and testosterone in women, PCOS, PMS, and hormone deficiency
• Deregulation of hormones controlling satiety which can lead to over-eating
• Damage to the walls of blood vessels
• Rapid brain aging and damage to brain tissue which greatly increases the risk for dementia

The list doesn’t end there however: eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and stroke are all more likely to occur with high blood sugar.

A better understanding of your personal blood sugar is fundamental to proper management, and can assist in preventing health imbalances such as Hashimoto’s. The HbA1c blood panel is a simple test that indicates your blood sugar levels over the past three months.

Glycated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, is the concentration of red blood cells that have bonded with glucose – the greater HbA1c, the greater the risk for disease.

HbA1c ranges between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate pre-diabetes, and anything over 6.5% is diabetes. Standardized lab ranges suggest being below 5.7% to be normal.

Within the field of functional medicine, we strive for optimum health – a range between 4.6%-5.3% is much more desirable. Studies suggest risk of heart disease increases with HbA1c levels of over 5%, while some suggest it is higher with just 4.6%.

The HbA1c blood test indicates an assessment of blood sugar over the past three months, however not all blood cell turnover is the same. People with pre-diabetes or diabetes experience a higher turnover of red blood cells, while regular blood sugar levels promote longevity within cells, resulting in tests reflecting up to five months.

There are a few other blood sugar markers that you can assess with the HbA1c; a glucometer is another very useful and highly important tool for monitoring daily blood sugar levels.

Fasting blood sugar (blood sugar levels right after you wake up, before eating and drinking) is another indicator of health. Levels of 100mg/dL or higher indicates pre-diabetes, while anything above 126mg/dL is diabetes. Optimum ranges sit in the low 80s.

However, it is important to realize when diets can affect these levels: for example, the ketogenic diet can result in fasting blood sugar ranges around 100mg/dL. If you observe this level but maintain healthy HbA1c and post-prandial (below) blood sugars, it is simply a result of the diet. Autoimmune diets implemented to manage Hashimoto’s can produce these results; it is important to understand the aforementioned mechanisms at work.

Post-prandial blood sugar is observed two hours after meals, and is another useful indicator of health. Optimal blood sugar two hours after a meal is usually below 100 to 120 mg/dL.

It is very possible to actively lower blood sugar levels in daily life – remember to eat plenty of fiber while minimizing processed carbohydrate intake (such as some pastas and breads), avoid inflammatory foods, and exercise daily. Certain herbs and nutrients can also be an excellent aid in lowering blood sugar. Contact my office for advice on managing blood sugar and Hashimoto’s.