Dr. Kelly Simms ND, CNS

Naturopathic Doctor and Nutritionist, Fertility Course, Natural Women's Health, Preconception and Fertility

Because natural women’s health doesn’t have to be complicated. 

  • Home
  • Services
    • Optimal Hormonal Balance
    • Preconception Planning, Fertility, and Infertility
    • Perimenopause + Menopause
    • Fertility Course
  • Fertility Course
    • Learn More
    • Get Started Now
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Dr. Simms
    • FAQ
    • Media
  • Become a Patient
    • Contact
  • Login to ChARM – Patient Portal

in Blog· Hormones and Metabolic Health· Weight Loss

Blood Sugar and Pre-diabetes: It’s in Your Control!

Take a look at these statistics from the National Institutes of Health:
[checklist type=”dotted”]

  • The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has risen from 1.5 million in 1958 to 18.8 million in 2010
  • It is estimated that 79 million adults aged 20 and older have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes.
  • Studies have shown that by losing weight and increasing physical activity people can prevent or delay prediabetes from progressing to diabetes. [/checklist]

Why wait to get diagnosed diabetes to evaluate your risk? Let’s talk about some of the risk factors that may increase risk for diabetes:

  1. High intake of grains, sugars, or processed foods: Fact or fiction: grains raise the blood sugar as much as table sugar. This can actually be FACT in some cases. Research has shown that whole wheat bread can cause blood sugar to rise as much, if not more, than table sugar. This raises the question: are healthy whole grains really all that healthy? I believe the answer to the question is really quite complicated. One of my mentors during residency, Dr. William Davis, wrote a great book on this topic that I recommend to patients often, Wheat Belly.
  2. Lack of physical activity: exercise has been associated with increasing metabolic rate, building lean mass, maintaining a healthy weight, decreasing stress and improving mood. What’s not to love about exercise?! Even a little dose will do in this category, as research has shown that walking daily for 30 minutes may be just enough. You don’t have to run marathons or become a gym rat to get your exercise in. Just make sure to do intentional physical activity, most days of the week. The best form of exercise is this: something you will do!
  3. Weight may or may not be “normal” range: I have seen many “normal” weight individuals diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes in my practice. I have seen many overweight individuals with no laboratory signs of diabetes. Research has identified a category of metabolically obese, normal-weight (MONW) individuals. These individuals are very common in the general population and they probably represent one end of the spectrum of people with the insulin resistance syndrome. Weight is not always the best indicator of risk. Blood pressure, markers of blood sugar control, certain skin changes, cholesterol profile, family history, and a diet diary are all the things that help to determine risk.

The great news about diabetes and prediabetes is that these are two conditions that can actually be REVERSED with diet, exercise and supportive supplementation. I love doing this work in my practice because it is so rewarding to see lives change as a result of making simple changes. My friend, Denise, recently published a book about her diabetes experience. I would encourage anyone interested in learning more to pick it up: The Virgin Diabetic.

Subscribe to get the latest

free goodies straight to your inbox

« Cleaner, Greener, Home! Non-Toxic Cleaning!
Finding Your “Healthy” Diet »

Search

Categories

Stay up to date

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Media Inquiries

Contact info

773-492-8010
2559 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Click here to contact us

join me on instagram

dr.simms

Do you take supplements? How did you decide which Do you take supplements?  How did you decide which ones were right for you?  One of my favorites that can benefit many is black elderberry. Have you heard of it? 
 
This powerful herb helps: 
Reduce inflammation
Enhance immune system
Benefit cardiovascular function
 
The second bullet point highlights why elderberry is SO important to take in winter months. Our immune systems are getting back up to speed this season after two years! Elderberry is well researched and shown to be an effective supplement for fighting bacteria and viruses. 

Share this post with a friend who may benefit from black elderberry.
If you are what you eat, what are you? I actually If you are what you eat, what are you?

I actually used to obsess over what I ate. That wasn’t a long term solution for good nutrition, so I’ve learned how to eat what makes me feel good and is health promoting. 

Learn more about how you can take control of your health with nutrition, click the link in bio.
The winter blues hit everyone differently. You mig The winter blues hit everyone differently. You might find yourself looking to food or sleep for comfort while the weather changes your sleep and mood.

While you can’t change the weather, here’s some proactive steps you can take to battle the blues: ❄️

🥕 Eat Your Veggies. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you need to eat heavy, high fat processed foods. Explore recipes like hearty vegetable soups, roasted vegetables, and omega 3 rich foods. 

🏂 Go Outside. Exercise inside is fantastic, but don’t let that keep you from a brisk walk outside. 

🤗 Keep Social. Social interaction is important for your mood. Make sure to keep your social engagements even if you don’t feel like leaving your house. You will be glad you did.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Yelp

Looking for something?

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Media Inquiries

Copyright © 2023 · Kelly Simms, ND · website by N.Creatives