Dr. Kelly Simms ND, CNS

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

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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.

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Estrogen dominance, or unopposed estrogen, is a th Estrogen dominance, or unopposed estrogen, is a theory in which the level of estrogen outweighs the level of progesterone and other hormones in the body. Picture a seesaw. Estrogen is the person high in the air looking down at the progesterone (and other hormones)- sitting at the other end with their feet on the ground.

Our bodies need estrogen for reproductive, cardiovascular, and bone health. Estrogen is a very important hormone! Too much estrogen, however, can be linked to an assortment of conditions like: 
- Heavy periods
- Migraines
- Water retention 
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Uterine fibroids 
- Endometriosis
- Mood swings 
- Hormonal weight gain

High estrogen can be caused by certain medications, excess body fat, stress, alcohol, liver issues, and synthetic xenoestrogens, so some dietary and lifestyle changes may be needed to correct your hormone levels. And, what about supporting the other hormones? Picture the seesaw again. We can support healthy progesterone production with dietary and lifestyle changes as well!

Was this helpful? If so – like, follow, and don’t forget to comment below any questions you have about estrogen dominance!
There are few health conditions as frustrating to There are few health conditions as frustrating to address and correct as acne.

Courses of antibiotics, dozens of topicals, spironolactone, supplements, and the birth control pill are the main treatments most of my patients have tried before they come to me. While some may be effective, you might be still wondering: is there a way to heal my skin once and for all and not have to use this stuff?

Acne is so frustrating for many because it seems like there are a million things you could be trying. So, what are some NATURAL first steps you can take if you are struggling with acne?

1) Get your hormone levels checked. Knowing if you have any hormone imbalances can help your doctor to cater your treatment plan to your specific needs.

2) Address your gut health. Your gut is the foundation of your health and can be closely tied to skin issues.

3) Try going dairy free. I’ve found this is one food group that can be especially problematic for people that suffer with acne. The thing to know is that you have to avoid it for at least 30 days and also that in the future, you can probably have at least some dairy back. It’s usually not a forever restriction.

If you have questions about your struggles with acne, leave a comment below or send me a DM. I’d love to chat about potential solutions and help you get to the bottom of your skin concerns.
It’s time for another Sunday Supplement highligh It’s time for another Sunday Supplement highlight! Today, we’re talking about Magnesium Glycinate.

Magnesium Glycinate is a supplement that increases magnesium levels. Magnesium is vital in regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. It may also be helpful in the making of bone, protein, and DNA. 

I love magnesium glycinate because it is one of the easiest forms of magnesium supplementation for the body to absorb. It is also gentle on the digestive tract which means it is less likely to cause undesirable side effects such as an upset stomach or loose stool. 

Magnesium glycinate might be especially helpful for you if you suffer from:
- High blood pressure or heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Migraine headaches
- Depression

Do you have more questions about magnesium glycinate? Leave a comment below, or shoot me a DM and we can chat!
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