Blood Sugar

Everywhere on the blog we’ve referred to Blood Sugar as (BG) Blood Glucose, which is the more technically correct term. Table sugar as we know it consists of glucose + fructose in equal measure. Glucose is metabolized in all the cells of the body, fructose though is metabolized only in the liver. It is the glucose that circulates in the blood, hence BG. I use the term blood sugar here, because of it’s popularity among the general public.

Of all the general health parameters, Blood Sugar is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT one. Other parameters like weight, BMI, temperature, cholesterol or blood pressure pale in comparison as health indicators. Blood Sugar should be ideally kept within a narrow 30-40 point limit (80-120 mg/dl) throughout the entire day. Glucose concentrations in blood beyond 20 points on either side of the range are fraught with dangers. It disrupts the homeostatic (balanced) metabolism and that can give rise to all sorts of problems and disease including cancer. Barring traumatic accidents or inborn genetic disorders, all health issues begin with a dysfunctional metabolism, hence it’s value as an indicator.

Wellness practitioners often use analogies in explaining body function and processes, especially to those who do not possess a scientific disposition. It is one of my favourite tools as well. I use the firemen analogy to explain the irrelevance of cholesterol (on it’s own) as a cardiovascular risk factor. A fire naturally requires firemen to come & douse the fire. It is natural to expect a few of them to lose their lives, every once in a while. Where there is fire, there are bound to be firemen. But are they to be blamed for starting the fire? Such is the relation between cholesterol & cardiovascular problems. I also liken drugs that suppress symptoms to cutting off the red warning lights on your car’s dashboard. Symptoms are like those red warning lights that indicate problems within the bonnet. Getting rid of the warning light is not really the right therapeutic approach. When drugs are required, they are, but most times they do not serve purpose, and are prescribed with gay abandon, without so much as a thought to their side effects & other consequences.

To explain the glucose metabolism and blood sugar related issues I came up with an analogy that I would like to share with you. Let’s use a BUSINESS model to understand this one. Imagine RAW MATERIALS being used by a FACTORY to manufacture a PRODUCT. It then requires a WAREHOUSE to store the product until it is released in the market. Suppose this business uses a door to door model and thus employs many SALESMEN to distribute / deliver the product to its CONSUMERS. If the business were to misjudge the product’s demand and keep on over producing it, very soon there would be a GLUT in the market. Consumers would point blank refuse to have any more of it. Salesmen would be roaming with unsold stock, getting frustrated in the process, and would start to negatively affect the business. If this keeps up for long, a total COLLAPSE would follow and the business would have to shut down.

Now in the above scenario replace the capitalized words as follows ;

You (BUSINESS),

Carb rich food (RAW MATERIALS),

Digestive system (FACTORY),

Glucose (PRODUCT),

Liver (WAREHOUSE),

Insulin (SALESMEN),

Cells (CONSUMERS),

Insulin Resistance (GLUT) &

Metabolic Syndrome (COLLAPSE).

Get the picture ?