Most of the foods we consume cause blood glucose spikes. But due to our genetic differences, our blood sugar responses to the same foods can vary significantly from person to person. Managing the number, intensity and duration of glucose spikes through scientifically developed personalized diets and other lifestyle modifications reduces the likelihood of being afflicted by weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, various cancers, and other illnesses.

When we consume food, glucose enters our bloodstream and triggers insulin to be released by the pancreas. Insulin helps blood glucose enter the cells, where it is used as a source of energy. Any extra glucose is stored in the liver and in our muscles.

Glucose stored in muscles is used during periods of intense physical activity, while glucose stored in the liver is used during periods of less intense activity. Glucose is also stored as triglycerides in our fat cells. This store is called upon during periods of prolonged fasting, and weight loss begins once this store of triglycerides in fat cells is tapped into.

High levels of blood glucose result in insulin constantly being released in the body, as a result of which the body stops tapping into fat cells to release energy. This makes it hard to lose weight. At some point, constantly high insulin levels lead to insulin resistance. This inhibits glucose from being utilised by the body to generate energy. Instead, most of it gets stored in fat cells, leading to weight gain.

Wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor you will gain vital insight into this process. It tracks your glucose levels continuously and provides real time and personal data about how the sugar levels in your body are impacted by the foods you consume and the exercise you do. Avoiding the foods that cause blood glucose spikes gives your body a fat-burning advantage that can lead to weight loss.

Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose. And when glucose builds up in the bloodstream it causes blood glucose to spike. For people with diabetes, this happens because of the body’s inability to properly use glucose.

While our bodies need glucose because it’s the primary fuel that powers our body functions, glucose can’t be used as fuel until it enters our cells. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, unlocks cells so that glucose can enter them. Without insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream with nowhere to go, becoming increasingly concentrated over time.

Large glucose spikes occur in diabetics (and pre-diabetics) because they’re unable to use insulin effectively. This is referred to as insulin resistance. Chronic high blood glucose levels increase the likelihood of serious diabetes complications like heart disease, stroke, blindness, neuropathy, and kidney failure.