As an energy supplier, it plays an essential role in the body, but at the same time its excessive consumption has numerous health disadvantages: GlucoseThe naturally occurring carbohydrate is also widely known as glucose or – in the food industry – as dextrose. Measured in the blood, there is the so-called Blood sugar levels So far, so familiar. In social media and beyond, her Relevance for health and beauty increasingly discussed and examined in new light, for example by the biochemist, influencer and author Jessie Inchauspé, who has been educating her followers as the “Glucose Goddess” since 2019. She represents a new awareness of blood sugar.
Glucose, Insulin, Diabetes & Co.
Glucose is found in almost all foods, and its crucial role as an energy supplier is confirmed by the German nutritional doctor and diabetologist Dr. Matthias Riedl: “Our cells live from this energy! Glucose is so important to us that we are crazy about it – that is, ‘sweet’ is essential for our survival.” When we eat food containing glucose, it passes through the digestive tract into our bloodstream, where it causes our blood sugar level to rise. pancreas reacts to this by producing the hormone insulin: »All foods that contain sugar must be removed from the blood and brought to the ‘storage areas’ in the cells,« says the doctor. »The blood sugar level must therefore be lowered again – insulin is responsible for this task.« And this is where the first problem arises: The hormone insulin is the only chemical messenger in our body that ensures the reduction of the blood sugar level. If the body has to produce too much insulin on a permanent basis, this can lead to Diabetes In addition, glucose is either stored in the cells as glycogen or metabolized directly to generate energy. This is a complex metabolic process that takes time – during this process, fat loss is paused! This may not be immediately noticeable if you have a poor lifestyle aka eating habits, but other effects are more immediate.
In times of sugar
Anyone who consumes too little glucose will quickly find that there is a lack of Energy; you are hungry, tired and uncoordinated. However, we tend to go to the other extreme and give our bodies too much glucose too quickly. This happens primarily through the consumption of highly processed carbohydrates, alcohol or fruit juicesThe result is fatal, as Dr. Matthias Riedl emphasizes: »Too much sugar promotes certain flammabilitymakes us a little depressed, tired and dissatisfied.« The sharp increase does provide energy for a short time, but then leads to a rapid drop, which causes cravings, fatigue, mood swings, tiredness and difficulty concentrating. In addition, glucose peaks cause
in the blood that the mitochondria free radicals produce: They cause oxidative stress and inflammation – we also age faster. If we send our blood sugar on this rollercoaster ride for years, the result is countless diseases of civilization: The best known of these is Typ-2-Diabeteswhich is caused by insulin resistance. Constant peaks also lead to Damage to vessels or Organs like the liver, whose task of metabolizing glucose, fat and protein is impaired. “It’s like a factory that produces something important. But someone keeps coming and putting up shelves where fat is stored. The workers can no longer get through to do their actual job,” explains the diabetologist. “This can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure or cancer.”
Looking at the mirror
The aim of authors such as Dr. Matthias Riedl or Jessie Inchauspé is to stabilize blood sugar levels. Those who follow a few rules will benefit from a variety of improvements: sleep quality improves, skin aging processes are slowed down and acne is reduced, cravings are felt less frequently and weight tends to be lost – even chronic fatigue and low moods are reduced. In the long term, blood sugar levels drop. Risk of various diseases. The path to healthy blood sugar is through exercise and a diet with foods that have a low glycemic index There are also specific “hacks” that are intended to keep the curve flatter; some of these have gained notoriety through the “Glucose Goddess” movement, such as pre-loading with vegetables and a sip of apple cider vinegar before every meal – or the right time for sugar: “Calories are not all the same: it depends on when I consume them!” confirms the German nutritional doctor. “If I eat something sweet, then it is with the main meal and not in between meals.” If you consciously focus on your own glucose levels, you can achieve a lot – and achieve more euphoria in everyday life and improved health in the long term without constant ups and downs. So if you want to do something good for yourself, you should start with your diet and trust in technology: modern equipment such as the Blood glucose sensorwhich you simply stick on as a plaster and which works via a sensor, shed light on the darkness and put personal health in the spotlight.