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As the sun began to rise on a typical Monday morning, Susan was already up and running around her small apartment. She had a long day of work ahead of her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
After a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee, Susan headed to work. She tried to focus on her tasks, but her mind kept wandering back to her father. He had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years ago, and Susan had noticed that he had been getting sick more frequently lately.
During her lunch break, Susan decided to give her father a call. “Hey, Dad. How are you feeling?” she asked, hoping to get some answers.
“I’m okay, Susan. Just a little tired,” her father replied.
“Have you been feeling sick lately? Like, getting colds or anything?” Susan asked, getting straight to the point.
“Yeah, actually. I’ve had a few colds over the past few months. Nothing major, though,” her father replied.
Susan knew that her father’s diabetes could be affecting his immune system, but she didn’t know the details. So, she decided to do some research and stumbled upon an article by Dr. Nicolle, a medical doctor specializing in primary care and functional medicine.
The article explained how high blood sugar levels in diabetics could impair the immune system’s ability to fight off infections. It was a fascinating read, and Susan couldn’t wait to share it with her father.
Later that evening, Susan visited her father and shared what she had learned. They talked for a while about the importance of managing his diabetes to prevent further complications, and Susan encouraged her father to see a doctor to discuss his treatment options.
As Susan drove home that night, she felt relieved that she could help her father better understand his condition. She knew that managing diabetes was a lifelong challenge, but with the right information and support, her father could take control of his health and live a fulfilling life.
Continue reading below to learn more…
Realizing the consequences of elevated glucose on a diabetic’s immune system is necessary for those seeking to manage their health. In this blog post, we will examine the detrimental effects of high blood sugar levels on both innate and adaptive immunity through a discussion of cell adherence, phagocytosis, pathogen binding capacity, antibody responsiveness, Toll-like receptor dysregulation and neutrophil dysfunction, as well as direct glycosylation of proteins by hyperglycemia.
Lastly, we will examine nitric oxide-related endothelium-dependent relaxation processes affected by diabetes and provide functional medicine approaches for addressing hyperglycemia. By understanding these mechanisms behind how hyperglycemia impairs a diabetic’s immune system, you can make informed decisions about managing your health effectively.
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Hyperglycemia and Innate Immunity Impairment
If you’re a busy professional living with diabetes, it’s essential to understand how hyperglycemia – high blood sugar levels – can significantly impair your immune system. In this section, we’ll delve into the nitty-gritty of how hyperglycemia affects your innate immunity. So grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and let’s dive in.
Altered Cell Adherence in Diabetics
Diabetics have a decreased capacity to cling onto microorganisms in comparison with non-diabetic cells. This means they struggle more than non-diabetic cells when trying to stick onto harmful invaders like bacteria or fungi. It’s kind of like trying to catch a slippery fish with bare hands – not easy. The presence of glucosuria (sugar in urine) further complicates matters by enhancing bacterial growth, particularly Escherichia coli strains.
Reduced PMN Chemotaxis Affecting Phagocytosis
- Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs): These are white blood cells that play a crucial role in defending our bodies against infections.
- Chemotaxis: This is the process where PMNs move towards invading pathogens so they can engulf them through phagocytosis.
In diabetics experiencing hyperglycemia, there is reduced chemotaxis among these valiant defenders (PMNs). This means they’re less effective in seeking out and destroying harmful pathogens, leaving your body more vulnerable to infections. It’s like having a superhero team with a broken GPS – they can’t find the villains as efficiently.
Now that we’ve explored how hyperglycemia impairs innate immunity let’s move on to understanding its impact on adaptive immunity and other aspects of immune function.
High glucose levels can interfere with natural immunity, making diabetics more vulnerable to catching illnesses. The next heading focuses on the heightened pathogen binding capacity found in those with diabetes due to altered cell adherence and reduced PMN chemotaxis.
Key Lesson: Hyperglycemia can severely weaken a diabetic’s immune system, causing impaired cell adherence to microorganisms and reduced PMN chemotaxis for phagocytosis. This leaves them vulnerable to infections like never before – it’s akin to trying to catch a greased pig.
Increased Pathogen Binding Capacity in Diabetics
Did you know that diabetics are more prone to infections due to their increased pathogen binding capacity? It’s true. Research shows that certain pathogens, such as Candida albicans, bind more effectively onto fucose-containing and N-acetylgalactosamine-containing lipids present within human buccal epithelial cells among diabetics. This enhanced adhesion of pathogens contributes significantly toward the prevalence of fungal infections observed amongst this patient population.
Enhanced Candida albicans Adhesion on Diabetic Cells
Our bodies are regularly exposed to many microbes, and our immune system is essential for maintaining wellness. However, for diabetic individuals, their hyperglycemia-induced changes make it easier for opportunistic fungi like Candida albicans to stick around – literally. The increased presence of specific lipids in diabetic cells allows these pesky fungi to adhere more easily and cause infection.
Prevalence of Fungal Infections Due to Increased Pathogen Binding
- Mucosal Infections: Oral thrush is one common example caused by an overgrowth of Candida species in the mouth. Diabetic patients often experience dry mouth or xerostomia due to high blood sugar levels which create an ideal environment for fungal growth.
- Skin Infections: Hyperglycemia can lead to skin conditions such as athlete’s foot and ringworm – both caused by dermatophyte fungi that thrive on glucose-rich environments found on the skin surface.
- Nail Infections: Diabetic patients are also more susceptible to onychomycosis, a fungal infection that affects the nails. Due to decreased circulation and nerve damage in extremities, the immune system is unable to effectively detect and combat infections.
So, what can be done about this increased pathogen binding capacity? The answer lies in managing hyperglycemia effectively through functional medicine approaches like dietary modifications or medication management. By controlling blood sugar levels, diabetic patients can potentially reduce their vulnerability to infections and improve overall health outcomes.
Diabetics must take proactive steps to avoid the potential for fungal infections and other health complications due to their heightened pathogen binding capacity. Disruption of adaptive immunity by hyperglycemia is another concern that must be addressed, as this may further weaken the body’s defense against pathogens.
Key Lesson: Diabetics have an increased capacity for pathogens to bind onto their cells, making them more vulnerable to fungal infections like oral thrush, athlete’s foot, and ringworm. To combat this heightened pathogen binding capacity and improve overall health outcomes, diabetics should look into functional medicine approaches such as dietary modifications and/or medication management in order to get a handle on hyperglycemia.
Disruption of Adaptive Immunity by Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia, a notorious sidekick to diabetes mellitus, doesn’t stop at sabotaging your innate immune system. It also wreaks havoc on your adaptive immunity. The dynamic duo of antibody hyporesponsiveness and impaired immune responses associated with low serum C4 concentrations team up to weaken the body’s defense against pathogens.
Antibody Hyporesponsiveness Leading to Weakened Defense Against Pathogens
Your body relies on antibodies as its personal security force, protecting you from harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. However, when hyperglycemia enters the scene, it hampers these vital defenders’ responsiveness making them less effective in warding off infections. This leaves diabetic individuals more vulnerable to various illnesses that can complicate their health further.
Low Serum C4 Concentrations Impacting Complement Activation
Besides meddling with antibody function, hyperglycemia also interferes with another crucial aspect of adaptive immunity: complement activation. Low serum C4 concentrations are often observed in diabetics due to high blood sugar levels impairing this essential process for eliminating pathogens efficiently from circulation. Without proper complement activation working hand-in-hand with antibodies, the immune system struggles even more against infections.
- Action Item: Keep an eye on your blood sugar levels regularly and work closely with healthcare professionals for appropriate management strategies.
- Note: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition and regular exercise can help in managing hyperglycemia.
By recognizing the effects of hyperglycemia on immunity, you can arm yourself with the knowledge needed to maintain optimal health and reduce diabetes-related complications. By staying informed, you can gain the power to manage your health and reduce any issues that come with having diabetes.
Hyperglycemia has been shown to disrupt adaptive immunity, leading to weakened defense against pathogens and increased susceptibility to various infections in diabetics. Exploring the effects of hyperglycemia on diabetes requires investigation into how altered toll-like receptor and neutrophil activity may be involved.
Key Lesson: Hyperglycemia can be a formidable foe in the fight against diabetes, as it not only weakens innate immunity but also hampers adaptive immune responses like antibody hyporesponsiveness and complement activation. Maintaining good control of your glucose levels is key to avoiding any unexpected issues or illnesses.
Dysregulation of Toll-like Receptors and Neutrophil Function
Did you know that elevated blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on your immune system by messing with the delicate balance between Toll-like receptor expression and neutrophil function? Let’s dive into how this dysregulation renders diabetic patients more susceptible to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
Toll-like receptor expression and neutrophil function imbalance
TLRs, which are essential for recognizing pathogens and initiating a proper immune response in healthy people, are affected by hyperglycemia. However, hyperglycemia has been shown to induce TLR expression while simultaneously inhibiting neutrophil function – talk about a double whammy. This imbalance leads to apoptosis resistance among these white blood cell populations tasked with combating infections.
Increased susceptibility to various infections in diabetics
- Viral Infections: The impaired TLR signaling caused by high blood sugar levels makes it difficult for the body to recognize viruses like influenza or COVID-19 effectively. As a result, diabetic individuals may experience prolonged illness or increased severity of symptoms due to their compromised immune systems.
- Bacterial Infections: With reduced neutrophil functionality comes decreased phagocytosis – the process through which bacteria are engulfed and destroyed by white blood cells. Therefore, diabetics are more prone to bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia due to their compromised immune system and increased pathogen binding capacity.
- Fungal Infections: Hyperglycemia not only affects TLRs but also enhances pathogen binding capacity within human cells (Candida albicans, for example). This increased binding contributes significantly to the prevalence of fungal infections observed amongst diabetic patients.
Understanding the impact of hyperglycemia on immune system function is crucial for busy professionals like you, who may be juggling multiple responsibilities while managing chronic conditions such as diabetes. By taking control of your blood sugar levels and working with a healthcare professional well-versed in integrative therapies and lifestyle changes, you can minimize medication use, maximize health, and reduce your vulnerability to infections.
Toll-like receptor dysregulation and neutrophil dysfunction caused by hyperglycemia can lead to greater vulnerability to infectious agents in diabetics. Additionally, hyperglycemia can directly glycosylate proteins resulting in altered protein structures which may impact cytokine production and overall immune response.
Key Lesson: It is critical to be aware of the potential for high blood sugar levels to impair Toll-like receptor expression and neutrophil function, thus increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. This makes diabetic patients more vulnerable to viral, bacterial and fungal infections – a double whammy. To combat this problem while minimizing medication use, lifestyle changes in combination with integrative therapies are essential for busy professionals like you.
Direct Glycosylation of Proteins by Hyperglycemia
If you thought high blood sugar levels only wreaked havoc on your energy and mood, think again. Hyperglycemia has a sneaky way of causing direct glycosylation (the addition of sugar molecules) to proteins. This process can alter the tertiary structure of complement molecules, which play a crucial role in our immune system’s ability to ward off infections. Moreover, it can stimulate cytokine production and release – chemical messengers that regulate inflammation and immunity.
Altered Protein Structures Due to Hyperglycemia-Induced Glycosylation
In simple terms, when there’s too much sugar floating around in your bloodstream, it starts sticking onto proteins like an uninvited guest at a party. This unwanted attachment leads to changes in the protein structures responsible for activating our immune response against pathogens. The result? A weakened defense system that struggles to keep up with invading bacteria or viruses.
Impact on Cytokine Production and Immune Response
- Cytokines: These tiny but mighty signaling molecules are essential for regulating inflammation and coordinating various aspects of our immune response. When hyperglycemia-induced glycosylation occurs, it can increase the production and release of certain cytokines. While this may sound like good news initially (more soldiers ready for battle), excessive cytokine activity can lead to chronic inflammation – another major player behind impaired immunity among diabetics.
- The Domino Effect: As if that wasn’t enough, this altered cytokine production can also negatively impact other immune cells’ function, such as T-cells and macrophages. These cells are capable of recognizing and eliminating any dangerous microorganisms before they can cause harm.
So there you have it – the not-so-sweet truth about how hyperglycemia impairs your immune system by directly glycosylating proteins. The good news is that with proper blood sugar management through functional medicine approaches, you can help keep these pesky sugar molecules in check and support a healthier immune response.
Hyperglycemia can cause changes to protein structures, resulting in an altered cytokine output and weakened immune system. This has a further impact on nitric oxide signaling processes in diabetes patients, ultimately resulting in compromised immunity due to increased vascular permeability.
Key Lesson: Excessively high blood sugar can lead to proteins being glycosylated, thus altering their structure and compromising the body’s ability to fight off infections. This process also triggers excessive cytokine production which further weakens immunity. To combat this domino effect, proper blood sugar management is key for keeping hyperglycemic-induced protein damage in check and maintaining a healthy immune response.
Nitric Oxide-related Endothelium-dependent Relaxation Processes Affected by Diabetes
Diabetes can severely disrupt both the body’s natural and adaptive immunity systems. One sneaky way it does this is by affecting nitric oxide-related endothelium-dependent relaxation processes. Let’s take a closer look at how diabetes mellitus can affect nitric oxide-related endothelium-dependent relaxation processes and, as a result, compromise our immunity.
Impaired Nitric Oxide Signaling Contributing to Compromised Immunity
NO has an essential part to play in maintaining our body’s immunity against diseases. It helps regulate blood flow, inflammation, and even kills off invading pathogens directly. In people with diabetes, however, high blood sugar levels can impair NO production and signaling pathways. This impairment leads to reduced effectiveness of our immune system when we need it most – during an infection.
Increased Vascular Permeability Facilitating Pathogen Entry
- Vascular permeability: The ease at which substances can pass through the walls of blood vessels into surrounding tissues.
- The problem: Impaired nitric oxide signaling in diabetics results in increased vascular permeability.
- The consequence: Increased vulnerability to pathogen entry into tissues during infection events due to easier access through more porous blood vessel walls.
In simpler terms: think of your blood vessels as a fortress wall designed to keep invaders out while allowing friendly traffic (like nutrients) in. When you have diabetes, those fortress walls become weaker and more susceptible to breaches from unwanted guests – aka pathogens.
To learn more about nitric oxide and its role in immunity, check out this comprehensive review on the subject.
So, what can we do to strengthen our fortress walls and keep those pesky pathogens at bay? Stay tuned for the next section where we’ll explore functional medicine approaches for addressing hyperglycemia.
Nitric oxide-related endothelium-dependent relaxation processes are significantly affected by diabetes, leading to an increased risk of infection and inflammation. To address this issue, functional medicine approaches such as dietary modifications and medication management strategies can be implemented for better blood sugar control.
Key Lesson: Diabetics endure a hindered nitric oxide transmission, leading to augmented vascular permeability and an impaired immune system. This makes them more vulnerable to pathogens during infection events, but functional medicine approaches can help address hyperglycemia and strengthen their “fortress walls” against invaders.
Functional Medicine Approaches for Addressing Hyperglycemia
Rather than feeling helpless against infections, functional medicine can help you address hyperglycemia and bolster your immune system. By taking control of your blood sugar levels, you can reduce the risk of falling prey to those pesky pathogens.
Dietary Modifications for Better Blood Sugar Control
The food on your plate plays a significant role in managing diabetes and improving immunity. Here are some tips that can help keep those glucose levels in check:
- Eat low-glycemic foods: Opt for whole grains, legumes, non-starchy vegetables, and lean proteins that have minimal impact on blood sugar spikes. Check out this list of glycemic index values to make informed choices.
- Incorporate healthy fats: Include sources such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil into your diet. These fats help improve insulin sensitivity while keeping you satiated.
- Mindful eating habits: Slow down during meals by chewing thoroughly and savoring each bite – this helps prevent overeating which could lead to high blood sugar levels.
- Avoid sugary beverages: Swap sodas or fruit juices with water or herbal teas – they’re just as refreshing without causing havoc on glucose levels.
Medication Management Strategies
Besides making dietary changes (which are essential), functional medicine practitioners may also recommend medications or supplements to manage hyperglycemia. It’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider and monitor blood sugar levels regularly, as adjustments might be needed over time.
- Prescription medications: Your doctor may prescribe oral diabetes drugs like metformin or insulin injections depending on the severity of your condition. Always follow their instructions and report any side effects immediately.
- Natural supplements: Some functional medicine practitioners suggest using natural remedies such as cinnamon, chromium, alpha-lipoic acid, or berberine for blood sugar control. It’s essential to get advice from an expert before trying out these choices – they’re not a universal fix.
Incorporating these functional medicine approaches into your daily routine can help you regain control over hyperglycemia and boost that immune system. So go ahead – give those pathogens a run for their money by making smarter choices today.
Key Lesson: Functional medicine proposes a range of tactics to empower diabetics in regulating their blood sugar levels and reinforcing their immunity. Through dietary modifications such as eating low-glycemic foods, incorporating healthy fats, mindful eating habits, and avoiding sugary beverages; as well as medication management strategies including prescription medications or natural supplements – you can give pathogens the boot.
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I wanted to talk about this topic because it is absolutely possible to prevent and even reverse Type 2 Diabetes (but you cannot reverse Type 1). Yes, it’s possible! and emerging studies looking at lifestyle medicine and prevention support this! But I always tell my patients that you must be dedicated and diligent in adopting a healthy lifestyle to get the best results. You can create certain behaviors and practices that will not only enrich your life, but that you can pass on to your family, friends, and community, to help break the cycle of this chronic disease so that you can leave a legacy of health to your loved ones.
I use functional medicine and lifestyle medicine as the first line of treatment, before medications, to treat lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, just to name a few. Lifestyle practices, such as eating a low glycemic, whole-food plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can help you improve your blood sugar levels, maybe reverse type 2 diabetes. In certain cases, these approaches may even outperform pharmaceutical therapy.
But I always tell my patients that conventional medications may be appropriate at this time to prevent catastrophic illness, but over time, you can work to make the necessary lifestyle changes to possibly reduce and/or eliminate medications. Please remember to always consult your physician for your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any decisions whatsoever.
Is Dietary Supplementation Right For You?
When it comes to managing your blood sugars (in general), pre-diabetes, and diabetes, there are many things that you can do to help control your blood sugar levels. One important aspect is diet. What you eat affects your blood sugar, so it’s important to be mindful of what goes into your body.
But it is very important to note that we are not eating the same foods we ate years ago because the soils have been depleted of critical nutrients through current industrial farming practices. And because the soil is not as good as it used to be, the food supply (grown from the depleted soil) is not as good as it used to be. For example, you are not getting the same levels of chromium and magnesium as you would have gotten 30 or even 50 years ago.
Second, much of the food has been processed and genetically altered, which can impact the inherent and unique nutritional composition that each food possess. For example, ancient einkorn wheat has less gluten, more protein, more Vitamin A, and more beta carotene, than modern genetically modified wheat.
Third, the toxic load in the environment today is much higher than 100 years ago. We can see this with global warming, toxic landfills, polluted oceans and waterways, etc. Toxicity levels interfere with nutrient assimilation and absorption not just into the foods, but into our bodies as well. We often see elevated blood sugar levels with poor nutrition and toxicity.
In addition to diet, there are dietary supplements that can have an impact on blood sugar levels. Dietary supplements for diabetes are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to improve their blood sugar control.
For some people, vitamin and mineral supplements offer important health benefits. Supplements are designed to fight deficiencies found in our diet and complement the food we eat regularly. Supplements are basically “helping hands” to our daily food.
If you suspect that you aren’t getting the nutrients you need, consider shifting your focus from supplements to eating better.
And if you are unable to eat better, the supplements in my Blood Sugar Support Bundle may provide the extra boost you need.
These are my favorite Diabetes Prevention Supplements to use! This Blood Sugar Support Bundle will ensure you have the intake of the important vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to decrease inflammation and boost your innate wellness day and night. Taken together, it’s a solid plan for increasing your body’s natural resiliency while encouraging healthy blood sugar levels.
For best results make sure you use these supplements with dietary changes including a whole food plant-based diet, regular exercise (at least 2-3x per week), regular sleep (8 hours per night), and intermittent fasting (at least 1-3x per week).
It’s important to note that supplements are NOT a replacement for your regular medication regimen prescribed by your doctor. However, they can be used in addition to help manage your blood sugar levels.
Supplements have the potential to interact with diabetes medications, so it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. Have you tried any dietary supplements for your diabetes? Share your experience in the comments below!
Tools For Diabetes Prevention and Monitoring
Blood Sugar Monitoring
As you know, I always stress the importance of taking control of your health. Monitoring your blood sugar levels is one of the best ways to do this. To do this, a single drop of blood is collected with disposable lancets and placed on a disposable test strip, which you insert into a home blood-sugar monitoring device, called a glucometer.
The common times for checking your blood sugar are when you first wake up (fasting), before a meal, 2 hours after a meal, and at bedtime; however, you should check your blood sugar as many times a day as your health care team suggests.
Monitoring your blood sugar level provides you and your doctors with important knowledge about how food, activity, medication, stress, and other elements might affect your blood sugar levels. This data will assist you and your doctor in developing a therapy plan that is suited to your demands.
There are several types of blood glucose meters, lancets, and test strips to choose from. I often recommend this glucometer, lancets, and test strips.
Weight Monitoring
Since weight management is very important in combatting chronic diseases such as diabetes, I recommend that you be mindful of your weight and its fluctuations, and that you monitor your weight AT LEAST on a weekly basis. I recommend a scale that includes a body composition monitor (*this scale cannot be used with a pacemaker or other implanted devices).
Physical Activity
Physical activity (or exercise) can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, just to name a few. Physical activity actually improves insulin sensitivity. Physical activity can improve your mood, boost your immune system, and even help you maintain a healthy weight.
I often recommend yoga and resistance training for physical activity, but as you are aware, there are plenty of forms of “movement” that you can do! But for the basics, especially if you’re just getting started, yoga and resistance training are where I would start.
Yoga
Yoga can be a great way to improve your strength and flexibility, manage your stress, improve your heart health, and lose weight! I recommend using a grounded yoga mat to connect yourself with the earth and reduce inflammation.
Resistance Training
Resistance training is the mainstay for overall health. It not only has beneficial effects on reducing body fat, it also increases muscle size and strength. Here are some basic dumbbells/free weights that I recommend to everyone.
Another alternative for dumbbells/free weights are resistance bands. They are great for physical therapy, yoga, strength training, and excellent for traveling.
Food!
Remember, living a healthy lifestyle including eating a whole foods plant-based diet and regular physical activity are the best ways to prevent diabetes.
The Diabetes Meal Plan is geared towards those people with diabetes or prediabetes. The foods are moderately low in carbs, low glycemic, fiber rich, and contain a balance of nutrients to help prevent blood sugar spikes and dips. Foods are also included that may help to lower blood sugar.
Please talk with your doctor about any complementary health approaches, including supplements, you use.
How Hyperglycemia Impairs a Diabetic’s Immune System FAQs
Hyperglycemia hinders the body’s immunity by diminishing its capability to fight off infection. High blood sugar can detrimentally affect white blood cells, diminishing their capability to combat bacteria and viruses. High glucose levels may lead to widespread inflammation, which can then reduce the activity of immune cells necessary for warding off infections. Consequently, due to the effects of high blood sugar levels on white and other immune cells, individuals with hyperglycemia may be more prone to becoming ill or having longer recovery times than those without it.
High blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, can have a significant impact on the development and progression of diabetes. When glucose levels remain too high for an extended duration, it can detrimentally affect various body organs and tissues. It increases risk factors for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage (neuropathy), eye problems (retinopathy) and other complications associated with diabetes. Insulin resistance caused by hyperglycemia necessitates more intense treatments, including lifestyle modifications and medications.
Excessive sugar intake has been linked to weakened immune systems, which may reduce the body’s capacity for fighting off illness and infection. Refined sugars can inhibit the body’s ability to produce white blood cells, which are essential for combating infections. Eating sugary foods also increases inflammation throughout the body, making it more difficult for our bodies to respond appropriately when exposed to germs or bacteria.
Hyperglycemia increases the risk of infection by causing changes in the body’s immune system. White blood cells can struggle to repel bacteria and viruses when sugar levels are too high, resulting in heightened odds of infection. Hyperglycemia may also bring about inflammation, which can make it simpler for pathogens to penetrate the body and thus heighten the chance of infections such as UTIs, skin diseases, pneumonia and more. Decreased circulation due to high glucose levels impairs the body’s ability to supply oxygen-rich blood to vital organs, thus increasing vulnerability to infection
Final Thoughts
Hyperglycemia impairs a diabetic’s immune system and can have serious health consequences. To maximize immunity, diabetics should make lifestyle changes such as eating nutritious foods, engaging in regular physical activity and managing stress levels to help lower their blood sugar.
Functional Medicine also provides tools for addressing hyperglycemia in order to restore the body’s natural balance of hormones and nutrients that support optimal health. It is feasible to lessen the consequences of elevated blood sugar on your immunity when utilizing a combination of lifestyle modifications and Functional Medicine approaches that aid in restoring the body’s natural equilibrium.
Take control of your health and wellbeing today by learning more about how hyperglycemia impairs a diabetic’s immune system, as well as the integrative therapies and lifestyle changes that can help minimize medication use. Start now to empower yourself with knowledge for a healthier future.
Dr. Nicolle Martin
Dr. Nicolle is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. As one of the nation’s most acclaimed primary care and public health physicians, she is a nationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, consultant and media personality. She is the Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of DrNicolleMD.com, where she discusses actionable ideas and real-world strategies to help people take control of their health using integrative therapies and lifestyle change.
Dr. Nicolle also shares her knowledge via her popular social media accounts “Maximize Health” to help people pursue a healthier life. Her motto is simple: Minimize Medications, Maximize Health. With her credentials and warm “bedside manner,” it’s no wonder that the doctor is renowned as “America’s Favorite Family Physician.”
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Last updated on April 27th, 2023 at 10:41 am
Minimize Medications. Maximize Health.
Are you super busy but need to take control of your health? Are you tired of being tired? Subscribe to my “Minimize Medications, Maximize Health Blog” and I’ll give you 7 Tips to Get Healthy in No Time absolutely FREE.
