Summer: Blood sugar normalization

Ancap

Hi everyone

For the last two years I have had a complete normalization of blood sugar levels in the summertime, accompanied by amazing strength at the gym. I guess because my body is finally using glucose for energy.

Then the winter time comes, and my blood sugar is 2 to 3 times higher than normal. With a great loss of strength in the gym.

does anybody have an explanation for this?
is there a way to replicate this during the winter? (I can't move to the tropics right now)

Taking T4, T3, calcium, mag, potassium, vit d

LucH

@Ancap
How is rT3 and potassium levels ?
It could impact glycémia.

Ancap

@LucH
Potassium levels should be okay because I drink a lot of orange juice, and take potassium citrate.

Reverse t3? I'm not sure I would have to have it tested

LucH

@Ancap said in Summer: Blood sugar normalization:

Potassium levels should be okay because I drink a lot of orange juice, and take potassium citrate.

Ok because of a supplement with potassium citrates. Must be balanced for orange juice, often acidic (although interesting). It would be better to mix orange juice and potassium bicarbonate. I'd take both if your energy level is good. You could also use another kind of juice (apple, grape or pineapple), just to vary, if you get magnesium from another source (magnesium bisglycinate).
Note: 1.2 g KHCO3 is fine. It brings 0.5 g K. I won't take a higher dose of bicarboante since it can impact mTOR pathway (TH1 >< TH2 must be balanced, from one side to the other one).
Citrate for chelating oxalates, bicarbonate for adding a layer in bases. Too much citrates has an impact on platelet aggregation (blood fluidity).
When you take a too high level of T3, the body manage to turn it into rt3 (HL T3 => T4 => rT3 to get rid of excess)
High T3 to reverse T3 ratio has been linked to higher insulin resistance, something a TSH test can not capture / indicate.
If your labs show a high reverse T3 level this means that you are converting most of your T4 into reverse T3.

LucH

@Ancap said in Summer: Blood sugar normalization:

Taking T4, T3, calcium, mag, potassium, vit d

If you take HD Vit D (> 2000 UI), you need K2.
I won't take HD Ca (> 200-250 mg Ca element). Split if you need / want more. RP said 850 mg Ca is optimal but the level depends on the contribution of basic minerals (Na K Ca Mg) compared to acidifying minerals (P S Cl).

Ancap

@LucH
Great stuff

Merci bien

TexugoDoMel

@Ancap

How is your sun exposure in summer compared to winter? Assuming nothing else changes...

If we use hibernating animals as an example, one of the reasons these animals develop insulin resistance and become “diabetic” is the absence of sunlight, since the sun is 50%+ infrared light and it stimulates the mitochondria. In a natural environment, the increasing absence of sunlight makes them prone to increased blood glucose (and insulin), and the less exposure to sunlight, the greater the response to carbohydrates.

A 15 min exposure to 670 nm light reduced the degree of blood glucose elevation following glucose intake by 27.7%, integrated over 2 h after the glucose challenge. Maximum glucose spiking was reduced by 7.5%.
Light stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood glucose levels

Whenever possible I like to eat outdoors, or stay outdoors after meals. On days when I can't, I always “simulate” this study and eat with the “chicken lamp” turned on towards me.

Ancap

@TexugoDoMel
Thank you so much

Summers in this part of China are extremely hot, so I actually spent a lot of time indoors.

But it is possible that the little time I spent outside was enough to give me more sunlight