Decoding Hypoglycemia: Is It Insulin Resistance or Dysautonomia?
Is your low blood sugar a symptom of insulin resistance or mild dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system?
In episode 16 of my podcast, I return to the topic of hypoglycemia to discuss the difference between insulin resistance and dysautonomia, why unstable blood sugar does not automatically mean insulin resistance, and my concerns about continuous glucose monitoring.
How Does Birth Control Affect Hormones?
Almost all types of hormonal birth control switch off ovarian function and, therefore, switch off the ovarian hormones estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone. Here’s a bit more about each method.
Hypoglycemia in Young Women: The Science Behind “Hangry”
Symptoms of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar include light-headedness, headaches, and anxiety. Hypoglycemia can even feel like panic attacks.
In my latest podcast and YouTube video, I discuss why young women are more prone to hypoglycemia, the importance of the autonomic nervous system and a “blunted glucagon response,” and what you can do to feel better.
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How Science Got It Wrong About Progesterone
Progesterone has been both ignored and mistakenly blamed for side effects it does not cause. How did that happen?
For one thing, progesterone was discovered shortly after estrogen. Thus, missing out on the tidy hormone dichotomy of “testosterone for men and estrogen for women,” pointed out endocrinology professor Jerilynn Prior. Also, progesterone could not (at first) be made into a medication that could be absorbed orally.
Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?
Can hormonal birth control cause weight gain or impair metabolic health? If so, which types are more likely to do so?
The first thing to understand is that the ovarian hormones estradiol and progesterone tend to promote subcutaneous fat but reduce visceral fat, which is good because visceral fat is the bad fat tied to insulin resistance or metabolic dysfunction. The second thing is that hormonal birth control mostly switches off estradiol and progesterone.
The Secret Powers of Ovulation (It’s Not Just to Make a Baby)
Ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone are beneficial for health. That means natural ovulatory menstrual cycles are beneficial for health because ovulation is how women make hormones.
Does that surprise you? Men make testosterone every day, so you might think women do something similar, but we don’t. Instead, women make hormones as a surge of estradiol leading up to ovulation and an even bigger surge of progesterone after ovulation.