We've covered high sugar and low sugar, but here's the missing piece that's sabotaging everything: CHRONIC STRESS. Your stress response is creating a metabolic disaster you never saw coming. The Stress-Sugar Trap: When you're constantly stressed, your body demands MORE glucose to fuel the stress response. You're literally burning through sugar just to cope. What happens next? You reach for simple sugars and quick fixes to keep going. This sets off a cascading hormonal breakdown. The Breakdown Process: CHRONIC STRESS activates your system ⬇️ HPA axis fires up (your brain starts shouting at your adrenal glands) ⬇️ CORTISOL floods your bloodstream ⬇️ High cortisol makes your cells RESIST insulin Sugar can't get into cells - it just floats around causing damage ⬇️ Your pancreas goes into overdrive pumping out MORE insulin ⬇️ Now you have HYPERINSULINEMIA (insulin overload) ⬇️ This makes insulin resistance even WORSE ⬇️ End result: You're headed straight for diabetes The Interconnected Web: Your brain, pancreas, and adrenal glands are all talking to each other. When one gets dysregulated, they ALL get dysregulated. Stress doesn't just affect your mood - it's literally rewiring your metabolism. Breaking The Pattern: There are solutions, but everyone's requirements are different: 🕐 Intermittent fasting 🥑 Ketogenic approach 🚫 Eliminating simple sugars This is where personalized medicine becomes crucial. What works for one person might not work for another. The Bottom Line: If you're dealing with blood sugar issues, you CANNOT ignore your stress response. Your cortisol and insulin are having a conversation that's determining your metabolic fate. Addressing stress isn't just about feeling better - it's about saving your metabolism. - Dr. Sung