03/25/2026
Real talk.
I sent this email out this morning to my mailing list (if you're not on it yet, please let me know and I'll add you!)
I spent a lot of time writing this one because while I wanted to share the truth about treating metabolic dysfunction and disease, it was also an opportunity to explain 'Stop the Blood Sugar Spiral' and why it's the premise of how we help our clients.
So here it goes. I hope you find this helpful!
Picture this:
You’ve been doing your best to lose weight and take care of your health... but nothing seems to be working.
And at your latest appointment, you were told your blood sugar is rising, your blood pressure is creeping up, or your cholesterol isn’t where it should be.
And when those metabolic markers rise past a certain point, the next step is usually medication.
Sometimes you’ll be referred to a specialist… but more often, you’re prescribed something and told to 'come back in a few months to retest your levels.'
And as long as the numbers go down, the assumption is that your health is improving.
But here’s what I’ve seen after working with 100's of clients in metabolic health over the last 10+ years...
Lower numbers don’t always mean better health.
Medications absolutely play an important role in certain situations; I want to be clear about that.
But whether you choose to take them or not…
they don’t address what’s actually driving the problem.
And that’s the part most people aren’t being told.
They may manage your numbers, but they don't resolve the underlying dysfunction.
Because many people still don’t feel better when taking them.
And not just because of potential side effects of the medications...
but because the underlying metabolic dysfunction can continue to progress beneath the surface.
Symptoms like:
- low energy
- poor digestion or constipation
- brain fog
- muscle aches
- shortness of breath
While these are well-known side effects of these medications...
they’re also common symptoms of worsening metabolic health.
And that’s the conundrum.
So if medications that lower metabolic markers aren’t solving the problem…
The next question to ask is - what is actually driving metabolic dysfunction in the first place?
This is where I created the the concept of 'stop the blood sugar spiral'.
To truly take control, you need to address what’s happening underneath and at level of your cells.
There are three core drivers of metabolic dysfunction and disease:
1) Chronic inflammation
Low-grade, chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, disrupts mitochondrial and cellular function, and is influenced by both our environment and our diet and lifestyle.
It’s both a starting point…
and something that worsens over time as insulin, blood sugar, and triglycerides rise.
2) Insulin resistance
Often considered the 'root of the root.'
When our cells become insulin resistant, they stop responding properly to incoming glucose.
Blood sugar rises.
Insulin rises.
And over time, both hormones begin to further damage cells, tissues, and blood vessels.
This is where we start to see the symptoms as described above:
- fatigue/exhaustion
- brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- difficulty losing weight
- nerve pain and muscle pain
3) Fat cell dysfunction
Intertwined in all of this are overloaded and dysfunctional fat cells.
Typically visceral fat (belly fat) tissue.
These cells become insulin resistant…
and begin leaking fat, inflammation, and hormones into the bloodstream, further fuelling the cycle.
So if we actually want to improve metabolic health at the root…
the goal can’t be just to lower numbers through medications.
The goal must be to:
- burn fat and build muscle tissue
- restore cellular health and insulin sensitivity
- support mitochondrial function (so cells can produce energy efficiently)
- improve gut and immune health to reduce chronic inflammation
Because at the end of the day…
medications can manage symptoms.
But without addressing what’s happening at the cellular level…
the trajectory doesn’t change.
I hope this gives you a different way to look at your health.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions.
Your friend and wellness coach,
Nicole