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+--- Thread: Article We've been thinking about blood sugar all wrong. Here's why (/thread-21797.html)
We've been thinking about blood sugar all wrong. Here's why - C C - Nov 8, 2026
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/blood-sugar-levels-myths-debunked-by-experts-2
EXCERPTS: Health influencers often claim that riding the so-called blood sugar rollercoaster leads to inflammation, energy crashes, cravings, and, over time, poor metabolic health. That’s why they advise against foods that cause sharp spikes and dips in blood sugar, such as white bread, pasta, white rice, potatoes, biscuits, cakes, and pastries.
Instead, they recommend sticking to low-glycaemic foods like vegetables, legumes, meat, fish, and healthy fats, which are said to keep blood sugar levels more stable. And to be fair, this advice is not entirely wrong. It’s true that eating protein, fibre, and fat alongside carbs can flatten your blood sugar response.
[...] However, you don’t have to meticulously balance the fat, protein, carb and fibre in each bite of food to be healthy. Despite the bad press, most rises and falls in blood sugar are normal – and for most people they’re nothing to worry about.
“Your glucose should increase after a high-carbohydrate meal. That’s a normal physiological response,” explains Sarah Berry, professor of nutritional sciences at King’s College London and chief scientist at nutrition company ZOE.“Blood sugar is meant to go up and down, and our bodies are really clever and well able to handle it.”
[...] One of the most persistent – and misleading – myths about blood sugar is that everyday peaks and troughs trigger harmful inflammation in your body. ... However, inflammation isn’t always a bad thing.
[...] Every time we eat, she explains, our immune system ramps up slightly to protect the body from potential incoming threats, like bacteria or pathogens. This mild, short-lived inflammation is not only expected – it’s beneficial in most circumstances.
“It’s only if your blood sugar levels are excessively high, followed by low dips, that there’s a problem,” Berry says. “If that’s repeated over a long period of time, it might increase your risk of chronic disease.”
In other words, a long-term diet high in refined carbs and sugary treats can lead to frequent blood sugar spikes, which, over time, may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
But for most people, the occasional rise and fall in blood sugar after meals is completely normal – and harmless. “Blood glucose spikes or dips won’t cause you any harm, in moderation,” assures Berry.
[...] Some people take their blood-sugar worry to the next level. In recent years, it’s become increasingly popular for non-diabetics to use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) – medical devices originally designed for people with type 1 diabetes. Worn on the arm, these sensors track blood glucose levels in real time.
Dr David Unwin, a general practitioner who specialises in nutrition, says that CGMs can be a useful tool for people with diabetes, prediabetes or junk food addiction because they are “like having a policeman on your arm”, giving patients immediate feedback on the hidden sugar in their food.
Many CGM providers encourage participants to wear the device for a short period of time, such as two weeks, to find out how their individual blood glucose levels respond to different meals. But Berry says that wearing a CGM constantly is not “necessary or useful for healthy people.” Guess warns that doing so can cause “profound anxiety or mental health effects” around food.
In extreme cases, this worry can develop into dangerous eating behaviours, such as orthorexia: an eating disorder characterised by an obsession with attaining perfect health. To be clear, there is not much empirical evidence of CGM use deteriorating into full-blown orthorexia, and Unwin says that none of his patients seem to have developed eating disorders as a result of monitoring their blood sugars.
But any dietary habit can become obsessive, and Guess says that focusing on blood sugars as a measure of your food’s healthiness is a “false flag”.
[...] Ultimately, blood glucose is merely “one part of the puzzle”, says Berry, and dietary advice should consider cholesterol, blood pressure, body weight, gut microbiome, and more – not just blood sugar. According to Guess, factors like high blood pressure and cholesterol are “far more important than glucose” when it comes to major health risks – particularly heart disease.
In comparison, she says, “the effect of food on your blood sugar likely has a negligible impact on your overall health.” (MORE - missing details)
RE: We've been thinking about blood sugar all wrong. Here's why - Magical Realist - Nov 8, 2026
Quote:But for most people, the occasional rise and fall in blood sugar after meals is completely normal – and harmless. “Blood glucose spikes or dips won’t cause you any harm, in moderation,” assures Berry.
When I was diagnosed Type 2 diabetic a few years ago, I refused to check my glucose level or wear any kind of monitor. My argument was basically what they are saying--blood sugar levels will go up and down depending on when you ate and when you didn't. It's normal. Tracking that is of no use at all. They couldn't argue with that.