<div> <p><span> In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter and Bob dive deep into blood glucose and why it matters so much with respect to metabolic health and longevity. They explain the need to pay close attention to metrics like average blood glucose, glucose variability, and peak glucose numbers. Additionally, Peter explains why he encourages all his patients, even nondiabetics, to utilize a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which gives important insights that traditional lab testing and metrics consistently miss.</span></p> </div> <div> <div> <p>If you're not a subscriber and listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/members/private-podcast-feed/" rel="noopener noreferrer">private RSS feed</a> or on our website at the <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ama24/" rel="noopener noreferrer">AMA #24 show notes page</a>. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p> </div> <div> <p> </p> </div> <div> <p>We discuss:</p> <ul type="disc"> <li>The problem with traditional blood tests and metrics for determining metabolic health [<a href="2021-06-10%2001:10:00%20EDT">1:10</a>];</li> <li>The superior insights from a continuous glucose monitor [<a href="2021-06-10%2006:15:00%20EDT">6:15</a>];</li> <li>Why lower is better than higher: average glucose, glucose variability, and glucose peaks [<a href="2021-06-10%2012:00:00%20EDT">12:00</a>];</li> <li>Deep dive into average blood glucose and the importance of having the lowest average blood glucose possible [<a href="2021-06-10%2014:45:00%20EDT">14:45</a>];</li> <li>Deep dive into glucose variability and why less variability is better [33:15];</li> <li>Example of how HbA1c and traditional measures could catch metabolic issues too late [41:45];</li> <li>Postprandial dips in blood glucose as a predictor of subsequent hunger and energy intake [43:00];</li> <li>Exploring the idea that the suppression of fatty acids is actually causing hunger rather than a low blood glucose [49:45];</li> <li>Deep dive into peak glucose and why lower peaks is better [57:15];</li> <li>What the best rodent models tell us about the impact of peak glucose levels [<a href="2021-06-10%2001:06:25%20EDT">1:06:25</a>];</li> <li>Why Peter encourages all his patients to wear a CGM [<a href="2021-06-10%2001:14:30%20EDT">1:14:30</a>]; and</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> </div> </div> <p>Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a><br /> <br /> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ama24/">https://peterattiamd.com/ama24/</a> <br /> <br /> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a><br /> <br /> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a><br /> <br /> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Faceboo</u></a><u>k</u> | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Twitter</u></a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Instagram</u></a>.</p>
Actionable Insights
1. Optimize Glucose Levels
Aim for lower average blood glucose, minimize glucose variability (standard deviation), and minimize glucose peaks, as these are critical metrics for health and longevity even in non-diabetic individuals.
2. Utilize Continuous Glucose Monitor
Wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to get a continuous, real-time understanding of your glucose levels, variability, and peaks, as it provides more accurate and comprehensive data than traditional tests like HbA1c or fasting glucose.
3. Interpret HbA1c Cautiously
Be aware that HbA1c measurements can be misleading due to factors like red blood cell lifespan (e.g., short life due to blood loss, long life due to microcytic patterns), leading to artificially low or high readings, and view glucose levels as a continuum rather than binary categories.
4. Proactive Doctor’s Visit Prep
Consider wearing a CGM for 30 days prior to a doctor’s visit to provide comprehensive real-world glucose excursion data, which is more informative for your doctor than single HbA1c or fasting glucose measurements.
5. Monitor Blood Pressure at Home
Monitor your blood pressure at home using a preferred monitor and a structured logging method to gain a more comprehensive understanding of your blood pressure trends than what in-office readings alone can provide.
6. Access Member-Only Content
To access complete AMA episodes, comprehensive show notes, private podcast feeds, and discount codes, visit peteratiyahmd.com/subscribe or peteratiyahmd.com/members if you are already a member.