EPISODE 12: THE SPECTRUM OF INSULIN RESISTANCE DANIELLE HAMILTON

"My journey began after I left my 14th doctor's visit in a single year when I realized I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

My diet growing up was like any other kid in the US, except I was really picky and seemed to prefer all the sweet things. My favorite foods and staples in my diet were cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, pancakes (mmm, my favorite), colorful and sugary yogurts, chocolate milk, chicken fingers, pasta, cookies, and ice cream. Not surprisingly, I was a pretty sickly kid and always struggled with my weight.

As I got older, I switched to "whole wheat" and "diet" foods but the sweet tooth was always there and my diet was very heavily carb based. In 2012, in an effort to improve my health, I adopted a real food, paleo diet. I saw huge improvements with my health but after a stressful period in my life, I started gaining weight, getting cystic acne, and I lost my period.

I realized I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). My PCOS was a hormonal imbalance that caused weight gain and weight loss resistance, cystic acne, and missed periods. No matter how "healthy" I ate, and no matter how much I worked out, I couldn't lose a pound and actually seemed to be gaining! (what the hell?!) I tried to balance my hormones and increase my progesterone but nothing seemed to be working. I felt so defeated and hopeless.

Finally I enrolled in nutrition school to become a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP). I learned that at the foundation of all hormonal imbalances is our blood sugar balance. "Blood sugar balance?!," I thought. "But I don't have diabetes."

I didn't, but little did I know, my blood sugar was completely dysregulated. I constantly ate sweets and craved them. Even though I was eating a healthy Paleo diet, I ate a ton of fruits and starches. I made "Paleo-treats", binged on dairy-free chocolate chips, and always had to finish a meal with something sweet. If I missed a meal I would be shaky and lightheaded. I would feel "hangry" instead of just hungry. I had been missing what was right in front of me. My blood sugar dysregulation was at the root of my PCOS.

In February of 2018, I adopted a real-food, low-carb, high fat (keto) diet and began incorporating fasting (intermittent and prolonged). I am finally able to maintain a comfortable weight and my skin is flawless. My periods are regular and my PMS & cramps vanished. I don't even bloat before my period anymore!

After graduating as an NTP, I decided that my mission is to help women discover and improve their blood sugar issues. Research suggests that 1 out of 3 adults has prediabetes. Of this group, 9 out of 10 don't know they have it. 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes, but 8.1 million may be undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. It is my mission to help women uncover and improve their blood sugar issues so they can feel their best and live long and healthy lives."

Contact Dani: www.daniellehamiltonhealth.com

Instagram: @daniellehamiltonhealth

Facebook: Danielle Hamilton Health

After the success of two virtual Low Carb Lifestyle Women's Health Summits in 2020 and 2021, I have decided to continue the conversations and community by creating a podcast. I look forward to brining to you many conversations, knowledge, insight and wisdom, and sharing many of the presentations that were within both the 2020 and 2021 Summit's.

Contact: Tracey McBeath

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Are you a health practitioner and interested in learning how to bring low carb in to your practice with confidence? The Nutrition Network has a number of programs to help. For GP's; Dietitians; Nurses and Health Coaches. The Nutrition Network is run by the Noakes Foundation. To learn more, click here: http://bit.ly/nutritionnetwork