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Menopause RescueAuthor: Dr. Polly Watson
Women may spend over a decade of their lives experiencing symptoms around menopause transition, while just over 10% of womens healthcare professionals feel comfortable treating menopause. The conversation around menopause has evolved beyond hot flashes and night sweats to include how hormonal changes affect bone, brain, mood, heart and mental health. Midlife women can feel like they are drowning in symptoms. Many of them are not well served by health care providers who havent updated their knowledge on hormones since the WHI 20 years ago and influencers who are peddling potions and lotions which may not be effective. Menopause Rescue is here to give you a hand up. Im a board certified gynecologist with certification in menopausal medicine as well as functional medicine. My goal is to revolutionize the menopause dialogue, using the transition as a spark to ignite health promotion. Secondly, we will discuss solutions for low libido, weight gain, mood changes, brain fog, hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia and sexual pain and dive into the nuances of each topic, empowering women to determine what is uniquely relevant for them. This podcast is for women who are curious about their health and curate a mindset around menopause as an opportunity for growth. Many of us at this time in our lives are at a high point in our relationships and our careers. We know ourselves and know how to create boundaries and have defined our values in a way that we simply didnt have the wisdom to do in our 20 and 30s. Women in their 40s and 50s are at the perfect moment to take up some space in their lives and step into this transition with strength. Every other week we will gather to review topics that are relevant to menopause and take you behind the scenes with hormone specialists to help you cull and decipher health recommendations to find your unique solution. Language: en Genres: Alternative Health, Health & Fitness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Glucose Control: Why Is Glucose Control So Important in Midlife Health?
Episode 7
Thursday, 18 April, 2024
“Glucose impacts everything,” says Kate Willis, a nurse practitioner certified in functional medicine from the Institute for Functional Medicine. Alongside Dr. Polly Watson, she discusses glucose control for midlife women's health. This episode uncovers the foundational role of glucose in energy regulation, mood stability, mental clarity, and the avoidance of long-term health risks such as metabolic syndrome, cancer, heart disease, and neurocognitive disorders. Kate brings her expertise to the forefront, explaining the complexities of insulin resistance—a condition in which the body requires more insulin to process glucose, potentially leading to serious health complications, including inflammation, weight gain, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. She highlights a common but often overlooked issue for women undergoing perimenopause and menopause: the changing dynamics of carbohydrate processing. This sheds light on the necessity of lifestyle and dietary changes to maintain optimal insulin sensitivity, emphasizing the pivotal role of nutrition in managing these transitions. Dr. Watson and Kate advocate for the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a safe and informative tool for patients to gain a deeper understanding of their metabolic health. This is especially beneficial for those struggling with weight issues, PCOS, or who are at risk of developing prediabetes. They assert that CGMs enable patients to proactively manage their health during the challenging midlife years. Furthermore, they stress the importance of incorporating a nutritional perspective into glucose management, aiming for a holistic approach that encompasses dietary adjustments to ensure the best possible health outcomes. Quotes "We have glucose receptors all over our body. Our glucose levels impact how we feel and how we stay healthy as we age." (01:30 | Kate Willis) "One of the things that happens during perimenopause and menopause is we tend to develop some relative insulin resistance. This does not mean that every woman who is going through menopause will develop type 2 diabetes or need medication. But it does mean that we will have a shift in the way that our bodies handle carbohydrates. We may need to make some changes in our lifestyle, our diets, or the way we exercise to really support being insulin sensitive." (05:06 | Kate Willis) "When we're having a lot of ups and downs with blood glucose levels, a CGM can be a great tool to clue us into why we may feel tired at certain times of the day." (08:44 | Kate Willis) "To be able to see in real time what food is doing to your blood sugar level is very powerful. I think that data helps inform change and helps fuel change for many people." (13:10 | Kate Willis) "I think about women who are struggling with their weight, women who are struggling with things like PCOS. We know there's often some insulin resistance that is going along with PCOS. For people who are having trouble identifying what to eat, and what nutrition plan works for them, blood sugar is not the only thing we look at when we're choosing a food plan or choosing nutrition, but it certainly is part of the equation. And so, I think it's helpful to give people a tool to use to help navigate their food choices." (19:09 | Kate Willis) Links Connect with Kate Willis: Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources Meet Kate Willis: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/kate-willis Connect with Dr. Polly Watson: Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast#Disclaimer Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm
