top of page
Writer's pictureGemma Westfold

How Blood Sugar Imbalances Lead to Fatigue, Weight Gain, Poor Sleep, and Poor Immunity

Could this be the reason you never feel your best?




Blood sugar imbalances are at the root of many symptoms that leave women feeling exhausted, struggling with weight, and battling poor sleep and immunity. Despite being so common, these imbalances are often overlooked as a key driver of health issues. Insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar, plays a central role in this puzzle—particularly for women.


Experts like Benjamin Bikman, Dr Andrew Jenkinson, and Lara Briden have highlighted the importance of stable blood sugar and insulin sensitivity for overall health, energy, and hormonal balance. In this blog, I’ll explore why blood sugar imbalances wreak havoc on the body and how balancing it can transform your energy, metabolism, and immune function.


1. The Role of Blood Sugar and Insulin in the Body

When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose (sugar), which enters the bloodstream. This triggers the pancreas to release insulin—a hormone that helps move glucose into cells to be used for energy. In a balanced system, glucose is efficiently used or stored, and insulin levels remain stable.


However, modern diets high in refined carbohydrates, ultra processed foods and sugars can lead to frequent blood sugar spikes, followed by sharp crashes. Over time, this constant demand for insulin can result in insulin resistance, where cells stop responding effectively to insulin. According to Benjamin Bikman, author of Why We Get Sick, insulin resistance is the root cause of many chronic health issues, including fatigue, weight gain, and immune dysfunction.


2. Why Blood Sugar Imbalances Lead to Fatigue

Blood sugar spikes and crashes create an energy rollercoaster. After consuming sugary or refined foods, glucose floods the bloodstream, causing a quick energy boost. However, the body overcompensates by releasing a large amount of insulin to clear glucose quickly, leading to a sudden drop in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).


These dips in blood sugar leave you feeling:

  • Exhausted

  • Brain fogged

  • Craving more sugar or stimulants (like coffee)


As Lara Briden, women’s health expert and author of The Period Repair Manual, explains, blood sugar instability is particularly problematic for women because of its impact on stress hormones. Low blood sugar triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline (stress hormones), which disrupt energy levels, mood, and sleep patterns.


In the long term, these crashes can contribute to the body struggling to maintain normal energy production.


3. Blood Sugar and Weight Gain: Insulin’s Role

Insulin is a storage hormone. While it’s essential for energy regulation, chronically high insulin levels promote fat storage, particularly around the abdomen. Dr Andrew Jenkinson, author of Why We Eat (Too Much), explains that insulin resistance drives weight gain because the body prioritises storing excess glucose as fat instead of using it for energy.

For women, insulin resistance can worsen hormonal imbalances such as:


  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A condition strongly linked to insulin dysregulation and weight gain.

  • Oestrogen dominance: High insulin levels can stimulate oestrogen production, leading to weight gain, bloating, and PMS symptoms.


By balancing blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity, the body shifts from fat storage mode to fat burning mode, making weight loss easier and more sustainable.


4. Blood Sugar Imbalances and Poor Sleep

Blood sugar instability significantly disrupts sleep quality. When blood sugar drops in the middle of the night, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to bring glucose back up. This often causes wake-ups between 2-4 a.m., leaving you restless and unable to fall back asleep.


Lara Briden emphasises that stabilising blood sugar throughout the day (particularly at dinner) can reduce night-time glucose drops and improve deep, restorative sleep.


5. Blood Sugar, Insulin, and Immunity

High blood sugar and insulin resistance impair immune function, making you more susceptible to infections and inflammation. Benjamin Bikman points out that elevated glucose can suppress white blood cell activity—the very cells that fight off infections.


Additionally:

  • High insulin promotes chronic inflammation, which weakens immunity.

  • Blood sugar spikes can feed pathogenic bacteria and fungi, compromising gut health—a key player in immune resilience.


By stabilising blood sugar, you reduce inflammation, strengthen immune defences, and improve overall resilience.


4 Quick Tips to Balance Blood Sugar

If you’re looking to manage your energy, mood, and weight better, here are 5 simple steps to start balancing blood sugar:


  1. Prioritise Protein at Meals Protein helps stabilise blood sugar and keeps you fuller for longer. Aim for a good source of protein with every meal.

  2. Choose Complex Carbs Swap refined carbs like white bread for complex, fibre-rich options such as sweet potatoes, quinoa, or oats.

  3. Include Healthy Fats Healthy fats (like avocado, nuts, and olive oil) slow down glucose absorption, preventing spikes and crashes.

  4. Move After Eating A short walk after meals can help your muscles use glucose, reducing insulin spikes.


For more detailed support and personalised tips, join my Fatigue Free in 30 group programme, where we focus on blood sugar balancing strategies that are simple, practical, and effective.


The Benefits of Balancing Blood Sugar

When you focus on blood sugar balance, you’ll experience significant improvements in energy, metabolism, and immune health, including:

  • Steady energy throughout the day

  • Improved weight management

  • Deeper, more restorative sleep

  • Enhanced mood and mental clarity

  • Stronger immunity and reduced inflammation


One of my clients recently shared:


"It's been weeks since I've had that sick feeling of blood sugar crashing. I manage my energy well daily and would recommend working with you to anyone."


As a BANT-registered Nutritional Therapist, I help women balance blood sugar to reclaim their energy and feel their best.


Join My Fatigue Free in 30 Group Programme

If you’re tired of the blood sugar rollercoaster and want to learn how to balance your energy, my Fatigue Free in 30 group programme is for you. It’s designed to help you stabilise blood sugar and reclaim your energy using proven, evidence-based strategies.

The early bird offer ends tonight, 14th December — don’t miss your chance to transform your energy and feel your best!


Would you rather work with me on a 1:2:1?


Book a free 20-minute Health Review call with me today, and let’s create a plan to keep you energized, balanced, and thriving—not just for the holidays, but for life.

Click here to schedule your call and start your journey to renewed energy and vitality!


Sound good? Book in a free 20 minute Health Review call and see if we can work together.



I'm Gemma Westfold, BANT registered Nutritional Therapist.





18 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page