Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse: Real-Life Wisdom from a Professional Patient Who I Am Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse, a blog built on the hard-won wisdom of someone who’s lived both sides of the healthcare divide. I’m Joanna, and this is more than just a health blog—it’s a survival guide for anyone trying to navigate chronic illness, complicated care teams, and a medical system that often feels like it’s working against you. I didn’t set out to become a professional patient. I trained for a career in culinary arts. But life had other plans. Over the years, I was diagnosed with lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, spondylitic arthritis, inflammatory-onset diabetes, and a growing list of related conditions. That’s when I discovered that all my professional training didn’t fully prepare me for what it means to actually live this every day. This blog is where I share the strategies, hard-earned insights, and practical tools I’ve picked up along the way—not just from books and degre...
Inflammation and Blood Sugar: How Autoimmune Flares Can Spike Your Glucose (Even If You’re Not Diabetic)
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When most people think about high blood sugar, they picture sugary snacks or carb-heavy meals. But if you live with an autoimmune disease like lupus, Sjogren’s, or rheumatoid arthritis, your blood sugar can spike even if your diet is spotless.
Inflammation itself can push your glucose higher. This connection between your immune system and your blood sugar is often overlooked, but understanding it can help you manage both your flares and your metabolic health more effectively.
What Happens During an Autoimmune Flare When your immune system launches an inflammatory response, your body sees it as an emergency. It releases stress hormones like cortisol to help deal with the perceived threat.
Cortisol does a lot of things, but one of its key roles is to raise blood sugar to make sure you have enough energy to fight the “attack.” In autoimmune disease, your body is attacking itself, so these stress hormones flood your system unnecessarily—and your blood sugar pays the price.
Even If You Don’t Have Diabetes You might think this only matters if you’re already diabetic or prediabetic, but that’s not true. Over time, repeated inflammation-driven glucose spikes can increase your risk of insulin resistance, making future metabolic problems more likely.
What to Watch For If you have an autoimmune condition, you may notice patterns like:
Higher fasting blood sugar after a flare
Unexpected glucose spikes even when eating normally
Increased carb cravings during or after a flare (your body wants quick energy to "fight")
Why It Matters Chronic inflammation and unstable blood sugar create a feedback loop. High blood sugar fuels more inflammation, which triggers more hormonal stress, which pushes blood sugar higher—and the cycle repeats.
How to Break the Cycle
Track Your Patterns: Consider using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) during flares to spot trends early.
Prioritize Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition: Focus on whole foods, omega-3s, turmeric, leafy greens, and healthy fats.
Manage Stress: Mindfulness, gentle movement, and even brief walks after meals can lower cortisol and stabilize blood sugar.
Stay Hydrated: Dehydration can worsen both inflammation and blood sugar swings.
Work With Your Team: If you notice consistent glucose spikes during flares, talk to your rheumatologist and your endocrinologist (or primary care provider). This is a real metabolic phenomenon, and it deserves attention.
The Bottom Line Your autoimmune flares don’t just affect your joints, skin, or energy—they impact your whole-body health, including your blood sugar. By understanding the inflammation-blood sugar connection, you can make smarter choices and advocate for care that treats you as a whole person.
Want more patient-first insights on living well with autoimmune disease? Follow Patient Pulse for real-world advice, personal stories, and practical tips designed for patients who know their health is never just one thing.
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