Ketones and Insulin.....

     We had company this weekend. Steve's sister Bethany and her family and Ken and his wife Trudy came to visit. We took Ken and Trudy to see "Ain't too Proud," the story of the Temptations singing group, at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver, BC. Of course, we enjoyed hearing all the old amazing songs because they were a popular group from our era. Then, on Saturday night, we had a crab feast. My tiny little house comfortably accommodated eight adults and three children. Everyone had a great time and claimed the fresh crab was a deliciously rare treat. Steve and I need to remember how much people enjoy the crab we take for granted due to its availability here. Also, it's costly. We're blessed to enjoy the abundant seafood from our bay. I also made a lovely dessert with fresh, wild blackberries from the area.  I didn't eat any, but everyone enjoyed it for me.  Since discovering that I am insulin-resistant, I've begun researching.  I discovered that some researchers think insulin resistance improves for most people when they begin a ketogenic diet, which is probably why I lost any weight at all and kept it off. Researchers think the improvement in insulation resistance is due to the ketones. Also, exercise is supposed to be one of the fastest and most effective ways to reverse insulin resistance, and I religiously exercise.  However, after seeing everything I am doing, my doctor added semaglutide to the protocol because it helps to decrease insulin resistance in several ways. First, it decreases gastric emptying time. That means food passes through my system much more slowly. It also stimulates and improves the release of insulin. This helps manage blood sugar. It also mimics the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1 that lowers glucagon secretion from the liver and helps insulin secretion by the pancreas. The pancreas secretes glucagon when you're fasting, when you're hungry, and when your blood sugars are low. There's also evidence that semaglutide  decreases the appetite center in the brain. For those with insulin resistance like me, the "calories in, calories out" idea related to weight loss is simplistic and unworkable. Eating less and exercising more definitely did not work for me. But since beginning the semaglutide, the weight is coming off much more quickly. I will continue researching, but for now, I'm convinced!