How to Stop Chronic Inflammation Before It Causes Damage
Taking Control Of Your Diabetes® - The Podcast!Show Notes
What exactly is inflammation, and how do you know if it's affecting your health? In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Jeremy Pettus sit down with Dr. Jennie Luna, an endocrinologist specializing in obesity medicine and nutrition, to demystify inflammation and its connection to diabetes and metabolic health. Together, they explore the difference between acute and chronic inflammation, why chronic inflammation often goes unnoticed despite affecting nearly every organ system, and how it drives conditions like insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease. Dr. Luna breaks down the warning signs—fatigue, brain fog, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain—and explains why these symptoms are so easy to miss. The conversation shifts to actionable strategies you can implement today. From anti-inflammatory eating patterns and time-restricted eating to managing stress and prioritizing sleep, this episode focuses on practical, realistic changes that don't require perfection or meal prep mastery.
Key Topics Understanding Inflammation: The difference between acute and chronic inflammation and why chronic inflammation silently impacts metabolic health. Signs You Might Be Inflamed: Recognizing vague symptoms like fatigue, mental fog, and disrupted sleep that often go undiagnosed. Inflammation and Diabetes: How insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and inflammation create a vicious cycle—and how to break it. Anti-Inflammatory Eating Made Simple: Practical food strategies including protein-first meals, time-window eating, and budget-friendly swaps. The Fast Food Reality: Honest talk about convenience eating and how to make better choices when time is tight. Beyond Diet: Why sleep quality, stress management, and even 10-minute post-meal walks have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. GLP-1s and Inflammation: Emerging research showing these medications may reduce inflammation independent of weight loss. The Bottom Line: Why small, sustainable changes—not perfection—are the key to reducing inflammation and improving overall health. [00:00:23] - Introduction: What is inflammation? [00:00:45] - Welcome to the Taking Control of Your Diabetes Podcast [00:01:23] - Special Guest: Dr. Jennie Luna (Endocrinology & Obesity Medicine) [00:02:55] - Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation [00:03:40] - The "Stingray" Incident: A Lesson in Acute Inflammation [00:04:07] - Pro-Tip: How to do the "Stingray Shuffle" [00:05:05] - Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation [00:07:09] - The Vicious Cycle: Inflammation and Insulin Resistance [00:08:13] - Metabolic Syndrome: Heart, Liver, and Kidney Health [00:09:24] - Why Weight Loss is the Ultimate Anti-Inflammatory [00:10:41] - Silent Triggers: Stress, Lack of Sleep, and Diet [00:12:33] - High-Yield Diet Tips: The "Protein First" Rule [00:13:28] - Time-Window Eating and Intermittent Fasting [00:15:29] - Is Healthy Eating Actually More Expensive? [00:17:25] - Realistic Habit Changes and Success Markers [00:19:53] - The Great Egg Debate: Protein vs. Cholesterol [00:21:58] - Practical Tips: Meal Prep and Chia Seed Pudding [00:25:35] - The Anti-Inflammatory Future: GLP-1s and New Research [00:27:34] - Stress Management and the Dopamine "Reward Circuit" [00:29:07] - The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Inflammation [00:30:07] - Sleep Hygiene: Removing Blue Light and Doom Scrolling [00:31:38] - The Power of Exercise and the 10-Minute Post-Meal Walk [00:32:17] - Conclusion and Final Takeaways ✨ Subscribe for practical diabetes management tips, technology updates, and treatment breakthroughs that help people with diabetes live healthier, more flexible lives.
More diabetes resources: Website: tcoyd.org Blog: tcoyd.org/blog Podcast: tcoydthepodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: / tcoyd Facebook: / tcoyd Stay connected! Sign up for our monthly newsletter here! Support TCOYD's educational programs: tcoyd.org/donate
★ Support this podcast ★
More from Taking Control Of Your Diabetes® - The Podcast!
What if you could take your basal insulin once a week instead of every day? Once-weekly basal insulin has arrived, offering a new approach that could make insulin therapy simpler while providing glucose control comparable to daily basal insulin. In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman is joined by Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas, a leading diabetes researcher who has been directly involved in clinical trials of once-weekly basal insulins. Together, they explain how these ultra-long-acting insulins work, how a single injection can provide steady background insulin throughout an entire week, and what studies have shown when once-weekly insulin is compared with traditional daily basal insulin. The conversation gets practical with how once-weekly insulin is started, adjusted, and switched from daily basal insulin. Dr. Edelman and Dr. Philis-Tsimikas discuss the dosage differences with once-weekly basal insulin, how concentrated insulin keeps the actual injection volume small, and how fasting glucose can help guide dose adjustments. They also discuss what happens if you miss a dose and why reaching a steady state is an important part of understanding how these longer-acting insulins work. They also dive into the clinical trial results, including A1C, time in range, and hypoglycemia. In studies of people living with type 2 diabetes, once-weekly basal insulin provided similar A1C lowering to daily basal insulin without an increase in hypoglycemia. They also explain why the story is different for people living with type 1 diabetes, where studies found higher rates of hypoglycemia with weekly basal insulin, and what that means for its use in the United States. Finally, Dr. Edelman and Dr. Philis-Tsimikas look at how once-weekly insulin could make diabetes management easier. Going from seven basal injections a week to just one could help reduce some of the daily burden of diabetes and make it easier to consistently take your insulin. They also explore using weekly insulin alongside GLP-1 medications, potential combination therapies, cost and access, and what we still need to learn as these newer insulins move from clinical trials into everyday diabetes care. Key Topics: How once-weekly basal insulin works Once-weekly vs. daily basal insulin Starting, dosing, and adjusting weekly insulin Why weekly insulin doses may look surprisingly large A1C, time in range, and hypoglycemia results What to do if you miss a weekly dose Once-weekly insulin in type 1 vs. type 2 diabetes Who may benefit from once-weekly insulin? Reducing the burden of daily injections Using once-weekly insulin with GLP-1 medications Future insulin and GLP-1 combination therapies Cost, access, and real-world considerations What the future of basal insulin could look like This episode was supported by Lilly. ✨ Subscribe for practical diabetes management tips, technology updates, and treatment breakthroughs that help people with diabetes live healthier, more flexible lives.
Managing type 2 diabetes can change over time, but having the right information for your patients can make those changes feel a lot more manageable. CGM can help your patients see what’s happening with their blood sugar and guide what comes next.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, but here’s the tricky part: you can have it for years without feeling any symptoms. The good news? Kidney disease can often be detected early, and with the right screening, treatments, and lifestyle changes, its progression can be dramatically slowed. In this episode, Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Jeremy Pettus are joined by nephrologist Dr. Bethany Karl to break down what everyone with diabetes should know about kidney health. Dr. E also steps into the patient seat to share his own experience living with chronic kidney disease, from discovering it without symptoms to navigating kidney tests and newer treatments. Together, they explain the two simple tests that can uncover kidney problems, why blood pressure and cardiovascular health matter, and how today’s growing toolbox of medications is giving people with diabetic kidney disease more reasons for hope.
Hot flashes, blood sugar swings, brain fog... is it menopause, diabetes, or both?
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, only to discover later it was actually type 1? You're not alone.