My 2025 Functional Blood Work: Blood Sugar, Stress & Performance – Part 6
In the first five parts of this series, I unpacked a lot.
From immune system stress and gut health to liver, kidney, and hormone function. This post might not sound as exciting as “testosterone” or “gallbladder,” but it’s just as important, maybe even more.
Why?
Because blood sugar regulation isn’t just about diabetes or fat loss. It’s about performance, recovery, energy, and brain clarity, especially in midlife.
And when I reviewed my latest blood markers, a few things jumped out that most GPs would skim over... but from a functional lens, they’re full of clues.
My Blood Glucose & Metabolic Markers
Wait, Aren’t These “Good”?
Honestly? On paper, most of this looks great.
Triglycerides are low ✅
HDL is strong ✅
Triglyceride:HDL ratio (a sneaky-good insulin sensitivity marker) is ideal ✅
HbA1c is well below diabetic risk ✅
HOMA-IR suggests excellent insulin sensitivity ✅
So, nothing to worry about, right?
Not quite.
The High-Performer Paradox
What most GPs would call “excellent,” I see through a different lens, because in functional medicine, we look at the why behind the numbers.
My pattern shows:
✅ High efficiency: My body is metabolising fat and carbs well.
⚠️ Under-recovery risk: Markers like HOMA2-%B (low) and DHEA-S (low-normal) tell me I might be burning too clean.
⚠️ Mild inflammation — hs-CRP is within range, but functional medicine prefers <2.0 for longevity and recovery. Mine’s 4.76.
Put differently:
I’m running lean, fast, and hard, but I’m not refuelling deeply.
Possible Causes (in my case):
Strength Training hard 4x/week
High-protein, low-ish carb intake
Busy days, early wakeups, late content or client work
Dad-mode full-time 3-days per week.
Supplementing, but maybe not enough downtime, rhythm, or softness in my routine
So What Am I Doing?
This isn’t about panic. These markers are early clues, not diagnoses.
Here’s how I’m adjusting:
Fuel smarter, not just cleaner
Adding in more healthy carbs on training days (sweet potato, rice, fruits)
Eating enough total calories, especially at dinner, to avoid that 3am cortisol spike
Nervous system care
Sauna 3–4x/week
Evening wind-downs with blue light blockers + magnesium + reading
Breathwork or slow nasal breathing to downshift from “go” to “rest”
Supplements to support this phase
Magnesium glycinate (300–400mg)
Vitamin C + adaptogens for adrenal resilience
Electrolytes daily (not just in training)
Creatine (5g/day) to support energy systems and brain clarity
Final Thoughts
This post isn’t a warning, it’s a reminder. When you’re a high-output guy in midlife, your blood work won’t always look “bad”, but the trends matter.
Low beta cell output, slightly elevated inflammation, and low-normal adrenal reserves might not be dramatic. But they’re early whispers. And I’m listening.
Because the goal isn’t just efficiency. It’s adaptability. It’s energy with depth. It’s showing up for my training, my family, my clients with something left in the tank.
