The Blood Sugar Spike That Had Nothing to Do with Food

A mom I know recently wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to see how her body responded to different foods. She expected the obvious results- higher blood sugar after pizza, maybe a spike after a sweet treat. And yes, those shifts happened.

But you know what caused her biggest spike?

👉 Her child’s emotional meltdown.

Not sugar.
Not carbs.
Stress.

And if you’re parenting kids with trauma, I bet you’re nodding along right now.

What Happens When Stress Becomes Your Body’s “Normal”

When your child dysregulates, your body does too- and it does so automatically.

Your sympathetic nervous system (that’s your “fight, flight, or freeze” response) flips on to keep you alert and reactive. It’s designed to protect you. You’re not broken…this is exactly how God wired your body to survive.

But here’s the problem…

If we don’t complete the stress cycle- if we don’t guide our bodies back into a parasympathetic state (rest, digest, heal)- we get stuck in survival mode.

Signs You Might Be Stuck in Fight-or-Flight

Let’s get real: most foster and adoptive moms I work with are living in a low-grade trauma response 24/7. And their bodies are paying the price.

When your nervous system never gets the “all clear,” here’s what it can look like:

•  Trouble sleeping, even when you’re exhausted

•  Brain fog and trouble focusing

•  Unstable blood sugar or blood pressure

•  Plateaus in fat loss, no matter how clean you eat

•  Chronic inflammation, anxiety, and burnout

Sound familiar?

How We Accidentally Stay in Survival Mode

Without realizing it, many of us are doing things that reinforce the danger signals:

• Skipping meals (because… kids)

• Living on caffeine, sugar, or ultra-processed snacks

• Going from one crisis to the next with no pause

• Telling ourselves, “It’s fine, I’m fine,” even when we’re drowning

You cannot regulate your home if your own body believes it’s under threat.

What Your Body Needs to Heal

You don’t just need better habits.

You need to help your nervous system feel safe again.

And no- this isn’t about bubble baths or spa days. This is about completing the stress cycle and giving your body the conditions it needs to move from survival to resilience.

That’s exactly what we do inside my 6-week challenge.

We don’t just talk about macros or workouts. We look at:

• Trauma-informed regulation tools

• Faith-rooted mindset work

• Practical rhythms that fit your real life

• How to fuel your body and your nervous system

Because this work isn’t optional.

It’s essential- for your health, your family, and your calling.