The body spends a great deal of energy to balance blood sugar with a very specific hormonal mechanism. The two main hormones are insulin and glucagon.
Insulin an incredibly important hormone in our bodies. It is released in response to glucose in the body and allows the glucose to enter the cell to supply energy. Without insulin, blood sugar would rise to unhealthy levels, and would diagnosed as Diabetes Type One. On the other hand, insulin is also considered a energy (fat) storage hormone. Which means, too much insulin can result in too much fat storage, weight gain.
Remember insulin rises only in response to glucose. Carbohydrates eaten are converted to glucose in the bloodstream which in turn signals insulin to be released from the pancreas. The more sugar, refined or processed a carbohydrate food is, the higher/quicker the blood glucose rise, hence the higher the insulin secreted.
Over years, the more processed, high glycemic carbohydrate foods we eat, the the higher the glucose response and in turn the higher the insulin levels. This is the reason we can eat a cheeseburger, french fries and a milkshake when we are young and not gain a pound, but eat that when we hit our 40’s, an assured 5 pounds are tacked on.
High levels of insulin over time increases our ability to store fat. The slower metabolism everyone describes as we get older, is not due to age, but due to metabolic hormones, especially insulin and its fat-storage capabilities. Again, the goal of any weight loss program needs to reduce and reset the levels of insulin secreted by the body.
Glucagon is also a hormone released from the pancreas, but it is counter-regulatory to insulin. That means that when insulin is low, glucagon is high and vice versa. Glucagon is responsible for mobilizing glucose to keep our blood sugar maintained when we haven’t eaten for a while.
For example, if you have not eaten for several hours, glucagon is released from the pancreas and which signals your liver conduct glycogenolysis. Glycogenolysis mobilizes glucose from the liver which creates glucose (sugar) even though you have not eaten. Glucagon is important to help promote the process of maintaining your blood glucose levels so you do not pass out and die.
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Exciting Announcement! We’re launching the Progress Your Hormones Community today—a space designed to empower women with expert guidance and support for navigating perimenopause and menopause. Get access to live office hours, hormone hot seats, lab interpretation, and more! If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Launching August 11: Join our new Progress Your Hormones Community! Get expert guidance, real support, and answers to your HRT questions—together, not alone. Get expert guidance, real support, and answers to your HRT questions—together, not alone. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Welcome to Episode 2 with our upgraded video setup! Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health answer a thoughtful listener’s question: Why are my progesterone labs always low even on 200mg oral HRT? If you’re taking progesterone and worried about low numbers or uterine protection, this episode is for you. 💡 We cover: ‘ ● ⏱️ Why timing your blood draw makes or breaks your lab results ● 💊 The difference between sustained-release vs. instant-release progesterone ● 🧬 How genetic variants (like CYP enzymes) impact progesterone metabolism ● 🩺 When to get a transvaginal ultrasound to assess uterine lining health ● ✅ What blood level to aim for—and when to test it ● 💡 Bonus: How your detox pathways (and even caffeine tolerance!) can affect hormones If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki answer a listener’s question about spotting and night sweats after starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Lisa, age 55, shares her experience using Bi-Est cream, oral progesterone, and testosterone—and why she’s now experiencing unexpected bleeding and sleep disruption. We break down: ● Why spotting can happen after starting HRT—even with low estradiol levels ● The difference between estradiol and estriol in Bi-Est cream ● How progesterone protects the uterine lining ● When to increase vs. decrease HRT doses ● The role of cortisol and adrenal health in night sweats ● When to order a transvaginal ultrasound ● How body type, menstrual history, and hormone sensitivity influence dosing ● Why cookie-cutter HRT doesn’t work for most women 💡 Plus, we share details about our upcoming Progress Your Hormones Community, launching in August 2025—a safe space for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, longevity, and personalized hormone education. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki dive into a question from Sabrina about the accuracy and usefulness of saliva versus blood testing for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 👉 Is saliva testing more accurate for transdermal Bi-Est creams? 👉 Why does your estradiol look low in bloodwork but high in saliva? 👉 Does skipping your hormones before testing give a better result—or just confuse the picture? 👉 What’s a true 80/20 Bi-Est ratio, and how can you read your prescription dose properly? 👉 Why might oral progesterone make you anxious instead of sleepy? You’ll learn: ● How to interpret blood and saliva test results when you’re on HRT ● The pros and cons of different testing methods (serum vs. saliva vs. urine) ● The real reason your progesterone might backfire and worsen sleep ● Why your estrogen dose may be too low—even if your labs say you’re “in range” ● How to work with your practitioner to adjust your HRT plan safely This episode is perfect for anyone on HRT who’s feeling confused about their labs, frustrated by persistent symptoms, or stuck between conflicting advice. 🧠 Bonus: Dr. Davidson breaks down estrogen ratios and cream dosing using real-world examples. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In this episode of the Progress Your Health Podcast, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki dive deep into a question from “Amber,” a 49-year-old woman struggling with extreme perimenopausal symptoms — despite being on progesterone, an estradiol patch, and thyroid medication. 🔍 Topics Covered: ● Why HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) might not be working ● Common perimenopause symptoms: sleep issues, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain ● The pitfalls of cookie-cutter hormone prescriptions ● How cortisol, stress, and over-exercising sabotage your hormones ● When estrogen dominance, low progesterone, and thyroid dysfunction overlap ● Could progesterone be making things worse? ● Why rhythmic hormone dosing may offer a better solution 💡 Learn why so many women feel dismissed or misdiagnosed during this transition—and how to find a treatment that actually works for your body. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
