Prediabetes and The Path to Better A1C: Blood Sugar, Energy, Brain Focus & Insulin Resistance

Think sugar is only a concern if you have diabetes? Think again.In this July 4th episode, we’re exploring the surprising ways added sugar impacts your energy, mood, hormones, gut health, sleep, and skin—even if your blood sugar is technically “normal.”

Plus, I’m kicking off my brand-new Free Virtual Summer Book Club—and you’re invited.

• How sugar affects more than just your A1C

• The sneaky places sugar hides (and 10+ names it goes by!)

• The difference between carbs and sugar

• How much added sugar is actually “too much”

• Smart, realistic swaps to cut back on sugar—without cutting joy

• How to join our free Book Club to explore your sugar habits together this summer

We're reading The Year of No Sugar by Eve Schaub—funny, relatable, and packed with insight. Get your book here - https://amzn.to/4dtYSyV

You’ll receive:

• Weekly email prompts & reflections

• A flexible summer reading pace

• A Zoom session to wrap it all up together

👉 Sign up now: https://subscribepage.io/summerbook

🔗 Helpful links mentioned:

• Grab my free recipe guide:
  Dinner, Solved – 5 Easy Meals That Keep Blood Sugar Steady - https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner

• Join the Book Club: https://subscribepage.io/summerbook

• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp

Book a free clarity call: https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

Learn more at: https://www.jennypena.com

Cravings. Blood sugar spikes. Constant hunger. Stubborn weight.

If any of that sounds familiar, fiber might be the nutrient your meals are missing.

In this episode, we’re digging into:

• What fiber actually does in your body

• How it helps regulate blood sugar, reduce cravings, and support fat loss

• The difference between soluble and insoluble fiber (and why you need both)

• How much fiber you really need

• Easy ways to add more fiber to your meals without complicated tracking or calorie counting

🎯 Whether you're managing prediabetes or just looking to feel full and focused throughout your day, fiber is your metabolic ally.

Free Resource: “Dinner, Solved” – 5 Easy Meals to Keep Blood Sugar Steady
Get your copy here: https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner
Each meal is fiber-rich, blood sugar-friendly, and designed to keep you satisfied without the stress of counting.

🌱 Coming Soon: Weight Loss /Fiber- Focused 8-Week Group Coaching Program
Want to build better eating habits with real food, simple strategies, and group support?
Join the waitlist now: https://subscribepage.io/fiber

👩‍💻 Visit My Website:
https://www.jennypena.com

📸 Connect with Me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp

🗓️ Book a Free Clarity Call:
https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

💬 Was this episode helpful? Share it with a friend, leave a review, and tag me on Instagram when you try one of the “Dinner, Solved” recipes!

If you’re skipping protein, you might be skipping one of the most important tools for losing weight, reversing insulin resistance, and staying full and focused throughout the day.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• Why protein helps you lose weight (and keep it off)

• How it supports metabolism, muscle, and blood sugar control

• How much protein you really need daily

• The best protein sources for people managing prediabetes or insulin resistance

• Simple, family-friendly ways to add more protein to your meals—without overhauling your diet

🎯 Whether you’re trying to beat cravings, balance your blood sugar, or just feel more in control of your eating habits, protein is a game-changer.

🍽️ Free Resource: “Dinner, Solved” – 5 Easy Meals That Keep Blood Sugar Steady
Download your copy here: https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner
These simple, satisfying meals include high-quality protein, fiber, and healthy fats—perfect for busy families and blood sugar balance.

👩‍💻 Visit My Website:
https://www.jennypena.com

📸 Connect with Me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp

🗓️ Book a Free Clarity Call:
https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

Are you eating healthier, moving more, and still not seeing results on the scale? You might be dealing with insulin resistance—and you’re not alone. This silent disruptor affects millions and makes it nearly impossible to lose weight, especially around the belly, until it's addressed.

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down:

• What insulin resistance actually is

• Why it blocks fat loss even when you’re doing “everything right”

• The illnesses it’s tied to, like prediabetes, PCOS, and more

• Early warning signs to watch for

• What you can do starting today to reverse it—without fad diets

 If you’ve been struggling and wondering “what am I missing?”—this episode is for you.

Free Resource: “Dinner, Solved” – 5 Easy Meals That Keep Blood Sugar Steady - Download your copy here: ⁠https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner⁠

These meals are blood sugar-friendly, family-approved, and perfect if you want to feel more in control without overhauling your life.

 Visit My Website: ⁠https://www.jennypena.com⁠

 Connect with Me on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp⁠

 Book a Free Clarity Call: ⁠https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

Summary:
In this milestone episode of The Path to Better A1C, Jenny answers 25 of the most common questions about energy, cravings, blood sugar, fatigue, insulin resistance, and lifestyle change. You’ll walk away with simple, practical tips you can start using right away.

🎧 From "Why am I always tired?" to "Can I reverse prediabetes naturally?"—Jenny breaks it down in a relatable, real-talk way.

✨ Highlights:

• How blood sugar instability impacts your energy

• What causes the 3PM slump and how to avoid it

• Smart swaps for sugar cravings

• Simple changes that support insulin sensitivity

• Why habits—not willpower—lead to lasting results

🔥 Want to feel better fast?

Join the 5-Day Energy Fix Jumpstart (Starts June 8!)
👉 https://subscribepage.io/energy

📲 Connect with Jenny:

🌐 Website: https://www.jennypena.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp

💥 Ready to stop feeling tired all the time—especially around 3PM?

The Energy Fix Jumpstart is a 5-day experience for busy professionals who are done with energy crashes, sugar cravings, and burnout. You’ll learn how to balance blood sugar, fuel your body, and feel more focused—without extreme diets or cutting all carbs.

🎯 Join the 5-Day Energy Fix Jumpstart → https://subscribepage.io/energy

IN THIS EPISODE:
✔️ Why your energy is crashing (hint: it’s not just stress or lack of sleep)
✔️ How blood sugar balance plays a bigger role than you think
✔️ How to eat for focus, clarity, and consistent energy
✔️ What’s included in the 5-day Jumpstart experience
✔️ Why the busier you are, the more you need this

🗓️ Kickoff Call: Saturday, June 7, 2025
⏰ Jumpstart Runs: Sunday, June 8 – Thursday, June 12
💵 Price: $99 USD (VIP upgrade with 1:1 session = $149)

WHO THIS IS FOR:

• You wake up tired, even after a full night of sleep

• You crash hard in the afternoon

• You’re juggling a busy life and keep skipping meals or grabbing the wrong snacks

• You want to feel sharp, focused, and finally in control of your habits again

Let’s plug you back into your power—without burnout, restriction, or guesswork.

🔗 OTHER FREE RESOURCES:
🥨 Blood Sugar Balancing Snacks List → https://subscribepage.io/snacks
🍽️ Dinner, Solved (5 Easy Balanced Meals) → https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner

👋 LET’S CONNECT:
🌐 Website → https://www.jennypena.com
📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp
📧 Email → [email protected]
🎙️ Podcast → https://www.jennypena.com/podcast
📺 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@coachjenp

🎧 If you're listening on Spotify or Apple, tap the link below to join the Jumpstart now:
👉 https://subscribepage.io/energy

Ever feel shaky after eating or wake up with high blood sugar—even if you ate perfectly the night before?

This episode unpacks two common blood sugar issues: reactive hypoglycemia and the dawn phenomenon. Jenny walks you through what they are, how they differ, what causes them, and how to manage each—so you can feel steady, clear-headed, and in control of your blood sugar again.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What reactive hypoglycemia and the dawn phenomenon really are

• Why one causes low blood sugar after eating, and the other causes high blood sugar before waking

• Which hormones and insulin patterns are involved

• Actionable food, sleep, and stress strategies to stabilize both

Resources & Links:

• 🎁 Blood Sugar Balancing Snacks List (Free)

• 🌐 Jenny’s Website

• 📱 Follow Jenny on Instagram @coachjenp

  
  

Visit my webpage - www.jennypena.com

Let's Chat! Schedule a free Clarity Call here - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

Follow me on Instagram for more tips - https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/

Are cravings running the show lately—especially when you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed?

This episode breaks down the real biology behind cravings, especially in those managing prediabetes or insulin resistance. Jenny explains how stress, cortisol, blood sugar, and inflammation all interact to increase hunger, reduce self-control, and sabotage your best intentions.

If you’ve ever felt like food has more control over you than you’d like—this episode will help you take that power back with science, strategy, and self-compassion.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why cravings aren’t about willpower—they’re about your hormones

• How cortisol increases appetite, blood sugar, and belly fat

• Why people with insulin resistance or diabetes crave more often

• How poor sleep, inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies worsen cravings

• 3 actionable ways to reduce cravings and feel more in control

Join me for Cravings, Crashes and the 3pm Slump Workshop on Thursday, May 29 at 1 PM EST (free & virtual).
We’ll walk through:

• The top 3 hidden causes of fatigue and cravings

• How to stabilize blood sugar naturally

• A clear strategy to feel focused, fueled, and back in control

✨ Save your seat at www.jennypena.com/workshop
Or DM me “WORKSHOP” on Instagram @coachjenp and I’ll send you the link personally.

And if you want an instant craving reset?
🎁 Grab my Blood Sugar Balancing Snacks List at subscribepage.io/snacks

You’ve got this—and you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it.

Struggling to focus?

Feeling fuzzy, forgetful, or mentally drained?

You’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In this episode, Jenny explains how unstable blood sugar, stress, and sleep issues can create the perfect storm for brain fog.

You’ll learn why this happens, what to look out for, and how to support your brain and blood sugar for better clarity and energy.

In this episode you will learn:

• ​What brain fog really is and how it shows up
• ​How glucose spikes and crashes affect your memory and focus
• ​Why people with prediabetes and insulin resistance experience mental fatigue
• ​Three ways to reduce fog and boost brain power naturally

Need support?

Book a clarity call and let's chat! - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

Visit my webpage https://www.jennypena.com

Follow me on Instagram @coachjenp

Get my FREE Blood Sugar Balancing Snacks list here - https://www.subscribepage.io/snacks

If your energy crashes after lunch, your body isn’t failing you—your blood sugar might be.

In this episode, Jenny explains what’s really behind the afternoon slump: blood sugar spikes and crashes. You’ll learn how the way you start your day impacts your energy, why this happens more often in people with prediabetes and insulin resistance, and how to avoid the 3PM crash with simple daily shifts.

🟡 Join Jenny’s free Energy Fix Workshop on Thursday, May 29 at 1 PM EST
You’ll learn:

• The 3 hidden causes of fatigue

• How to flatten your blood sugar curve

• What to eat and do to get off the rollercoaster—for good

Remember to subscribe to get the alert when new episodes are available every Friday morning!

Get my FREE Blood sugar balancing snacks list - subscribepage.io/snacks

Check my webpage - www.jennypena.com

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/