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

Have you been eating healthier, exercising more, and trying your best... but your A1C still isn't going down? You're not alone. In this episode of Prediabetes & The Path to Better A1C , I'm sharing the 3 most common mistakes I see that can keep A1C levels elevated, even when you're making healthy changes. We'll talk about: ✅ Hidden sugars in drinks that can spike blood sug...

What can a soccer match teach you about lowering your A1C? More than you might think. ⚽ In this special episode, I'm stepping away from my usual format and sharing five surprising lessons soccer has taught me about building healthier habits, balancing blood sugar, and preventing type 2 diabetes. As someone who didn't grow up watching soccer but became a proud soccer mom after my son start...

Your doctor says, "Your liver numbers are a little elevated. It's probably nothing." So you move on. But what if those "slightly elevated" liver enzymes are actually an early warning sign of metabolic dysfunction? In this episode, Coach Jenny Peña breaks down the surprising connection between fatty liver, insulin resistance, and blood sugar—and why this often-silent conditi...

Ever walk into a room and forget why you went there? Read the same sentence three times? Feel like your brain simply shuts down around 3 PM? Many people blame aging, stress, or lack of sleep. But there's another possibility that often gets overlooked: your blood sugar. In this episode, Coach Jenny Peña explains why blood sugar swings—not just high blood sugar—can affect your focus, memory, ene...

What if the same blood sugar issues affecting your waistline were also impacting your brain? In this episode, Jenny Pena, NBC-HWC, explores the growing body of research connecting blood sugar, insulin resistance, and dementia risk. While most people associate high blood sugar with diabetes, fewer realize it may also affect memory, cognition, and long-term brain health. You'll learn: ✅ Why blo...

Most men assume that feeling exhausted, gaining belly fat, and losing energy is just part of getting older. But what if it isn't? In this Men's Health Month kickoff episode, I break down the surprising connection between blood sugar, insulin resistance, testosterone, energy levels, and that stubborn belly fat that seems impossible to lose. You'll learn: ✅ Why the afternoon energy cras...

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, Jenny Pena sits down with functional diagnostic practitioner, health coach, and host of The Period Whisperer Podcast, Bria Gadd, to discuss the real reasons so many women struggle with weight gain, fatigue, cravings, brain fog, poor sleep, and blood sugar imbalances during perimenopause and menopause. If you feel like your body suddenly changed ov...

Could your hormones be affecting your blood sugar, cravings, sleep, mood, and even your relationships? In this episode of Path to Better A1C, Jenny Pena breaks down the real science behind perimenopause and menopause, including the symptoms women are rarely warned about and why partners should understand this transition too. From brain fog and anxiety to belly fat, cravings, sleep disruption, froz...

Ep 75: Living with Type 1 Diabetes and Helping Others Do the Same — A Conversation with Melissa Slemp In Episode 75 of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, I sit down with Melissa Slemp for an honest and empowering conversation about living with type 1 diabetes, navigating hormones and midlife health, and helping other women do the same. Melissa Slemp is a Certified Health and Hormone Health Coach and...

In this episode of Prediabetes and the Path to Better A1C, Jenny Pena breaks down the major differences between Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and the emerging concept of Type 3 diabetes. If you’ve ever felt confused about insulin resistance, blood sugar imbalances, A1C levels, or why brain fog and energy crashes happen, this episode connects the dots in a simple and approachable w...

Ep 73: Your Gut Is Talking… Are You Listening? Gut Health, Blood Sugar & Functional Lab Testing - A Chat with Kim Heinz What if your symptoms aren’t random… but no one has actually looked deep enough to connect the dots? In this episode, I sit down for a chat with Kim Heintz , functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, to explore the connection between gut health, blood sugar, and what func...

Most people don't wake up one morning with type 2 diabetes. The metabolic dysfunction behind it has usually been brewing for 5, 10, even 15 years before diagnosis — and most of the labs that could catch it early aren't part of your standard annual physical. In this short prequel episode, Jenny breaks down the blood sugar labs every person should know about, whether or not diabetes runs in...

Ep 71: Prediabetes, Cravings & Metabolism: What Ayurveda Gets Right That Diets Miss - A chat with Kruti Thakore In this episode of Path to Better A1C , I’m joined by Ayurvedic wellness practitioner Kruti Thakore , who shares a powerful and refreshing perspective on blood sugar, metabolism, and overall health through the lens of Ayurveda. Kruti Thakore, M.Sc, B.Sc, MLT, ALC, AWP, NBC-HWC, is a...

Episode 70: What Ancient Healing Systems Teach Us About Blood Sugar Balance We often talk about blood sugar through the lens of labs, A1C, insulin resistance, nutrition, movement, and sleep. But what if we looked at it through a completely different lens? In this episode, I explore how Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been thinking about energy, cravings, digestion, and metabol...

Episode 69: Irregular Periods, PCOS, and Insulin Resistance — The Hormone Connection Irregular periods, painful cycles, fertility struggles, and symptoms like fatigue or brain fog are more common than many women realize. But what many people don’t know is that these symptoms are often connected to hormone balance, blood sugar regulation, and metabolic health . In this episode of the Path to Better...

Many women who struggle with irregular periods, PCOS, fertility challenges, fatigue, or stubborn weight gain are often told the problem is purely hormonal. But what many people don’t realize is that blood sugar balance and insulin resistance play a major role in hormone health. In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast , Jenny Pena, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and...

Episode 67: The Emotional Side of GLP-1 Weight Loss: Identity Shifts, Emotional Eating & Fear of Regain In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast , we explore an often overlooked part of weight loss: the emotional experience. While medications like GLP-1s can help reduce appetite and support weight loss, many people are surprised by the emotional shifts that can happen along the way. C...

Episode 66: The Risks of GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications No One Talks About GLP-1 medications have changed the landscape of weight loss and diabetes treatment. For many people, they can be powerful tools to support blood sugar control and weight loss. But they are not a magic wand . In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast , Jenny Pena, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach a...

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, host Jenny Pena discusses the A1C Reset Protocol and the journey of starting GLP-1 medications for weight loss and metabolic health. She addresses common questions and concerns regarding side effects, nutritional needs, and the importance of lifestyle changes for long-term success. The episode emphasizes the significance of protein intake, strengt...

What happens when you stop taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss or blood sugar control? This is one of the most important — and least discussed — questions in the GLP-1 conversation. In this final episode of the GLP-1 series, Coach Jenny breaks down what actually happens in your body after discontinuing GLP-1 medications, why weight regain is so common, and how to build a long-term maintenance...

Episode 63: The 4 Habits That Make GLP-1s Work (Or May Replace Them Entirely) GLP-1 medications are powerful tools. But medication alone will not create the long-term results most people are hoping for. In this episode, I share what I’ve seen over the past two years working closely with clients on GLP-1s: the people who experience life-changing, sustainable results are building four foundational h...

In this episode, Coach Jenny discusses GLP-1 medications, their suitability for individuals, and the importance of understanding personal health history before starting these medications. She emphasizes the need for informed decision-making, the potential risks associated with GLP-1s, and the necessity of asking the right questions to healthcare providers. Additionally, Jenny explores alternatives...

In this episode, Coach Jenny dives into the world of GLP-1 medications, exploring their effectiveness, the science behind them, and the reality of their use. She shares her personal experience with these medications, highlighting the importance of understanding their effects and the necessity of combining them with sustainable lifestyle changes. The episode also addresses common misconceptions, si...

Insulin Resistance, Prediabetes & Type 2 Diabetes: How Weight Loss Actually Happens If you understand insulin resistance — but still feel unsure how weight loss actually works — this episode ties everything together. Insulin resistance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes exist on a continuum. The diagnosis may change, but the underlying physiology — and the way the body responds to support — oft...

In this episode, Jenny Pena discusses why traditional weight loss methods focusing solely on calorie reduction are often ineffective. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of hormones, particularly insulin, in regulating hunger and fat storage. The conversation explores how insulin resistance can complicate weight loss efforts and offers practical strategies for achieving sustain...