Path to Better A1C: Diabetes Prevention, Blood Sugar Balance, Weight and Cravings Control Strategy Podcast By Jenny Pena NBC-HWC DPP Lifestyle Coach CIHC cover art

Path to Better A1C: Diabetes Prevention, Blood Sugar Balance, Weight and Cravings Control Strategy

Path to Better A1C: Diabetes Prevention, Blood Sugar Balance, Weight and Cravings Control Strategy

By: Jenny Pena NBC-HWC DPP Lifestyle Coach CIHC
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Navigating prediabetes, cravings, brain fog or low energy? Coach Jenny helps busy professionals restore balance with simple, science-backed strategies. Listen to short, practical episodes on lowering A1C, reducing insulin resistance, calming cravings, boosting energy, and preventing type 2 diabetes—without extreme diets. Start your journey with free resources linked in each episode. 📝Free Prediabetes Guide > https://subscribepage.io/starterguide 📝Free Snacks List > https://subscribepage.io/snacks 📝Free GLP1 Guide > https://subscribepage.io/glp1 🌐 www.jennypena.com 📧 hello@jennypena.comJenny Pena, NBC-HWC, DPP Lifestyle Coach, CIHC Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Ep 72: Beyond A1C: The Blood Sugar Labs You Need to Know About

    Ep 72: Beyond A1C: The Blood Sugar Labs You Need to Know About
    Apr 24 2026
    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 your family. You'll learn:What HbA1C actually measures, the conventional ranges, and why functional practitioners like to see it lower than most doctors doHow fasting glucose works and why it can look perfectly normal while your body is quietly compensatingWhy fasting insulin is the single most underused lab in conventional medicine — and how it can reveal insulin resistance 5 to 15 years before your glucose ever changesHow to ask your doctor for fasting insulin by name (and what to do with the HOMA-IR calculation when you have both numbers)Why your triglycerides and HDL often shift before your glucose does, and how the simple triglyceride-to-HDL ratio can tell you more about your metabolic health than total cholesterol ever willA sneak peek at next week's deep dive into functional labs — HTMA, continuous glucose monitors, organic acids testing, GI-MAP stool testing, and cortisol rhythm — with a special guest practitionerFREE Resources:📘Prediabetes Guide: https://subscribepage.io/starterguide🍽️Dinner, Solved – https://subscribepage.io/dinnersolved🗒️Snacks List: https://subscribepage.io/snacks FREE Clarity Call - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call🌐 https://www.jennypena.com📲 Instagram / coachjenp This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health plan.
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    18 mins
  • Ep 71: Prediabetes, Cravings & Metabolism: What Ayurveda Gets Right That Diets Miss - A chat with Kruti Thakore

    Ep 71: Prediabetes, Cravings & Metabolism: What Ayurveda Gets Right That Diets Miss - A chat with Kruti Thakore
    Apr 17 2026

    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 compassionate Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a rich background in both modern science and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom.Kruti opens up about her personal journey—from years of crash dieting and metabolic struggles to discovering Ayurveda after experiencing loss in her family due to type 2 diabetes. That turning point led her to explore a more individualized, holistic approach to health that goes far beyond calories in vs. calories out.

    Together, we break down the foundations of Ayurveda in a simple, practical way, including:

    • The concept of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and how your unique body type influences metabolism
    • Why two people can eat the same foods and get completely different results
    • How imbalances (not just weight) can drive conditions like insulin resistance, PCOS, and type 2 diabetes
    • The role of daily rhythms, meal timing, and seasons in blood sugar regulation
    • Why your largest meal should be midday and how late-night eating impacts recovery and metabolism

    Kruti also shares actionable strategies you can start using today, including:

    • How to balance blood sugar by incorporating bitter and astringent foods
    • Why movement after meals is one of the most underrated tools for glucose control
    • Simple lifestyle shifts that improve insulin sensitivity without extreme dieting
    • The importance of eating to 70% fullness to support digestion and metabolic health

    This conversation is a powerful reminder that health is not one-size-fits-all—and that sustainable change comes from understanding your body, not fighting it.

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” but not seeing results, this episode will give you a whole new way to look at your health.

    How to connect with Kruti:

    Website - https://www.krutithakore.com

    Free resource - https://www.krutithakore.com/optimal-well-being-method

    Instagram - @radianthealth_ayurvedic_clinic


    FREE Resources:📘Prediabetes Guide: https://wwwsubscribepage.io/starterguide💊What to Focus on while using GLP-1s Guide: https://subscribepage.io/glp1🍽️Dinner, Solved – Dinner ideas: https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner🗒️Balancing Snacks List: https://subscribepage.io/snacks📞Book a FREE Call - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call🌐 https://www.jennypena.com📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/
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    29 mins
  • Ep 70: What Ayurveda & Traditional Chinese Medicine Say About Blood Sugar

    Ep 70: What Ayurveda & Traditional Chinese Medicine Say About Blood Sugar
    Apr 10 2026

    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 metabolic balance for thousands of years.

    While the language may be different, what fascinated me most is how often these ancient systems point back to the same foundations we know matter for blood sugar health:

    • digestion and meal rhythm

    • stress support

    • sleep quality

    • movement

    • reducing processed foods

    • supporting steady energy

    We talk about concepts like Kapha imbalance, digestive fire (Agni), Qi, and dampness accumulation and how these may overlap with what we now call insulin resistance, fatigue, cravings, and brain fog.

    This episode is a fresh perspective on prediabetes and blood sugar balance — and a reminder that many healing traditions often lead us back to the same foundations.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    • how Ayurveda views blood sugar imbalance

    • what TCM says about fatigue, cravings, and energy crashes

    • why digestion plays such a central role

    • practical lifestyle shifts that support better blood sugar

    This is also the perfect prequel to next week’s guest episode with a certified Ayurvedic practitioner.

    Free Resource: Download the Prediabetes Roadmap to get started with 3 simple steps to support your blood sugar.

    https://www.subscribepage.io/starterguide
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    14 mins
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