How Blood Sugar Balance Impacts Fertility: The Key to Hormone Health & Conception
I’m about to share one of my practitioner secrets.
Most of my clients start feeling noticeably better—sometimes seeing major symptom relief—within just 1–2 sessions of working together. Wondering how?
I help them balance their blood sugar.
However, its much more than just symptom relief. We are also building a foundation for optimal hormone balance and fertility to thrive.
Wondering if imbalances in your blood sugar are playing a role in your fertility journey? This blog post is for you.
What Does “Balancing Blood Sugar” Even Mean?
Let’s take a step back and break it down. Blood sugar regulation involves a complex interplay of hormones and metabolic processes. When we talk about balancing blood sugar, we’re referring to keeping glucose (your body’s primary source of fuel) within a stable, healthy range—without dramatic spikes or crashes.
To understand this better, let’s outline the key players in blood sugar control:
Glucose – A type of sugar that our cells use for energy.
Glycogen – The stored form of glucose, which your body keeps on reserve in the liver and muscles for when you need extra energy.
Insulin – A hormone that signals your cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy or storage.
Cortisol – Stress hormones that can increase blood sugar when your body perceives a threat (even if it’s just from skipping meals).
Why Testing Insulin Matters More Than Just Fasting Glucose
You may have had your fasting glucose tested before, which is a helpful marker. However, it’s often one of the last markers to rise when blood sugar regulation is off. The body is incredibly skilled at keeping glucose within range—for a while—but insulin is one of the first markers to become elevated when things start to go wrong.
That’s why testing fasting insulin can help catch blood sugar disturbances early, before they contribute to deeper health issues like oxidative stress, ovulation disruptions, metabolic syndrome, or insulin resistance.
What’s an Optimal Insulin Range?
The "normal" range for insulin is broad, meaning that high levels often go undiagnosed until insulin resistance is well underway. While conventional lab ranges may not flag an issue, functionally-minded practitioners typically consider fasting insulin below 10 to be optimal. I aim for below 8 in my practice.
Other Key Blood Sugar Markers
HbA1c – A three-month average of blood sugar levels. I recommend aiming for below 5.5 for optimal health.
HOMA-IR – A calculation that assesses insulin resistance by taking both fasting glucose and fasting insulin into account. A HOMA-IR above 2.0 has been linked to lower pregnancy rates in IVF research. I aim for below 1.7 in my practice.
Want to check your own HOMA-IR? Use this formula:
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose × Fasting Insulin) / 405
Low Blood Sugar Isn’t Ideal Either
On the flip side, chronically low blood sugar can also be problematic. If your fasting insulin is below 2 or your fasting glucose is consistently low, it may be a sign that you're not eating enough or experiencing chronic stress.
I know food can be an emotional topic, and eating more isn’t always easy. If you struggle with low appetite or food fears, reach out for support—I work with clients on this all the time.
The Connection Between Blood Sugar and Sex Hormones
So what does insulin have to do with estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone?
A lot. Your metabolism and reproductive system are deeply interconnected, and they’re also tied to your stress response and thyroid function.
In other words, if someone tries to “fix” your hormones without assessing blood sugar, thyroid health, or stress hormones, they’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle—and true, long-term healing won’t happen.
In my practice, I always want to understand my clients thyroid function, cortisol levels, sex hormone levels and blood sugar levels. This is our foundation and if any of these are out of whack, its a top priority to re-balance, as our fertility will be impacted.
How High Insulin Disrupts Hormones & Pregnancy Outcomes
Insulin isn’t just a blood sugar hormone—it plays a central role in overall hormonal balance & fertility. Chronically elevated insulin can:
Increase androgens (like testosterone) by lowering sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and overstimulating the ovaries.
Cause ovulatory dysfunction, leading to irregular or absent cycles (as seen in PCOS).
Impair egg quality by increasing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Lowers Progesterone – Progesterone is essential for implantation and maintaining pregnancy. Blood sugar imbalances can cause low progesterone, making it harder to conceive and sustain pregnancy.
Disrupts Thyroid Function – Thyroid hormones play a major role in fertility, and insulin resistance has been linked to hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, both of which can impair ovulation.
It’s not just about getting pregnant, it’s also about having a healthy pregnancy. High insulin levels have also been associated with miscarriage, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.
And it’s not just women who need to pay attention to this…
Blood Sugar and Male Fertility—Does It Matter?
YES! It takes two to tango.
In men, high insulin levels can:
Lower testosterone and increase estrogen levels
Reduce sperm quality and increase oxidative stress in sperm cells.
Lead to metabolic dysfunction, which affects overall reproductive health.
Blood sugar balance is critical for both partners when trying to conceive.
How to Start Balancing Blood Sugar
The good news? You can lower insulin and support better blood sugar balance with simple, sustainable changes. Here’s where to start:
Prioritize Protein at Every Meal – Aim for 20–30g per meal to keep blood sugar stable.
Eat Enough Healthy Fats – Fat slows glucose absorption and helps maintain energy levels.
Don’t Skip Breakfast – Especially if you’re prone to stress or blood sugar crashes.
Stay Active, But Not Excessively – Strength training and walks after meals can help insulin sensitivity.
Watch Your Carb Timing – Pairing carbs with protein and fat can minimize blood sugar spikes.
Try a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) - blood sugar is personalized. Using a CGM for 2-4 weeks can help you understand what foods are best for you and your blood sugar. I utilize CGMs quite often in my practice and it has been a game changer for my clients.
Looking for More Support?
If balancing your blood sugar feels overwhelming or you suspect insulin resistance is affecting your hormones, I’m here to help.
Book a free fertility insights call here or check out my 10 day blood sugar reset program here.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23176069/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9420237/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29064426/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24874777/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960076008000733
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38348417/
