Spikes, crashes, excursions, and elevated numbers. Blood sugar is on a lot of active midlife women’s minds. But what do we really know about what this all means…and what it doesn’t, especially when it comes to long term health? This week’s guest Oxford nutrition scientist and globally recognized type 2 diabetes expert Dr. Nicola Guess helps sort through all things elevated glucose and helps separate what we need to worry about with what we don’t. 

Nicola Guess, RD, MPH, PhD, is a dietitian based in London specializing in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. She is currently an associate professor at the University of Westminster, Research Fellow at King’s College London, and Head of Nutrition Research at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait. She also runs her own private clinical practice. Her primary research interests are in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, including the effects of nutrients on the underlying pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Dr Guess is a National Institute of Clinical Excellent (NICE) scholar investigating meal provision for inpatients with diabetes; a member of the NICE expert committee; a member of the Diabetes UK Clinical Study Group, and previously a Winston Churchill Travel Scholar investigating approaches to type 2 diabetes prevention in the UK and China and a Diabetes UK Academic Health Partnership Fellow investigating the role of diet in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. You can learn more about her work and follow her research at drguess.substack.com/

Resources

Erratic glucose in normoglycaemic athletes: insufficient protein? blog

How useful are CGMs for athletes? blog

Blood Glucose Levels of Subelite Athletes During 6 Days of Free Living, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (JDST)

Sign up for our FREE Feisty 40+ newsletter: https://feisty.co/feisty-40/

Join Feisty at the Grand Traverse in Duluth, MN on October 3rd! Use code FEISTY20 for $20 off when you register at https://feisty.co/events/the-grand-traverse/

Learn More about our 2026 Feisty Events, including Bike Camps and Cycling Trips: https://feisty.co/events/

Follow Us on Instagram:

Feisty Menopause: @feistymenopause

Hit Play Not Pause Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807943973376099

Support our Partners:

Cozy Earth: Use Code HITPLAY at https://cozyearth.com/ for up to 20% off

Eternal - Get 15% off their services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co

Midi Health: You Deserve to Feel Great. Book your virtual visit today at https://www.joinmidi.com/

Previnex: Get 15% off your first order with code HITPLAY at https://www.previnex.com/

Wahoo: Use the code FEISTY2026 to get a free Headwind Smart Fan (value $300) with the purchase of a Wahoo KICKR RUN at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr