Let’s Be Honest for a Second
Tired, foggy, stiff, and inflamed.
If you’re living with diabetes and continue to feel tired, foggy, stiff, and inflamed—even though you can’t imagine doing anything differently because you’re “doing everything right”—that’s frustrating as hell.
You watch carbs.
You take your meds.
You do your level best to eat better than most of the people you know.
But your body still feels like it’s working against you.
Here’s the missing link no one wants to talk about: inflammation.
Not the obvious kind. The pokey, smolder-y type that burns quietly over time—and for a diabetic, that fire can spread fast.
The Invisible Fire in Your Body
High blood sugar is not just a number on a screen.
When glucose runs high, it acts like an acid that slowly damages tissues and triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers that promote inflammation).
Over time, this leads to systemic low-grade inflammation (chronic inflammation affecting the whole body).
This inflammation often shows up as:
- Constant fatigue
- Brain fog
- Joint pain
- Slower healing
- A1C numbers that won’t move
And for most people with diabetes, one everyday food type keeps feeding this fire.
The Key Inflammation Trigger Most Diabetics Never Suspect
The biggest culprits are:
- Ultra-processed seed oils
- Hidden added sugars, especially high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) (a common processed sweetener)
You’ll find them everywhere:
- Soybean oil
- Corn oil
- Canola oil
- Packaged snacks
- Fast food
- “Healthy” sauces and dressings
These ingredients aren’t rare treats. They’re everyday staples of the standard American diet.
Why Diabetics Should Avoid Seed Oils
Seed oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid.
Your body does need some omega-6 fats.
But modern diets push them far out of balance with omega-3 fats—and that imbalance matters.
Too much linoleic acid:
- Increases oxidative stress (cell damage caused by unstable molecules)
- Triggers NF-κB (the body’s main inflammation “on switch”)
- Weakens insulin signaling (how well insulin works inside cells)
Bottom line: your cells become resistant to insulin.
This creates a vicious cycle:
Inflammation → insulin resistance → higher blood sugar → more inflammation
And it keeps repeating.
Why This Is Quietly Ruining Your A1C
Many people assume A1C issues are only about carbs or medication timing.
That’s not true.
When inflammation is high, insulin doesn’t work properly—even if you’re doing everything “by the book.”
This often shows up as:
- Higher fasting glucose
- Bigger post-meal spikes
- A1C that barely improves
One lab marker worth asking your doctor about is C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (a blood test that measures inflammation).
Many diabetics with persistent control problems have elevated CRP without realizing it.
The Inflammation Swaps That Are Actually Worth Making
You don’t need extreme diets or perfection.
You need better swaps.
Swap This → For This
Swap this:
Vegetable oils (soy, corn, blended oils)
For this:
Extra-virgin olive oil OR avocado oil
Swap this:
Flavored low-fat yogurt (dessert pretending to be healthy)
For this:
Plain Greek yogurt + walnuts
Swap this:
White bread and refined grains
For this:
Leafy greens and berries
These changes lower inflammatory load without blowing up your life.
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrients That Pack Real Power
Turmeric + Black Pepper
Curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) is powerful but poorly absorbed.
Black pepper increases absorption and helps calm inflammatory signaling.
Magnesium
Most Americans are low in magnesium. Deficiency worsens insulin resistance.
Magnesium helps regulate glucose transport, stress hormones, and inflammation.
Fiber
Fiber feeds gut bacteria, which produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (natural compounds that reduce inflammation).
Gut health isn’t a trend.
It’s metabolic control.
The Bottom Line
There’s more to managing diabetes than cutting carbs.
It’s about cutting the burn.
When inflammation drops:
- Insulin works better
- Energy comes back
- A1C finally starts moving
TL;DR — Do This Today
- Look for soybean oil and HFCS on food labels
- Eat oily fish at least twice a week
- Stay hydrated—dehydration can worsen inflammation
Small steps.
Big metabolic payoff.
Final Note from DrDevine.org
At DrDevine.org, we fix root causes—not just numbers.
And when it comes to diabetes, inflammation is the conversation changer most people never hear about.