How I Became Prediabetic While Doing Everything ‘Right’ — And Why 90% of Americans Are at Risk
Tue Dec 16 2025
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Think you’re doing everything right—clean diet, daily training, long fasts—and still dragging through the day with stubborn belly fat? You’re not alone. We unpack the uncomfortable reality that more than 90% of American adults show signs of metabolic dysfunction, and even the “healthy” crowd isn’t immune. Our story kicks off with a surprise pre-diabetes diagnosis despite elite habits, and a hard look at how fasted cardio, extended fasting, high stress, and under-fueling can quietly push insulin resistance.
Joined by diabetes educator and integrative health therapist Jodi Ghelli, we connect the dots between cortisol, liver glycogen, and insulin demand. Jody breaks down why “pre-diabetic” can be a dangerous comfort label, how the liver rescues you when you skip breakfast, and why that rescue comes with a cost. You’ll learn a practical macro framework—pair protein and carbs in roughly equal amounts with a little healthy fat—to stabilize blood sugar, lower insulin spikes, and unlock steady energy. We also clarify hypoglycemia vs hyperglycemia, when fasting helps versus harms, and how overtraining with under-eating keeps belly fat hanging on.
We get specific on what to test and why: fasting glucose, A1C, fasting insulin, lipid panel, CRP, ALT/AST, and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. You’ll leave with actionable steps to fuel workouts properly, plan small but mighty meals every 2 to 3 hours, respect sleep as a metabolic lever, and stop asking your liver to do a job your breakfast should handle. If you’ve been white-knuckling your plan and feeling worse, this conversation offers a smarter, kinder path that still delivers results.
If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who trains hard but feels tired, and leave a review so more people can find it. Your future self—and your metabolism—will thank you.
Connect with Jodi:
Facebook: Jodi Deppert Ghelli
IG: @jodi.deppertghelli
Listener Actions Steps (before the end of 2025!)
1️⃣ Get your fasting labs done.
Fasting glucoseA1CFasting insulinLipid panelhs-CRPALT/ASTTriglyceride-to-HDL ratio
These numbers tell the real story.2️⃣ Audit your habits.
Don’t just ask, “Am I healthy?”
Ask, “Are my habits supporting metabolic flexibility, or stressing it?”
3️⃣ Prioritize sleep + recovery.
Under-recovery can mimic insulin resistance.
4️⃣ Fuel your workouts properly.
Especially if you’ve been training fasted by default.
5️⃣ Share your results with someone qualified.
A coach, a nutritionist, or your naturopath — don’t navigate this alone.
6️⃣ Share this episode with someone who trains hard but feels tired.
They might be right where you were.
Subscribe and tell a friend!
Get my book "The Seven Disciplines of Uncommon Freedom" on Amazon!
Visit bekandkev.com today to sign up for our email newsletter.
Access our Ideal Health Map HERE
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Send us a text Think you’re doing everything right—clean diet, daily training, long fasts—and still dragging through the day with stubborn belly fat? You’re not alone. We unpack the uncomfortable reality that more than 90% of American adults show signs of metabolic dysfunction, and even the “healthy” crowd isn’t immune. Our story kicks off with a surprise pre-diabetes diagnosis despite elite habits, and a hard look at how fasted cardio, extended fasting, high stress, and under-fueling can quietly push insulin resistance. Joined by diabetes educator and integrative health therapist Jodi Ghelli, we connect the dots between cortisol, liver glycogen, and insulin demand. Jody breaks down why “pre-diabetic” can be a dangerous comfort label, how the liver rescues you when you skip breakfast, and why that rescue comes with a cost. You’ll learn a practical macro framework—pair protein and carbs in roughly equal amounts with a little healthy fat—to stabilize blood sugar, lower insulin spikes, and unlock steady energy. We also clarify hypoglycemia vs hyperglycemia, when fasting helps versus harms, and how overtraining with under-eating keeps belly fat hanging on. We get specific on what to test and why: fasting glucose, A1C, fasting insulin, lipid panel, CRP, ALT/AST, and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. You’ll leave with actionable steps to fuel workouts properly, plan small but mighty meals every 2 to 3 hours, respect sleep as a metabolic lever, and stop asking your liver to do a job your breakfast should handle. If you’ve been white-knuckling your plan and feeling worse, this conversation offers a smarter, kinder path that still delivers results. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who trains hard but feels tired, and leave a review so more people can find it. Your future self—and your metabolism—will thank you. Connect with Jodi: Facebook: Jodi Deppert Ghelli IG: @jodi.deppertghelli Listener Actions Steps (before the end of 2025!) 1️⃣ Get your fasting labs done. Fasting glucoseA1CFasting insulinLipid panelhs-CRPALT/ASTTriglyceride-to-HDL ratio These numbers tell the real story.2️⃣ Audit your habits. Don’t just ask, “Am I healthy?” Ask, “Are my habits supporting metabolic flexibility, or stressing it?” 3️⃣ Prioritize sleep + recovery. Under-recovery can mimic insulin resistance. 4️⃣ Fuel your workouts properly. Especially if you’ve been training fasted by default. 5️⃣ Share your results with someone qualified. A coach, a nutritionist, or your naturopath — don’t navigate this alone. 6️⃣ Share this episode with someone who trains hard but feels tired. They might be right where you were. Subscribe and tell a friend! Get my book "The Seven Disciplines of Uncommon Freedom" on Amazon! Visit bekandkev.com today to sign up for our email newsletter. Access our Ideal Health Map HERE