Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Over 30 million Americans have diabetes. It’s the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the cost to treat the disease is approximately 245 billion dollars per year. The disease is reversible, and medications are not the only answer. Diabetic drugs can help in the beginning, and in severe cases are vital, but over time they can stop being effective and a patient may need to keep increasing their dosage.
Medications can have a lot of unwanted side effects, and just because you’re medicating a symptom doesn’t mean it’s curing your disease. In fact, diabetes medications typically treat the “symptom” of the high glucose and insulin resistance.
High blood glucose contributes to what’s known as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a condition in which the high insulin and leptin levels are resistant causing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and visceral fat to become significant risk factors for heart disease and coronary disorders. When the vessels are circulating high-glucose blood, atherosclerosis occurs at a greater intensity. Atherosclerosis is a build-up of plaque and causes hardening of the arteries.
NUTRITION CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR NEEDS AND GENETICS IS THE ANSWER
Nutrition – Cleaning up your diet is one of the best ways to lower your A1C and to improve your insulin resistance issues. Not one specific diet is suitable for all people; a diet that is customized to your needs, and genetics is essential to healing your insulin sensitivity.
The most important aspect is to avoid all sugars. This is especially important in the beginning stages as your body is overloaded with insulin and glucose. Sugar causes a great deal of inflammation in the body. Eliminating refined sugars and long-chain sugars like grains, pasta, and white potatoes can quickly improve diabetic conditions. Although healthy, for the initial stages, it is important to limit or eliminate fruit intake, as that is a natural source of sugar. But again, not one diet is going to work for every person.
How Functional Medicine Can Help Reverse Diabetes
Testing for food sensitivities, liver enzymes, c-peptide, c-reactive proteins, and other panels to get to the root cause of your disorder is important. The standard of care states that an A1C of 5.8 is prediabetic and 6.4 is diabetic; however, it’s known that an A1C of 5.3 is high enough to cause atrophy of the brain. Numerous professionals are now labeling dementia and other cognitive issues as type III diabetes because of the adverse effect that high blood glucose has on the brain. Certain supplements can effectively lower blood glucose as well.
WELLCOMEMD
Living well means making the choice to start today. Concierge medicine re-establishes the kind of personal relationship with your physician that was once commonplace while taking advantage of the many advances in treatment and technology. WellcomeMD members experience medicine that is both more personal and more effective.
WELLCOMEMD
Melissa MacVenn, M.D.
Dr. MacVenn has been practicing as a supervising physician in a Naples medical clinic for the past four years, often for mature patients with complex medical conditions that require acute attention. “It’s my mission to keep patients out of the ER and hospitals as much as possible,” she says.
If a patient does need to be admitted to the hospital, Dr. MacVenn has access to both Naples Community Hospital (NCH) and Physicians Regional Healthcare System (PRHS). In the event a patient is hospitalized, Dr. MacVenn will visit in person, closely partner with the hospital medical team, carefully review medical charts, interpret medical language and be an advocate and partner throughout the experience. “A hospital experience can be overwhelming and frightening. My goal is to be with you and your family every step of the way.”
It’s best to speak with your physician before changing your diet or exercise program. Your doctor will develop a strategy to suit your specific needs, along with a coordinated medication and lifestyle strategy.
Dr. MacVenn would be honored to work with you on your journey to optimal health.
WELLCOMEMD Concierge Medicine
Discover the power of a personal relationship with your primary care physician while never compromising on preventative medical advances and technology.
• Consider the cost of avoiding a preventable disease, the value of early detection of serious health problems, and ready access to a doctor who knows you.
• WellcomeMD physicians limit the number of patients they see, which means that we always have time for you.
• Individualized care with a comprehensive, proactive approach to your personal health.
• Appointments focused on your needs and preferences – not a billing code.
• From unhurried, 30-minute consultations to video conference appointments, or just a quick call or text – you choose.
If you are ready to optimize your health and have options and programs custom-tailored to your specific needs, contact WellcomeMD today.
To schedule your appointment, please call 888.531.3844 or visit www.WelcomeMD.com.
