Poor or improper management of diabetes can put people at increasing risks for severe and even life threatening complications. In the US, diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy, blindness, kidney failure and amputations. If you are pre-diabetic or already have type 2 diabetes, it’s crucial to seek out the best possible care.
It’s important to understand that type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition, not something you catch or that sets in quickly. It typically presents in advance as insulin resistance, and develops and progresses over time. Our cells need glucose in order to function, and insulin is needed to transport glucose from the blood into the body’s cells. In cases of insulin resistance, an increased amount of insulin is necessary to move glucose into cells.
Unfortunately, insulin resistance isn’t always obvious. Sign and symptoms of this condition and diabetes may be non-existent or so subtle, they’re never noticed. Sometimes the early signs of diabetes are mistaken for symptoms of other conditions if they are not overlooked entirely.
By taking a proactive approach, pre-diabetes or insulin resistance may be effectively managed without medication. Lifestyle factors have a significant impact at this point. Insulin resistance may be caused by several things that can be controlled. Overeating, physical inactivity, poor diet, chronic stress and other factors can be managed. It’s likely that gaining control of your health can prevent the progression from insulin resistance to diabetes.
The first step in managing insulin resistance or diabetes is a thorough evaluation. A functional neurologist can perform a comprehensive evaluation that identifies exactly what is causing the dysfunction. An in-depth review of health history, including symptoms and lifestyle, can provide vital information about your condition’s causes. It takes time to dig deep in reviewing an individual’s history, but it is an important part of the process of discovering the root causes of chronic health problems.
The second aspect of a proper evaluation involves a thorough exam and laboratory testing. Lab testing can determine the exact nature of the body’s dysfunction as well as the degree to which it’s having an impact on health. For example, it may be a problem with the enzymes involved in insulin production, or it could be insulin is not as effective as it should be in the body. These specific causes, which vary among individuals, must be identified. Laboratory testing can do that.
A functional neurologist will examine the results of all tests and consider them in combination with the results of the patient’s examination and detailed history. With a complete and robust picture of the individual’s health, it’s possible to determine exactly what the body needs to heal and recover. A customized plan of therapeutic support that is safe, natural and effective can then be developed and implemented. In this way, functional neurology offers a solution for insulin resistance and the management of diabetes through optimal wellness.