Symptoms are often the focus of care for diabetes, because that approach is what most doctors are taught and what they know best. This approach is so ingrained in patients, too, that they’re often surprised to learn there is any other option. But if you have type 2 diabetes, or you’re concerned about pre-diabetes or risk factors for developing the disease, trying to manage or control symptoms is not the only thing you should focus on. Working with a functional neurologist who is trained in holistic support for chronic conditions can open up a whole new world of possibilities in terms of how you approach wellness.
Functional neurologists differ from practitioners who work within the standard health care model, because they focus on improving your health. Medication is sometimes essential for managing blood sugar and insulin levels, and you should never stop taking any medicine you’ve been instructed to take by your doctor without his or her prior approval. But by working with a functional neurologist, you can go beyond symptom management. A functional neurologist will seek to find and address the root cause of your health problem, which in the case of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. Once this is properly addressed, it’s likely any medication you do need to take will work as effectively as possible, and you may even minimize your need to rely on pharmaceuticals as your condition improves.
Insulin resistance often involves damage to the receptor sites on cells throughout the body. This prevents the cells from receiving or utilizing nutrients that are crucial to their function and survival. While medication may succeed in controlling blood sugar levels, it does nothing at all to address problems with cell receptor sites or nutrient absorption or utilization. A functional neurologist may be able to help you stop the damage to your cells’ receptor sites, putting a halt to insulin resistance, too. The body can then begin to recover.
This is typically exciting news for those who have type 2 diabetes, because they aren’t used to hearing about recovery. Instead, they’re focused on managing symptoms and avoiding a worsening of their condition. Yet with the right approach, it really is possible to achieve better health.
The approach functional neurologists take to addressing insulin resistance is comprehensive. It involves utilizing a set of very specific lab panels to discover exactly what is causing insulin resistance to occur. Once that’s clear, personalized therapeutic support in the form of a customized plan of care can begin. This may include nutritional support, dietary changes, a customized exercise plan, and the elimination of toxins, among other possibilities. Your recovery will be supported in the precise ways needed, so you can get the best results as efficiently as possible. Best of all, working with a functional neurologist provides long term solutions, not quick fixes. By learning how to care for your body and manage your health independently, you can look forward to a lifetime of optimal wellness.