Metabolic Disorders

Has your doctor told you that your blood sugars are getting too high, or that your cholesterol is out of whack, or that your blood pressure is too high? Are you putting on weight on your abdomen? Is your energy low?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then there is a good chance that you are dealing with metabolic syndrome, which is the precursor to type 2 diabetes, which are the most common types of metabolic conditions. They lead to drastically increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart attack, angina and narrowing of arteries. Nerve damage (neuropathy) is also common. Diabetes also causes kidney, eye, foot and skin conditions and increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

The good news is that both metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes are usually very responsive to treatment. All the complications listed above take time to develop, and the earlier you start to deal with them, the better, but it is never too late to make positive, impactful changes for your health and wellbeing.

What exactly is metabolic disease? Metabolism refers to the chemical processes your body uses to extract the fuels your body needs from the food you eat. Metabolic disorders happen when we either get too much or too little of one of these essential substances. So the treatment focus is to re-establish balance so your body is getting the appropriate and ideal amounts of what it needs.

The basis of dealing with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome is lifestyle changes. The trick is to make them in a sustainable and realistic way, and not in such a way that you get discouraged or overwhelmed by the process. This is one way in which I support my patients – I have helped many people implement positive changes, and I support you in a way that is both impactful and realistic. Small changes done over time add up to big changes in time. With persistence and stick-with-it-ness, you can make positive changes in your diet, exercise patterns and lifestyle that will help you lose weight and reverse the disease process.

How can Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicine help in this process? The short answer is many ways. Acupuncture can help strengthen digestion and calm the mind and nervous sytem. Qi gong exercises can strengthen your muscles, increasing their ability to utilize blood glucose as well as improve cardiovascular health. And herbal medicine can improve metabolism and increase insulin sensitivity to help your body appropriately deal with carbohydrates and sugar, as well as improve how your body digests food and absorbs nutrients.

The time to take on these health challenges is as soon as possible. These are incremental diseases that take time to cause pathological changes in your body and the sooner you start dealing with them, the less entrenched and more amenable to treatment they will be. Its never too late to make positive changes.

If you have any questions or wish to book either a full intake or a 15 minute complimentary session, then please reach out using the buttons below. You can healthy life of energy and vitality, with the right interventions. I look forward to hearing from you.