Functional Medicine in Reno NV

1. Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) is the most common type of diabetes. It is a common chronic condition, a result of poor pancreas function, producing little or no insulin, leading to high blood sugar. In other words, the body is unable to move sugar from the bloodstream into muscle for immediate energy, or into fat cells to use as stored energy for later use. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, extreme fatigue, erectile dysfunction, hormone dysregulation, nerve damage in the extremities leading to pains, loss of sensation in the feet, and ultimately amputations. Patients with uncontrolled blood sugar are also prone to frequent urinary infections, pneumonia and viral infections, as uncontrolled diabetics are likely to have poor immune function, unable to resist and successfully combat the invading pathogens. It is common to have gastrointestinal (gastritis, acid reflux, indigestion, malabsorption of nutrients), mood problems (anxiety, depression). Continuous high blood sugar creates an acidic environment in the bloodstream which can potentially lead to a variety of cancers.

The cause of Type 2 Diabetes is believed to be a combination of environmental and / or genetic factors. It is easily diagnosed by obtaining a simple lab test, screening for fasting blood sugar, as well as Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) measuring average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months.

Common signs and symptoms of Diabetes:

• Increased urination, particularly at night (nocturnal)
• Increased thirst and hunger
• Unexpected weight loss
• Extreme fatigue and sleepiness, despite adequate sleep
• Blurry vision
• Numbness, tingling and / or pain in hands and feet
• Extremely dry skin
• Poorly healing sores and wounds
• Frequent infections (bladder infections, yeast infections, upper respiratory infections, common colds, allergies)
• Uncontrolled acid reflux, indigestion, abdominal bloating
• Erectile dysfunction, decreased libido (due to nerve and blood vessel damage)
• Depression, exacerbation of other mood disorders

Once diagnosed it can be successfully managed with a combination of lifestyle modifications (diet and exercise) and medication prescription management.

Due to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, it is also important to maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol.