Medical treatment of metabolic syndrome (syndrome x) is now widely recognized as a highly complex process, requiring careful management not only of medications but also lifestyle issues like weight, nutrition, and regular exercise.
Another major factor with Metabolic Syndrome involves linked-disorders, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and pre-diabetes. PCOS can lead to female infertility, and a host of other symptoms. If neglected, pre-diabetes can lead to type 2 diabetes, which is irreversible in most cases.
Would standards of metabolic syndrome care be improved if there were a "one-stop shop" for management of this condition - in other words, a licensed medical professional skilled in diagnosis, medication, nutrition and lifestyle management, as well as patient education, who also has adequate time to spend with a patient?
Some would say just such an "all-purpose" medical professional already exists, namely the naturopathic doctor, or ND.
Many argue that naturopathic doctors are a much-needed resource because they're an excellent match for the wide-ranging demands of efficient Metabolic Syndrome management, which can make all the difference to the health of someone suffering from this condition.
Trained in four-year accredited postgraduate medical programs and certified under national board examinations, NDs spend the clinical years of their training in outpatient settings rather than in hospitals, focusing on primary care medicine and conditions like metabolic syndrome.
Their approach to medicine has a deep grounding in a set of philosophical tenets - primarily a profound trust in the body's ability to correct itself.
Symptoms are viewed as signals that various stressors are overwhelming the body's innate self-regulating design. So naturopathic treatment is oriented towards removing or better managing the causes of such imbalances and restoring the body's mechanisms using the safest effective means.
Along the way, NDs aim to treat each patient as an individual and to educate the metabolic syndrome patient about a lifestyle approach which promotes his or her optimal health. The aim is to empower people to maintain overall wellness.
To effectively and safely apply such a wide range of therapies for Metabolic Syndrome, naturopathic doctors are well-trained in potential interactions between prescription medications, and vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and botanicals known as nutraceuticals.
The great advantage of access to such a diverse collection of therapies is the ability of NDs to tailor treatment to each individual patient. This feature of naturopathic care is often the key to successful outcomes for people with Metabolic Syndrome who have respondend poorly to conventional medical treatment.
Learn what is Metabolic Syndrome?
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