No doubt you have heard the steep statistics on the growing epidemic of diabetes in the US. There are so many adults and children that are now suffering from diabetes that medical professionals are now tasked to help individuals identify the early signs and symptoms of “prediabetes.”

One of the most fascinating things about diabetes is that in many cases–especially before structural damage is done to the pancreas–it can be mostly or fully reversible! I have always had a number of family members and close friends that have struggled with diabetes, and I admit that it is a bit of a trigger for me–I have fear about losing a foot, or my vision, or the function of my kidneys, all because my body has lost the ability to deal with sugar in my diet. When I took my fasting blood sugar one morning as an experiment, and found that it was elevated at 120 (normal being between 70-100), I was alarmed! I did what most doctors won’t admit that they don’t do–I started doing what I advise my patients to do–I made some simple changes to my diet, the timing of my meals, the types and intensities of exercise, and got more sleep.

The profound changes that I have seen with patients are mirrored in my experience, and though I am the first to admit that this was by no means easy, I have found that this strategy is both economical and effective to address and even reverse some of the damage and dysfunction that diabetes can create. Take a step with me, start where you are, and let’s start walking you back toward your best life.

#ifnotnowwhen

If not NOW, when?

The endocrine (hormone) system is endlessly fascinating and complex! All these “superior” organs in the body vying for power over your whole self — as if each organ were its own kingdom, trying to balance peace and power. It’s a beautiful thing to witness when these kingdoms are working in harmony, and when out of balance, the symptoms we experience can provide clues to what organs are being taxed. Any disruption in the peace creates a feud, a struggle to reestablish the balance that had been displaced; as a result one or more organs (kingdoms) is forced to work harder, taking more energy, giving up more resources, usually until it is fatigued. The thyroid is a kingdom with much power in the body, directing many other organs of the body to maintain overall metabolism and homeostasis (balance in the body). When these battles for balance ensue, the thyroid generally bares the burden, resulting in over-activity (hyperthyroidism) or under-activity (hypothyroidism). There are “classic” symptoms that are usually signaling a significant imbalance in either direction, but a shift in energy, attention, motivation, or productivity can be the beginning signs that the thyroid is battling to bring balance back to the body. Bring your battlefield into my office, and we will sit down to draft a treaty, to bring back peace and balance while supporting your overall function.

#Ifnotnowwhen

If not NOW, when?

If you have met your adrenal glands, it is usually when you became aware of how much caffeine you were drinking in a day, or how tired you were despite how many hours of sleep you were getting, or you were at a stage when you couldn’t sleep anymore because of how tired you were. The trickster hormone at the center of these pesky issues is cortisol, born and raised in the adrenal glands. As in every system in the body, balance is important; but this becomes more and more difficult in our modern society–where we are required to take work emails on our phones, which we carry with us everywhere–we never turn off, and our adrenal glands compensate for a time, until they can no longer sustain us and we have to supplement with caffeine and the like. In medical school, I lived and died by how much coffee I could safely consume in a 24-hour period. (Not my proudest moment.) And the situation did not improve when I transitioned into my residency. I was working six-days a week, from sunup until way past sundown, without a single measure of self-care (because who has time for that). Everything was worse because of how I was abusing my poor little adrenal glands: my body, my mind, my mood, my relationships–me and my mind body spirit were MISERABLE. I had a lot of really hard choices to face, and ultimately made the decision to transition out of my residency, bet on myself, and started Magos ND so that I could live a lifestyle that was more inline with my values and how I was asking my patients to live. You can’t sleep? Everything hurts? Tired of being tired all the time? I get it! I’ve been there. And, when I let my self-care practices slip, I end up there again. Come on in, let’s talk about how to give your sweet adrenal glands a break.

#Ifnotnowwhen