How to Work With Your Doctor to Get What You Need - House Call With Dr. Hyman Recap
Podcast: House Call With Dr. Hyman
Published: 2017-08-07
Duration: 7 min
Summary
Dr. Mark Hyman discusses strategies for patients to effectively collaborate with their doctors, focusing on the importance of specific tests and lifestyle changes to address chronic diseases like diabetes.
What Happened
Dr. Mark Hyman emphasizes the importance of being an empowered patient, especially when dealing with chronic conditions such as diabetes. He explains that many doctors are not familiar with the functional medicine approach, which focuses on the root causes of diseases, and may not order the comprehensive tests needed for thorough diagnosis and treatment.
He introduces the concept of 'diabesity,' which encompasses the spectrum from pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes, and highlights that 90% of pre-diabetics are undiagnosed. Dr. Hyman advises patients to take proactive steps, like making dietary changes, to manage their health rather than waiting for conditions to worsen.
A critical point made is the inadequacy of relying solely on fasting blood sugar tests to diagnose diabetes. Dr. Hyman recommends requesting an insulin response test, which measures insulin levels after a glucose drink, to get a more accurate picture of metabolic health.
Dr. Hyman also touches on thyroid health, noting that many doctors use outdated guidelines that can lead to undiagnosed hypothyroidism. He suggests additional tests like free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies, as well as exploring linked issues such as vitamin deficiencies and food sensitivities.
Inflammation is another major concern, as it underlies many chronic diseases. Dr. Hyman recommends the CRP (C-reactive protein) test to check for hidden inflammation, advocating for lifestyle changes to address it.
He provides resources, including an e-book on working with doctors to obtain necessary tests, and stresses the importance of finding a doctor willing to order these tests and collaborate on treatment strategies.
Dr. Hyman encourages listeners to be assertive in their healthcare, underscoring that patients should seek doctors who respect their input and are open to various treatment methods. He concludes by urging listeners to share the episode and to submit questions for future discussions.
Key Insights
- 90% of pre-diabetics remain undiagnosed, highlighting a significant gap in early detection and management of the condition. Proactive dietary changes can help manage health before conditions worsen.
- Relying solely on fasting blood sugar tests for diabetes diagnosis is inadequate. An insulin response test, which measures insulin levels after a glucose drink, provides a more accurate assessment of metabolic health.
- Many doctors use outdated guidelines for diagnosing hypothyroidism, potentially leading to undiagnosed cases. Additional tests such as free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies, along with checking for vitamin deficiencies and food sensitivities, are recommended.
- Inflammation underlies many chronic diseases, and the CRP (C-reactive protein) test can detect hidden inflammation. Lifestyle changes are advocated to address and manage inflammation effectively.