NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS AND PRE-DIABETES CARE
 Treatment of reversible pre-diabetes is now widely recognized as a highly complex process, requiring careful management not only of medications in some cases but also lifestyle issues like weight, nutrition, regular exercise and, in many instances, unwitting addiction to carbohydrates.
Another major treatment factor to consider is related conditions like heart-damaging metabolic syndrome (syndrome x) and PCOS ([polycystic ovarian syndrome), which causes infertility and a multitude of other symptoms.
And, of course, if pre-diabetes, itself, is neglected, it can lead to type 2 diabetes, which is irreversible in most cases and may require daily injections of insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a seriously increased risk factor for kidney disease, blindness and amputation.
Would standards of pre-diabetes 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 pre-diabetes 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 such as pre-diabetes.
Their approach to medicine has a deep grounding in a set of philosophical tenets - primarily a profound trust in the body's ability to heal itself.
Symptoms are viewed as signals that various stressors are overwhelming the body's innate self-healing design. So naturopathic treatment is oriented towards removing or better managing the causes of such imbalances and restoring the body's self-healing mechanisms using the safest effective means.
Along the way, NDs aim to treat each patient as an individual and to educate the pre-diabetes patient about a lifestyle approach which promotes his or her optimal health. The aim is empower people to maintain themselves at a high level of overall wellness.
 To effectively and safely apply such a wide range of therapies, naturopathic doctors are well-trained in potential interactions between medications and health-boosting natural vitamins and minerals, also known as nutraceuticals.
The great advantage of access to such a diverse collection of pre-diabetes 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 pre-diabetes who have experience of failing to respond satisfactorily to conventional medical treatment .
Read about Obesity, Insulin Resistance and the Spread of Diabetes
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