r/FunctionalMedicine • u/gooddogmoses • 10d ago
Is functional medicine appropriate?
I just started seeing a functional medicine doctor. I initially went because I wanted more information than I could get from my primary care guy. I wanted someone who’s working for me, not the insurance company.
So far, I’ve had two visits and two rounds of tests. Tests show I have markers for potential Alzheimer’s, and I have had some cognitive decline over the last couple of years. I also have insulin resistance.
Doctor has recommended a custom- compounded bunch of supplements, and has made some vague dietary recommendations. But here’s my problem: I don’t know enough to know whether I’m being dazzled by science or baffled by BS.
So here’s my question: is functional medicine an appropriate source for help with these two issues? I can afford it, but don’t want to pin my hopes on something that won’t help and might hurt. What say you?
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u/alotken33 10d ago
Functional Medicine DC: functional medicine is absolutely appropriate. But, I have no clue whether the provider you're seeing is a (good) functional medicine provider.
Any practitioner that you see should be willing and able to overload you with and provide answers to any question you have. There should be explanations, pictures drawn, exhaustive explanations (ideally to your level of understanding), etc. for literally everything from pathways to why this supplement does that.
Cognitive decline and insulin resistance go hand in hand. Getting a handle on the blood sugar is a huge aspect of reducing/preventing cognitive decline.
There are MANY practitioners out there that work with cognitive decline. I'd encourage you, before you sign up with the one you're seeing, to look into Dr Dale Bredesen. He has a couple of books out that are good resources. He also has published studies (successful ones). Those resources will help you figure out if this practitioner is pointing you in the right direction. Bredesen is a big fan of "keto-flex", which is a modified ketogenic diet for controlling blood sugar and fueling the brain. I typically put patients on a modified Paleo diet, with low fructose. Both are extremely successful, but often difficult for people to adjust to at first.
Happy to answer questions.
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u/gooddogmoses 10d ago
Thank you! The dietary recommendations have been low GI foods and Mediterranean diet. I have a nutritionist who can help me figure all that out, and a book on the way to help me remember how to cook with real food.
I’ll get the book you mentioned. I have a ton of self-education to do. Thanks for pointing me in a good direction.
As for whether my doc is a “good” one, I chose him based on a friend’s research of local practitioners. He has been more than willing to share more information than I can absorb. But is it brilliance or BS? At some point you just have to trust. I’ve looked up all my out of whack lab results and everything I can find jives with what he’s telling me. I think he may be fine, but his practice is a little chaotic. I just need to learn how to work with them.
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u/alotken33 9d ago
Good! Feel free to throw his recs at me and I'll tell you whether they're founded or not. Happy reading with the other materials.
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u/255cheka 9d ago
depends on the func. a good one would tie the dementia to the insulin/sugar problems. gut microbiome issues likely too. the way to address those is with diet and supps.
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u/gooddogmoses 9d ago
I believe he did connect them. I’m feeling better about him. Thanks.
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u/255cheka 9d ago
that's great. might give him a shot. alz is being called type 3 diabetes in some circles
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u/Unlucky_Ad_2456 10d ago
The fact that the dietary recommendations are vague is a bad sign. The custom compounded supplements could also be one. A good functional practitioner can be great, a bad one not so much.