Functional medicine for heart conditions & diabetes management

Functional medicine is an innovative approach to healthcare that addresses chronic health issues, including cardiometabolic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Research has shown that these conditions are often influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environment. Functional medicine recognises that each person is biochemically unique, and finding the root cause of a health problem is essential for effective treatment. This means that resolving cardiometabolic issues requires a personalised, root-cause-based approach.

Functional medicine practitioners work with you to understand your complete health picture, including your diet, lifestyle, and any existing test results. By bringing all of these elements together, we can begin to form a clearer understanding of what’s going on and why. This assessment may involve functional pathology testing to gain deeper insights into your health.

Once we identify the underlying causes, your practitioner will develop a tailored treatment plan to address the root cause and any contributing factors. The outcome is a personalised strategy aimed at improving your health and supporting long-term wellbeing.

They understand the difficulties of making lasting health changes because many have overcome similar obstacles themselves. Health coaches act as your guide, supporter, and accountability partner, making it easier to stay on track. Many of our patients find the support they receive from their health coach invaluable, often only realising its importance once they experience it firsthand.

Health coaching is a core part of our program because it’s essential for achieving lasting results. While it’s a shift away from traditional healthcare approaches, we believe that combining functional medicine with coaching is the most effective way to create meaningful change. It’s this holistic approach that helped us win numerous awards, including the 2024 ATMS Clinic of the Year award. We’re confident that working with a coach will set you on the path to success.

Working with Melbourne Functional Medicine could be the ideal choice if you’re motivated, curious, and ready to make lasting changes to your health. If you’re dealing with chronic conditions like cardiometabolic issues or long-standing health challenges and are looking for a personalised, root-cause approach, we can offer the tailored support you need.

Our team of functional medicine practitioners and health coaches will work with you to uncover the underlying causes of your health concerns, developing a comprehensive plan that goes beyond merely managing symptoms.

If you’re committed to investing time and energy, learning new habits, and actively participating in your healing journey, we’re here to guide you through a transformative process that fosters long-term health improvements.

During your session, your practitioner will take a deep dive into your health to uncover the factors impacting, or potentially impacting, your wellbeing. They’ll gather details about your health history, diet, lifestyle, and any existing test results, creating a mindmap to connect the dots and make sense of your unique health picture. This process helps identify the root causes of your health concerns.

Throughout the session, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions. If you’ve had lingering health concerns or unanswered questions, bring them along and your practitioner will explain everything clearly and in simple terms, without all the technical jargon.

By the end of the session, you and your practitioner will work together to develop an investigative healthcare plan tailored to your needs. At this stage, one of our health coaches will join the session to ensure you fully understand the plan and the mindmap. They’ll also provide additional resources to support you and review the treatment plan you’ve crafted with your practitioner.

If you decide to continue with our healthcare program, your health coach will help you organise supplements, coordinate any necessary testing, and schedule your first coaching appointment. Together, you’ll map out the practical steps to implement your treatment plan and move forward.

By the end of the session, you’ll have gained valuable insights into what might be driving your cardiometabolic condition. You’ll likely leave feeling empowered and hopeful about your journey toward regaining control of your health.

A health mindmap is a powerful visual tool that brings together all the insights from your deep dive session, providing you with a clearer, more holistic understanding of your health. It organises the information you share with your practitioner, mapping out your symptoms from a biological perspective and connecting them to potential influences like diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Many patients find that the mindmap helps them see their health in a way that truly makes sense for the first time.

As you progress through the program, your practitioner will update and refine the mindmap with new insights, ensuring nothing is overlooked. This evolving map will guide your treatment plan, leaving no stone unturned on your path to recovery.

Here’s an example of what a mindmap looks like:

Yes, we work with patients worldwide via telehealth. However, managing international logistics, labs, and supplements often requires additional time and can lead to delays. To ensure we maintain the same high standard of care as for our local patients, international patients can access our 5 or 7 month program. This approach allows us to deliver a seamless and effective experience.

A payment of $870 is due at the time of booking your deep dive consultation. The program fee is payable upon signing up for one of our programs, with the option to split the payment into monthly instalments through our trusted payment partners.

To find out more about payment solutions download our resource here.

Any supplements or lab testing will be charged separately.

Cardiologists specialise in diagnosing and treating heart-related conditions using conventional methods such as medications, surgeries, and other interventions. Their focus is often on managing acute issues and stabilising patients during emergencies.

In contrast, a functional medicine specialist for cardiometabolic health takes a holistic approach to chronic cardiometabolic conditions by examining lifestyle factors – like diet, stress, exercise, and sleep – that influence health. Rather than solely treating symptoms, they identify the root causes of heart disease and metabolic issues, such as type 2 diabetes. This personalised strategy emphasises prevention and long-term health optimisation, empowering you to take control of your well-being.

Many patients find value in working with both a cardiologist and a functional medicine practitioner, with each contributing important insights and care to their treatment.

Functional medicine treats heart disease as a complex condition arising from multiple interacting imbalances within the body. Rather than viewing it as a singular issue, the functional medicine approach seeks to uncover root causes such as chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and oxidative stress often identified through advanced diagnostic testing. Based on these insights, practitioners develop personalised treatment plans that go beyond merely managing symptoms.

Interventions may include tailored dietary changes, targeted supplementation, stress reduction techniques, and lifestyle adjustments that complement conventional treatments when necessary. This comprehensive, holistic strategy aims to restore systemic balance, reduce cardiovascular risk, and empower you to take proactive steps toward optimal heart and metabolic health.

A range of advanced tests is available to assess cardiometabolic health and diabetes risk. Comprehensive blood panels can measure cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin resistance, and inflammation markers to provide an overall snapshot of metabolic function. Specific tests like HbA1c offer insights into long-term blood sugar control, while a fasting insulin test may reveal early signs of insulin resistance. Additional markers, such as lipoprotein(a) and homocysteine, help assess cardiovascular risk.

In functional medicine, tests like the Organic Acids Test (OAT) and micronutrient assessments further evaluate metabolic and nutritional deficiencies. Working with a practitioner who has a deep understanding of cardiometabolic health ensures these tests are carefully selected and tailored to your individual health needs.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders include both lifestyle and genetic components. Key lifestyle factors include a poor diet high in refined sugars and unhealthy fats, physical inactivity, and obesity, while a family history of diabetes or heart disease increases your susceptibility. In addition, chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and persistent inflammation also contribute to these conditions. Hormonal imbalances, such as insulin resistance or thyroid dysfunction, along with life stages like menopause, can significantly increase your risk.

By addressing these factors with a personalised functional medicine approach, like the one provided by our cardiometabolic health specialists, you can reduce your risk and manage underlying causes of heart disease and metabolic issues before they develop. Through tailored dietary changes, stress management techniques, and targeted interventions, we focus on optimising your health and preventing future complications.

Getting started with Melbourne Functional Medicine is easy. Simply book a deep dive consultation with one of our expert cardiometabolic health practitioners. In this session, they’ll review your health history, lifestyle, existing pathology results, current concerns, and personal goals. With this information, they’ll create a tailored treatment plan, which may include advanced testing, dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and stress management strategies.

Once you join our program, your dedicated health coach will guide you through the process, ensuring your plan is implemented effectively, while your practitioner continuously fine-tunes your treatment.

Ready to tackle the root causes of your cardiometabolic challenges? Book a discovery call today to book your deep dive session, and explore if our program is right for you.

To improve heart and metabolic health, focus on several key lifestyle changes. Start with a nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, healthy fats, and lean proteins – while avoiding processed foods and refined sugars. Regular physical activity, including both aerobic and strength training, improves insulin sensitivity and supports cardiovascular function. Reducing stress through mindfulness practices, yoga, or deep breathing exercises helps lower stress hormones that can adversely affect the heart. Prioritising quality sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, and moderating alcohol intake are also essential.

Additionally, working with a functional medicine practitioner can help identify any underlying factors contributing to cardiometabolic risks, providing a personalised approach to your health. Having the support of one of our health coaches ensures you can implement these changes with confidence and clarity.