In this post, we take you to a 52-year-old woman with a metabolic syndrome: a disturbance in glucose-insulin metabolism, insulin resistance, and an increased immune response to oxidized LDL. The case shows how a systems-based approach led to significant improvements in her health, despite an increase in inflammatory markers. We discuss the role of the Disease Evolution Table (DET) from Bioregulatory Medicine in understanding these complex disease processes.
The Case: Diagnosis and Initial Treatment Pathway
At the start of treatment, the patient had a BMI of 30.7, a fasting insulin level of 1047 pmol/L, a C-peptide of 3.41, and a very high HOMA2 index of 7.69. In addition, antibodies against oxidized LDL were extremely elevated (> 1200), indicating an active immune response to oxidative damage in her body.
Notably, her HS-CRP (a marker for systemic inflammation) was low, despite the presence of severe insulin resistance and oxidative stress. From a classical medical perspective, one would expect a patient with these values to have high HS-CRP. This raised questions about the underlying dynamics of her disease process.
Systemic Diagnosis with the ZET table
The Disease Evolution Model (ZET) provides a structured way to identify the different phases of disease dynamics, from functional disturbances to degenerative changes. In this patient, we saw that her disease process went through different phases:
Excretory phase: Hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance indicate a metabolic imbalance, in which the cells do not respond optimally to insulin.
Inflammatory phase: The presence of antibodies against oxidized LDL suggests an immune response to oxidative damage, in which the body attempts to attack and eliminate harmful substances.
Deposition phase: The body begins to store lipids and oxidized molecules in the vessel walls, which can lead to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risks.
Degenerative phase: This phase is characterized by tissue damage and loss of function at the cellular level, often accompanied by oxidative stress and a chronic low-grade inflammatory process.
The Treatment Results: A Two-sided Story
After 10 months of treatment aimed at systemic restoration, we saw significant improvements in the patient’s metabolic values. The BMI decreased to 28 and the HOMA2 index dropped to 2.23, with a corresponding fasting insulin value of 156 pmol/L and a C-peptide of 0.96. However, the HS-CRP value increased from 0.6 to 5.8, indicating an increase in systemic inflammation.
Explanation of the increase in HS-CRP: The role of body recovery
This increase in HS-CRP, despite the improvement in her overall metabolic status, can be seen as a positive sign of recovery. This phenomenon can be explained by the release of stored toxins and inflammatory mediators from adipose tissue during the weight loss process. The body returns from a degenerative phase to an active inflammatory phase as part of the healing process, where inflammation is needed to repair damage and support tissue regeneration.
The power of a systems-based approach
This case underlines the importance of a systemic diagnosis and treatment in the metabolic syndrome. The ZET table from Bioregulatory Medicine is a powerful tool to describe and understand the progression of the disease process. It helps us to distinguish the different phases of disease dynamics and allows us to apply targeted interventions that go beyond symptom control.
By supporting the body in its recovery phases, we can not only alleviate symptoms but also address the underlying cause of the disease, leading to a more sustainable improvement in health.
Conclusion: The importance of understanding disease dynamics
Understanding disease dynamics using the ZET table is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies that are tailored to the individual patient. In this example, an in-depth knowledge of systems-based physiology and a focus on the underlying processes led to remarkable improvements in both the patient’s glucose metabolism and inflammatory activity.
Are you interested in a systems-based approach to your own health? Contact us for more information and discover how this method can help you optimize your well-being.
Finally: How do we communicate this simply to the patient?
Our platform uses AI. This allows us to easily create a summary for the patient based on the available data. With the push of a button, the progress is easily displayed. It increases the quality of your work and the speed and simplicity of your communication to the patient:
Summary of your Health Profile and Progress
You were previously diagnosed with various health conditions. Below is an overview of what we found then and how your situation has changed now.
Initial Findings:
Body Weight and BMI: At the start of your treatment, your BMI (Body Mass Index) was 30.7, indicating that you were overweight. Being overweight can have a negative impact on your overall health and increase your risk of various conditions.
Insulin Level: Your fasting insulin level was elevated at that time, namely 1047 pmol/L. This means that your body was having difficulty controlling blood sugar levels, which is common with insulin resistance.
C-peptide Level: Your C-peptide level was 3.41 at that time, indicating that your body was producing a lot of insulin, which is typical of insulin resistance.
HOMA Index: Your HOMA index, a measure of insulin sensitivity, was 7.69, indicating a severe degree of insulin resistance.
Anti-oxidized LDL antibodies: There were high levels of anti-oxidized LDL antibodies (>1200), which means your body was responding to damage to your blood vessels, often caused by oxidative stress.
Progress and Current Status:
After less than a year of treatment focused on systemic repair, you have shown impressive improvements:
BMI: Your BMI has dropped to 28, which is a significant improvement in your weight and metabolism.
Insulin Levels: Your fasting insulin level has dropped to 156 pmol/L, indicating that your body is now much more responsive to insulin and better able to regulate blood sugar levels.
C-peptide Levels: Your C-peptide level has also improved to 0.96, which means that your body needs to produce less insulin to control blood sugar.
HOMA Index: The HOMA Index is now 2.23, which means that your insulin sensitivity has increased significantly and your risk of type 2 diabetes has decreased significantly.
HS-CRP: One notable change is that your HS-CRP (a marker of inflammation) has increased from 0.6 to 5.8. This can be explained by the fact that your body, now that it is healthier, is showing a more active inflammatory response to rid itself of stored toxins and repair damaged tissue. This is a positive step in the healing process because it indicates that your body is now better able to respond to inflammation and initiate repair.
What does this mean for your health?
This improvement shows that your body is actively healing. While the increase in inflammatory markers may seem alarming, it is actually a good sign that your immune system is actively working to resolve underlying issues. The decrease in insulin resistance and improvement in your metabolic values means that you are much less likely to develop serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
We continue to focus on further improving your metabolism, your overall health and reducing inflammation levels as your body continues to heal.
