Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine Specialist Dr. Derya Güneş stated that diseases do not begin at the moment they are diagnosed, but that this process starts much earlier.
Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine Specialist Dr. Derya Güneş stated that diseases do not begin at the moment they are diagnosed, but that this process starts much earlier.
Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine Specialist Dr. Derya Güneş emphasized that functional medicine aims to identify the root causes on the path from health to disease, and pointed out that insulin resistance forms the basis of many chronic diseases and cancer.
“Can we turn back on the path from health to disease?”
Dr. Derya Güneş, who works at Private ENTO Surgical Medical Center, stated that proper nutrition, stress management, and gut health are vital within the framework of preventive medicine.
“Believing that we are healthy just because no disease has been diagnosed is a major misconception,” said Dr. Güneş, adding:
“You don’t become ill at the exact moment a diagnosis is made. There is a stage before that. Can we reverse the process on the path from health to disease? What can we do for real health? Functional medicine plays a very important role in preventive healthcare. Some medications used for chronic diseases have side effects. Since these are not organic drugs, they can cause certain damage and problems in the body. Moreover, these drugs only eliminate symptoms and findings; they do not repair the root cause.”
The importance of regular medical follow-up in chronic diseases
Dr. Güneş highlighted the importance of regular medical follow-ups for individuals with chronic diseases:
“People with chronic conditions should have regular doctor check-ups. During this process, we assess whether the prescribed medications are effective and whether they cause side effects or problems in other parts of the body. Our approach is not ‘prescribe the drug and leave it.’ Medications are metabolized and eliminated through the liver and kidneys. Long-term use can impair the function of these organs. Functional medicine, while allowing a hypertension patient to continue medication, also seeks to identify and correct the root causes of hypertension. The vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements used in this process are completely natural.”
“Insulin resistance is a health problem that forms the basis of many chronic diseases and cancer”
Dr. Derya Güneş drew attention to the decreasing vitamin and mineral content of foods:
“Foods are no longer as nutritious as they used to be. We cannot obtain the benefits we need from them. The presence of substances such as pesticides and herbicides increases the body’s chemical burden. Stress added on top of this chemical load negatively affects the body. With stress, the cortisol axis is disrupted, followed by metabolic imbalance. Initially, insulin resistance develops.
There is a common misconception in society such as ‘There is insulin resistance, but diabetes has not developed yet.’ Insulin resistance is a major health problem because it forms the infrastructure of many chronic diseases and cancer. When insulin resistance is corrected, many diseases can be prevented, and chemical medications started for existing conditions may eventually be discontinued. In other words, medication may no longer be needed. For all this, the patient must be evaluated in detail.”
Warning signs to watch out for
Dr. Güneş stated that issues such as post-meal abdominal bloating and irregular nighttime sleep may indicate underlying disease:
“Post-meal bloating signals the beginning of an inflammatory process in the intestinal wall. In fact, the starting point of all chronic diseases is this inflammatory process in the gut. Therefore, diet is the first step to reduce intestinal inflammation.
Night sleep is extremely valuable. Does a person fall asleep easily? Do they sleep for 7–8 hours? Do they wake up spontaneously or need to urinate at night? These give us insight into the cortisol axis. Normally, cortisol is minimal at night and highest in the morning. When this axis is disrupted, cortisol does not decrease sufficiently at night and causes awakening. If this is not corrected, the risk of chronic diseases and cancer increases in the long term. High cortisol also raises insulin levels. This underlies emotional eating—people eat more because they are stressed and unhappy.”
Imbalances in the microbiota may lead to disease
Dr. Güneş continued:
“Do you experience muscle pain during the day? If so, this may indicate inflammation. Inflammation can result from food sensitivities, stress, or a sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, oxidative stress—harmful substances produced during energy generation—can trigger inflammation if not cleared.
Circulation is also very important. If sufficient nutrients and oxygen reach the cells, they can produce adequate energy and function properly. Microbiota health is extremely valuable. Eighty percent of our immune system is made up of microorganisms in the large intestine. We also know that 70% of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and endorphins originate from the microbiota. Therefore, imbalances in the microbiota can also lead to disease.
If cortisol is not released properly, if a person is constantly stressed, anxious, and mentally overloaded, the likelihood of illness increases. Today, it is possible to correct all of this with the right methods.”
(BSHA – Science and Health News Agency)
