Integrative Cardiometabolic Doctor in Dallas/Ft. Worth

The Metabolic Processes Behind Cardiometabolic Health

To understand cardiometabolic disease, it helps to understand what’s happening inside the body on a cellular level.

After you eat, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, fats into fatty acids, and proteins into amino acids. These nutrients enter the bloodstream and are transported to cells, where they are converted into energy inside mitochondria. This process depends on proper hormone signaling, adequate oxygen delivery, and efficient cellular machinery.
Several key metabolic processes and proteins play major roles in cardiometabolic health.

Insulin and Insulin Receptors
Insulin allows glucose to enter cells for energy. When cells become resistant to insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream, leading to elevated blood sugar and increased fat storage. Over time, this contributes to type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

Glucose Transport Proteins
Glucose transporter proteins move glucose from the blood into muscle and fat cells. When this system is impaired, glucose uptake decreases and insulin resistance worsens.

Mitochondrial Function
Mitochondria are responsible for producing cellular energy. When mitochondrial function declines due to inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or toxin exposure, energy production falls and oxidative stress rises. This contributes to fatigue, weight gain, and metabolic slowdown.

Lipoproteins and Cholesterol Transport
Cholesterol is essential for hormone production and cell membranes. Problems arise when lipoproteins become oxidized or imbalanced. Particle size, density, and inflammation matter far more than total cholesterol alone.

Inflammatory Pathways
Chronic low-grade inflammation interferes with insulin signaling, damages blood vessels, and accelerates plaque formation in arteries. Inflammation is a major driver of cardiometabolic disease progression.