What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is the voluntary withholding of food for a period of time and should not be confused with starvation, which is involuntary. Intermittent fasting forces the body to access its stores of body fat and burn them for energy. In patients with type 2 diabetes, fasting will force the body to burn off the high blood sugars. This provides a natural solution to reversing type 2 diabetes rather than relying on medications.
Insulin is a key hormone that promotes the storage of food energy as sugar or body fat. Intermittent fasting works predominantly by allowing insulin levels to fall during the fasting period. The falling insulin level signals the body to use some of the stored sugar and fat for energy, thus providing a natural, time-honoured remedy for obesity and metabolic problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
Intermittent fasting has recently gained widespread attention due to its long history of use and stunning success. Harvard University's Dr. Deborah Wexler recently agrees that, "There is evidence to suggest that the circadian rhythm fasting approach...is effective"
What conditions are treated in the Toronto Metabolic Clinic program?
Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have the conditions treated listed above, and live in Ontario, Canada. If you live outside of Ontario or in the USA then please refer to Dr. Fung's online program https://thefastingmethod.com/.
Will I be seen by Dr. Jason Fung?
Although Dr. Fung established this clinic, patients are seen by his team of medical doctors, registered dietitian, and naturopathic doctors who implement Dr. Fung's low carbohydrate, high/healthy fat, and intermittent fasting program. If you exclusively want to see Dr. Fung, please refer to https://thefastingmethod.com/.
Is a referral required to in order to schedule a doctor's appointment?
We do require a referral from a medical doctor before patients can be booked in with a medical doctor. Referring doctors can download our referral form, fill it out and fax it to 647.497.6006 along with patients' latest blood work results to make the referral. Once we receive the referral we will be contacting the patient directly in order to schedule an appointment. We schedule appointments in the order the referrals are received. If you are only interested in seeing one of our naturopathic doctors and/or dietitians, they do not require a referral.
How long before patients will be contacted for an appointment?
Currently, there is a two to three month waiting period from the date a referral is received until the patient is contacted for an appointment. While waiting, patients may choose to begin the program sooner by booking an appointment with our registered dietitian or naturopathic doctors who work alongside the medical doctors implementing the same program. However, their integrative services are not covered by OHIP but may be covered by patients' extended benefits.
How are appointments being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic?
For the safety of the public and staff, the Toronto Metabolic Clinic has decided to have a limited number of in-person visits to keep the requirements of physical distancing. We will continue to offer both virtual visits and phone visits for patients who would prefer to stay home.
Are visits covered under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)?
Once we receive the referral from the medical doctor we schedule patients for a one-to-one visit with one of our medical doctors. If a patient has diabetes or high cholesterol then they will also be scheduled for a group session conducted by a medical doctor. These visits are covered under OHIP.
We also offer dietitian and naturopathic services to further support and guide patients with the diet, which is not covered under OHIP. If you have extended benefits then services may be covered, however, patients will have to check with their individual benefits for coverage information. The fees for dietitian and naturopathic services are as follows:
What is the difference between Dietitian and Naturopathic services?
Our registered dietitian and naturopathic doctors can help patients to better understand intermittent fasting and the ketogenic (or a low carb, high fat) diet and provide meal planning guidance. The focus is on healing and becoming healthy through fasting and diet. Dietitian's focus is primarily providing guidance with dietary changes, and meeting nutritional requirements through food. Naturopathic doctors use a variety of modalities including nutraceuticals, herbal medicine, lifestyle, acupuncture, homeopathy and specialized testing to also help patients achieve balance not just with their metabolic health but also facilitate with other health concerns that may impact patients health journey, such as digestive disorders, fatty liver, hormonal imbalances, and thyroid disorders.
Is a referral required to schedule a Dietitian or Naturopathic appointment?
No. Please contact the clinic by calling 647.341.4517 or emailing info@torontometabolicclinic.com to book an appointment with our registered dietitian or naturopathic doctor.
How frequent are the follow up visits?
Generally follow up visits are on a monthly basis, however, it can be case dependent. Patients with a more complex medical history, or if taking insulin, then they may require more frequent follow ups in the beginning as medications will likely require adjustments with the dietary changes. As patients get more accustomed to implementing the program in their daily routine, naturally, they will find that frequent follow ups are not necessary and therefore will check in once every few months for monitoring their blood work.
Are there any additional support?
Occasionally, practitioners run topic based group sessions to guide patients in their journey and help develop mutually supportive relationships. Please check our Events page and Event Calendar for upcoming opportunities. Events and clinic updates will also be posted on the Toronto Metabolic Clinic Facebook Page, Twitter, and Instagram.
There is a Toronto Metabolic Clinic Patient Support Group on Facebook for patients to build community, share good practices, ask each other questions, and support one another. This is a "Private" group for patients of the clinic and those who cook for them, providing a safe space to connect and share.
Is there parking available?
There is free parking available at the front, sides, and the back of the building. Please turn into Consumers Road, in order to access the parking lot. The building is located on the South-East corner of Sheppard Ave. East and Consumers Road. Scotia Bank is noticeable at the front of the building and the doors to enter the building faces Consumers Road.
Intermittent fasting is the voluntary withholding of food for a period of time and should not be confused with starvation, which is involuntary. Intermittent fasting forces the body to access its stores of body fat and burn them for energy. In patients with type 2 diabetes, fasting will force the body to burn off the high blood sugars. This provides a natural solution to reversing type 2 diabetes rather than relying on medications.
Insulin is a key hormone that promotes the storage of food energy as sugar or body fat. Intermittent fasting works predominantly by allowing insulin levels to fall during the fasting period. The falling insulin level signals the body to use some of the stored sugar and fat for energy, thus providing a natural, time-honoured remedy for obesity and metabolic problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
Intermittent fasting has recently gained widespread attention due to its long history of use and stunning success. Harvard University's Dr. Deborah Wexler recently agrees that, "There is evidence to suggest that the circadian rhythm fasting approach...is effective"
What conditions are treated in the Toronto Metabolic Clinic program?
- obesity/overweight
- pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD & NASH)
- metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar)
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- and obstructive sleep apnea
Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have the conditions treated listed above, and live in Ontario, Canada. If you live outside of Ontario or in the USA then please refer to Dr. Fung's online program https://thefastingmethod.com/.
Will I be seen by Dr. Jason Fung?
Although Dr. Fung established this clinic, patients are seen by his team of medical doctors, registered dietitian, and naturopathic doctors who implement Dr. Fung's low carbohydrate, high/healthy fat, and intermittent fasting program. If you exclusively want to see Dr. Fung, please refer to https://thefastingmethod.com/.
Is a referral required to in order to schedule a doctor's appointment?
We do require a referral from a medical doctor before patients can be booked in with a medical doctor. Referring doctors can download our referral form, fill it out and fax it to 647.497.6006 along with patients' latest blood work results to make the referral. Once we receive the referral we will be contacting the patient directly in order to schedule an appointment. We schedule appointments in the order the referrals are received. If you are only interested in seeing one of our naturopathic doctors and/or dietitians, they do not require a referral.
How long before patients will be contacted for an appointment?
Currently, there is a two to three month waiting period from the date a referral is received until the patient is contacted for an appointment. While waiting, patients may choose to begin the program sooner by booking an appointment with our registered dietitian or naturopathic doctors who work alongside the medical doctors implementing the same program. However, their integrative services are not covered by OHIP but may be covered by patients' extended benefits.
How are appointments being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic?
For the safety of the public and staff, the Toronto Metabolic Clinic has decided to have a limited number of in-person visits to keep the requirements of physical distancing. We will continue to offer both virtual visits and phone visits for patients who would prefer to stay home.
Are visits covered under Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)?
Once we receive the referral from the medical doctor we schedule patients for a one-to-one visit with one of our medical doctors. If a patient has diabetes or high cholesterol then they will also be scheduled for a group session conducted by a medical doctor. These visits are covered under OHIP.
We also offer dietitian and naturopathic services to further support and guide patients with the diet, which is not covered under OHIP. If you have extended benefits then services may be covered, however, patients will have to check with their individual benefits for coverage information. The fees for dietitian and naturopathic services are as follows:
- Naturopathic Initial Consultation (90 min) - $185
- Naturopathic Second Visit (60 min) - $135
- Naturopathic Follow-up Visits (45 min) - $115
- Naturopathic Follow-up Visits (30 min) - $90
- Dietitian Initial Consultation (75 min) - $130
- Dietitian Follow up Visits (30 min) - $90
What is the difference between Dietitian and Naturopathic services?
Our registered dietitian and naturopathic doctors can help patients to better understand intermittent fasting and the ketogenic (or a low carb, high fat) diet and provide meal planning guidance. The focus is on healing and becoming healthy through fasting and diet. Dietitian's focus is primarily providing guidance with dietary changes, and meeting nutritional requirements through food. Naturopathic doctors use a variety of modalities including nutraceuticals, herbal medicine, lifestyle, acupuncture, homeopathy and specialized testing to also help patients achieve balance not just with their metabolic health but also facilitate with other health concerns that may impact patients health journey, such as digestive disorders, fatty liver, hormonal imbalances, and thyroid disorders.
Is a referral required to schedule a Dietitian or Naturopathic appointment?
No. Please contact the clinic by calling 647.341.4517 or emailing info@torontometabolicclinic.com to book an appointment with our registered dietitian or naturopathic doctor.
How frequent are the follow up visits?
Generally follow up visits are on a monthly basis, however, it can be case dependent. Patients with a more complex medical history, or if taking insulin, then they may require more frequent follow ups in the beginning as medications will likely require adjustments with the dietary changes. As patients get more accustomed to implementing the program in their daily routine, naturally, they will find that frequent follow ups are not necessary and therefore will check in once every few months for monitoring their blood work.
Are there any additional support?
Occasionally, practitioners run topic based group sessions to guide patients in their journey and help develop mutually supportive relationships. Please check our Events page and Event Calendar for upcoming opportunities. Events and clinic updates will also be posted on the Toronto Metabolic Clinic Facebook Page, Twitter, and Instagram.
There is a Toronto Metabolic Clinic Patient Support Group on Facebook for patients to build community, share good practices, ask each other questions, and support one another. This is a "Private" group for patients of the clinic and those who cook for them, providing a safe space to connect and share.
Is there parking available?
There is free parking available at the front, sides, and the back of the building. Please turn into Consumers Road, in order to access the parking lot. The building is located on the South-East corner of Sheppard Ave. East and Consumers Road. Scotia Bank is noticeable at the front of the building and the doors to enter the building faces Consumers Road.
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The Toronto Metabolic Clinic 2175 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 304 North York, ON M2J 1W8 Telephone: 647.341.4517 Fax: 647.497.6006 Email: info@torontometabolicclinic.com |
