Millions of people struggle with fatigue, weight gain, thyroid issues, insulin resistance, menopause symptoms, and hormone imbalance—but are we treating the symptoms instead of the root cause?

In this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with functional endocrinologist Dr. Saadia Mian to explore why conventional medicine often overlooks the deeper causes of hormone dysfunction and metabolic disease.

Together they discuss:

  •  Why insulin resistance starts years before diabetes 
  •  The connection between gut health and hormones 
  •  Hashimoto's disease and thyroid dysfunction 
  •  PCOS and metabolic health 
  •  Menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 
  •  GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy 
  •  Stress, cortisol and the hidden drivers of chronic illness 
  •  Functional medicine versus conventional medicine 
  •  Practical lifestyle changes that can dramatically improve hormone health 

Whether you're struggling with fatigue, stubborn weight gain, thyroid disease, menopause symptoms, or simply want to optimize your long-term health, this conversation provides a science-backed roadmap to understanding your body.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Why Both Doctors Left Conventional Medicine

04:10 Dr. Saadia's Functional Medicine Journey

05:15 What Is Functional Endocrinology?

07:00 Hashimoto's & Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

09:00 Treating Root Causes Instead of Symptoms

10:45 Insulin Resistance & PCOS

13:15 Gut Health and Hormones

15:10 Functional Hormone Testing

18:25 Menopause & Hormone Replacement Therapy

22:45 Why Endocrinologists Aren't Trained in HRT

25:20 Hormone Therapy Safety

26:00 GLP-1 Medications Explained

30:00 Should Everyone Take Ozempic?

33:00 Trauma, Stress & Weight Gain

37:00 Functional Medicine vs Conventional Medicine

40:15 The Earliest Signs of Insulin Resistance

42:30 Three Lifestyle Changes That Improve Hormones

47:45 Artificial Sweeteners vs Sugar

51:00 Finding a Functional Endocrinologist

53:00 Why Insulin Resistance Is the Root Cause

54:30 Early Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

57:30 Rapid Fire Questions