South Asian women are strong, resilient, and brilliant — yet we carry some of the highest metabolic health risks in the world, often without being told why or what to do about it.

In this deeply personal and science-driven episode of Endocrine Matters, endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu speaks directly to South Asian women about midlife health, menopause, diabetes, PCOS, and the generational biology that shapes our bodies. This is a conversation about truth, compassion, and empowerment — not blame or shame.

If you’ve ever been told “But you’re not overweight”, “Everyone in our family has diabetes”, or “It’s just age” — this episode is for you.

🎧 In this episode, we discuss:

✔️ Why South Asian women have one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes globally
✔️ The “skinny fat” body composition common in South Asian women
✔️ Why BMI often fails South Asian women
✔️ Visceral fat, insulin resistance, and fragile beta cells
✔️ How multigenerational undernutrition shaped South Asian metabolism
✔️ Why diabetes and metabolic disease develop at lower body weights
✔️ PCOS in South Asian women: earlier onset, more severe insulin resistance, higher risk
✔️ How decades of insulin resistance impact menopause and midlife health
✔️ Why South Asian women reach menopause 3–5 years earlier on average
✔️ Early menopause and increased lifetime risk of heart disease, diabetes, and bone loss
✔️ Why midlife is a critical turning point, not the end of the story

💪 What South Asian women can do to change their health trajectory:

✔️ Why strength training is medicine (especially for the “thin fat” body type)
✔️ How muscle protects against diabetes, belly fat, bone loss, and menopause symptoms
✔️ Protein goals for South Asian diets (vegetarian & non-vegetarian options)
✔️ Why carbs alone accelerate metabolic decline in midlife
✔️ Key labs every South Asian woman should know:
• A1C
• Lipids (ApoB, Lp(a))
• Liver enzymes
• Blood pressure
• Vitamin D
• Thyroid function
• Bone density (DEXA)
✔️ Why body composition matters more than weight
✔️ When medications like metformin, GLP-1s (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy), statins, blood pressure meds, or menopause hormone therapy can be life-saving — not a failure

🌱 Healing culture, stress & identity:

✔️ Food as love — and pressure
✔️ How to modernize South Asian meals without abandoning culture
✔️ Refined carbs, protein gaps, and ultra-processed foods
✔️ Stress, perfectionism, caregiving, and guilt as metabolic risk factors
✔️ Why rest, boundaries, and asking for help are acts of health — not selfishness

💡 The truth every South Asian woman needs to hear:

There is nothing wrong with you.
Your body is not broken — it is brilliant, shaped by generations of resilience, survival, and adaptation.
Midlife isn’t your decline — it can be your most powerful chapter.

👩‍⚕️ About the Host:

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Complete Medicine, specializing in women’s hormonal and metabolic health, diabetes, and menopause care outside the broken traditional healthcare model.

📲 Stay Connected:

🔹 Follow Dr. Thangudu on Instagram: @drartithangudu
🔹 Subscribe to Endocrine Matters Podcast
🔹 Share this episode with a friend, sister, auntie, or cousin — we change outcomes when we change conversations

Perimenopause and menopause affect every woman, yet most are never taught what’s actually happening in their bodies — or how to navigate this transition with confidence and science-based care.

In this powerful solo episode of Endocrine Matters, endocrinologist Dr. Arti Thangudu breaks down what perimenopause and menopause really are, why symptoms go far beyond hot flashes, and how misinformation has harmed women for decades. This episode challenges outdated myths, explains hormone therapy with clarity, and empowers women to take control of their long-term health.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ What perimenopause is and why hormone fluctuations cause widespread symptoms
✔️ Why menopause affects every organ system, not just reproduction
✔️ The many recognized symptoms of perimenopause and menopause
✔️ Why symptoms can last 4–14 years (and sometimes longer)
✔️ Why every woman’s menopause experience is different
✔️ The Top 10 myths about menopause and hormone therapy — debunked
✔️ The truth about estrogen, progesterone, heart disease, and breast cancer
✔️ FDA-approved bioidentical hormones vs compounded hormones
✔️ Non-hormonal treatment options for menopause symptoms
✔️ Why early menopause often requires hormone replacement
✔️ Weight gain in menopause: hormones, metabolism, and insulin resistance
✔️ How GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide and tirzepatide) can help — and when they’re appropriate
✔️ Why protein intake + strength training are essential in midlife
✔️ How to protect your bones, brain, heart, and metabolic health after menopause

💡 Key Takeaway:

Menopause is inevitable. Suffering is not.
With the right education, personalized care, and support, menopause can be a powerful and healthy new chapter — not something to “just push through.”

👩‍⚕️ About the Host:

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Complete Medicine, specializing in hormonal health, diabetes, and metabolic care outside the broken traditional healthcare model.

📲 Stay Connected:

🔹 Follow Dr. Thangudu on Instagram: @drartithangudu
🔹 Subscribe to Endocrine Matters Podcast for science-based, empowering conversations
🔹 Share this episode with a woman who needs better menopause education

Come see me in clinic: https://www.sacomplete.com/

Stay connected & explore more:

Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.sacomplete.com/complete-medicine-blog

Listen to my podcast Endocrine Matters: https://www.sacomplete.com/podcast

When Your Premium Jumps 500%: Why Insurance Is Exploding — and the Alternatives No One Is Telling You About

Welcome back to Endocrine Matters. I’m Dr. Arti Thangudu, a board-certified endocrinologist, diabetes and metabolism specialist, lifestyle medicine physician, and founder of Complete Medicine — where I help high-achieving women take control of their metabolic health through personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based care.

In this episode, I’m speaking not just as a physician — but as a small-business owner, employer, and patient — about something that’s terrifying so many right now: skyrocketing health insurance premiums.

Many Americans are seeing their premiums jump 40%, 50%, even 500% as enhanced ACA subsidies expire — leaving individuals and small business owners facing impossible choices.

In this episode, we’ll unpack:

• Why premiums are exploding and who’s being hit hardest
• Where your premium dollars actually go — and why so little reaches real care
• What alternatives exist that can help you protect yourself, your family, and your employees, including:
• • Medical cost sharing (like Sedera) for catastrophic events
• • Direct care and transparent cash pricing for day-to-day healthcare
• • Self-funding strategies for employers that put money back into care — not profits

My goal isn’t to make you an insurance expert — it’s to help you see that you are not powerless. There are real, practical alternatives to the traditional insurance system, and with a little knowledge and courage, you can make them work for you.

Topics Covered:

Introduction: Why insurance costs are exploding

Where your premium dollars really go

How this crisis impacts small businesses and the self-employed

Alternatives: cost sharing, direct care, and self-funding

Becoming a better steward of your healthcare dollars

If you’ve ever opened your renewal and felt your stomach drop — this episode is for you.

You are not crazy. You are not alone. And this is not your fault.

About Dr. Arti Thangudu

Dr. Arti Thangudu is a triple board-certified endocrinologist, diabetes and metabolism specialist, lifestyle medicine physician, and North American Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She’s the founder of Complete Medicine, a direct specialty care clinic in San Antonio, Texas, where she helps women thrive with metabolic health, hormonal balance, and personalized, compassionate care.