I suppose racing is in my blood – my father was an engineer and growing up, we followed racing the way some families follow football or baseball. I first got behind the wheel after my dad gave me his old go-kart for Christmas one year. We spent lots of long evenings working in the garage putting […]
Sometimes I feel that I am a sales person. Although I was trained to educate my patients to control their diabetes, I find myself using every possible tactic to sell them good health.
"My doctor has told me I have pre-diabetes for the past 25 years. My A1c is 6.6% and I've been on Metformin twice a day". OK?, I think to myself. An abnormally high 3-month blood sugar average (A1c) plus she's on 2 doses of medication - but still the "D" word won't be admitted, only the "PD" word.
Today marks the 21st Annual American Diabetes Alert Day. The statistics are staggering: 8% of our population has diabetes. Approximately 90-95% of those with diabetes have Type 2 and 5-10% have Type 1. However, due to the prevalence of obesity among children, 45% of the youngsters with diabetes have Type 2 (previously known as “adult diabetes”). […]
“America’s Diet: Too Sweet by the Spoonful” was this week’s New York Times Personal Health article by Jane Brody. The bottom line of the article says that we are over-eating sugar and high fructose corn syrup in many, many, of our foods and it is leading to obesity and heart disease.
Believe it or not, studies are finding […]
New day, new patient. Fasting glucose is 124 mg/dL. Triglycerides are 560, HDLs 28. Patient is 50 pounds overweight. Does she or doesn't she? Is it or isn't it? The difference between having NO diabetes, pre-diabetes and diabetes can be so minor, a fine-line.
I can’t decide if my left brain is stronger than my right brain? Yes, I’m a diabetes educator who wants to save everybody from the disease and from themselves. At the same time, I realize that we’re all only human and knowing what we need to do and actually doing what we need to do may […]
Yesterday I had a “young” patient – a mere 46 years (my age!) who was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. His doctor called me to make sure I’d be able to see him this week and sent me his blood work. His glucose was 638 mg/dL!! The man stated that he felt extremely weak and […]
Today is the beginning of 2009 and my patients are ready with a new and improved attitude. The chocolate and cakes are eaten and now is the time to get serious! I laugh as I say this since all year we just have to be MODERATE! It’s never time to OMIT or QUIT; rather we need […]
The dreaded diet counseling continued this week. I don’t dread the counseling, but the patient may dread it until they are overjoyed with their new knowledge to help them succeed with their goals!
I happen to enjoy the look on my patients face when I tell them that 4 ounces of orange juice is 75 calories and turns […]