Recently Allen and I ran into each
other at the grocery store. I was on an errand for the wife and he
was picking up supplies for the weekend. We stopped and talked
briefly and while we were talking, another individual that neither of
us knew overheard something I said about working on a blog about a
book I had ordered. He interrupted us and asked if I was the person
writing a diabetes blog.
When I asked the name of the blog, he
had the name of my blog correct, so I acknowledged that I was the
author. Then both of us had to listen to a string of profanity and
him telling me that I could stop blogging, as I didn't know what I
was talking about. Allen asked him what he talking about before I
could.
He said testing and I asked for some
specifics. He said any testing. Allen said I have different types
of blogs on testing. He finally said telling people to test so often
to learn what different foods do their bodies. He continued that his
doctor says all he needs in a quarterly A1c test to learn what is
needed. I asked why he believed his doctor.
The answer was that his doctor was his
father and his father followed the ADA. Allen said if that is the
case, we could not teach him anything. I said I have one question.
What is his father's advice on nutrition? The answer was a total
shock. The fellow said his father believed in not eating any whole
grains, or starches. He said his father believed in low carb, low to
medium protein and high fat.
Good, said Allen. We have that much in
common. Next, Allen asked what medication he might be taking.
Metformin was the reply and Allen asked how many years he had type 2
diabetes. The fellow answered about six years. I knew where Allen
was heading with his question and Allen asked him if his father was
testing him for vitamin B12 deficiency. The fellow answered that he
had just had a test for vitamin B12 and vitamin D. He explained that
his vitamin D was low and he had a shot for that and he was taking a
supplement. The vitamin B12 was still in the suggested range, but on
the low side. He said his father had suggested that he eat more
liver, eggs, and salmon, plus beef and pork. Then in about 10
months, he would be tested again.
I asked what his last A1c had been and
he said that after diagnosis of 12.0%, he was consistently between
5.0 to 5.8%. He continued that he was only taking 500 mg per day of
metformin. I said he was fortunate that his father could monitor him
and advise him on nutrition as it had helped him.
Allen stated that not everyone was as
fortunate and received an education about diabetes, as he had been
receiving. Then the secret came out. He stated that his mother was
a doctor of nutrition and he had her for guidance. Allen and I said
almost in unison, “No wonder you don't need to test.” He agreed
and asked why I was pushing testing.
Allen said that not everyone receives
the education and can have family available to help. Most of us need
to learn on our own and testing is about the only avenue to available
to help us learn.
I said I would continue to emphasize
testing because without it, most are operating in the blind and would
have no idea if they were improving or if their blood glucose numbers
were becoming worse. I said he could ask his mother how hard it was
for many people that believed the high carb, low fat doctrine that
has been preached for so many decades.
I said I had to leave. Allen told me
later that they had talked for almost an hour more. He said that the
follow was a lot more positive when he left. He was in town visiting
his sister and lived about three hours distant.
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