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Diabetic Case Study Part 1
by Ray Foster
I am 50 years old and on total disability. I am on 20 medications. For pain, (3 medications) for diabetes, (3 medications; insulin and 2 oral drugs) high blood pressure, (3 medications) depression, (3 medications) for nervous Tick condition, (2 medications) for sleep, (1 medications) for my bowels (1 medication) for asthma, 2 (medications) for my stomach pain (2 medications).
What can I do for my diabetes? I don't like giving myself shots. Would an insulin pump be the best for me?
How overweight are you?
I am very overweight - in fact I am what my doctor calls morbidly obese. What can be done for me?
Medication does not cure disease. Medication is taken to control the disease symptoms so that you feel better. The question, regarding diabetes, is why do you have diabetes?
I guess it is because my mother and her mother had diabetes. So I guess I inherited diabetes. Can inherited diabetes ever be helped?
Why are you on insulin?
The diet and oral medication did not control my blood sugars, so my doctor put me on insulin.
Are your blood sugars now under control on insulin?
Better, but not as good as my doctor wants them to be. What can you do for me? Is there anything at all? I just seem to be getting worse.
How many miles do you walk a day?
None. My back pain, my heart condition - I have had 3 bypass surgeries - and my asthma prevent me from walking. What can you do for me?
How many times do you eat a day?
About once a day - all day long. Can you help me?
No, I can't help you much more than your doctor can. But you could help yourself a great deal.
How could I help myself?
Do you think you could do three things:
1. Walk one mile a day?
2. Limit your eating to twice a day?
3. Drink 8 glasses of water a day?
No, I don't think I could do all that at once. Where would I start?
Start with walking a mile a day. Do you think you could do that?
No, not all at once. Well, Yes, I think I could walk one mile a day, say a quarter of a mile at a time. Would that work?
Yes, that would work just great for you!
After walking 1/4 mile a day 4 times a day, what would I do next?
Next try to do two things at the same time. Drink 1 glass of water when you get up in the morning and do not eat anything until you are hungry - at least an hour later.
But, I am hungry all the time! That is why I eat all the time!
OK, do this next. Don't eat when you feel hungry, but drink a glass of water when you feel hungry instead. Eat by the clock, and not according to your feelings. Don't drink anything for an hour before or after meal time.
I guess I could drink water whenever I feel hungry! It would be a major change in my lifestyle to eat by the clock and not when I feel like it. How long would I need to follow this plan?
This is a plan that could cure your diabetes. You need to follow this plan as long as you want your diabetes to be cured.
You must be kidding around! Diabetes cannot be cured! My doctor has told me repeatedly that I need to take my medication the rest of my life.
Think of it this way. Instead of taking expensive drugs the rest of your life, you are going to walk and drink water, and eat by the clock the rest of your life. Does that make sense?
When you put it that way, Yes, that makes sense.
I am tired now, can I get back to you later?
Sure, you take a rest now and get back to me later - Diabetic Case Study Part 2.
Originally Posted: Jun 23, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Last Updated: Jun 23, 2008 at 2:56 PM
-- Current Rating: 3.13 of 5
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