Type II Diabetes-Taking Care of Yourself

Diabetes Information May be Flawed

As a physician I receive complementary copies of Diabetes Forecast for my office. I actually read the magazine before putting it out for my patients because I sometimes find information that I consider not acceptable. This was certainly the case in the July 2010 edition.

Insulin Is Not For Everyone

Diabetes Forecast Magazine, guest editorial writer, David Marrero, PhD, wrote a story “Starting Insulin”, that I must take issue with. In the article he describes a man’s concern that he did not take care of himself and now must take insulin for his Type II Diabetes. Marrero seems to think the patient should not feel responsible for having to take insulin. He actually blames the patient’s concerns on physicians for using insulin as a threat to their Type II Diabetes patients. He also encourages the readers to talk to their doctors to see if taking insulin is a good choice for them. This is the same line we see on pharmaceutical advertisements on television. It must do a good job of selling drugs or the drug companies would not still be using it. It makes me suspect that David Marrero has received money for his research and for his comments.

David Marrero is noted to be a PhD. He is not a physician. Physicians know that Type II Diabetes can be prevented and completely controlled with diet and exercise. Of course we are going to give our patients the option of taking better care of themselves because if they don’t they will end up on insulin and with serious end-stage complications. It is not a threat but it is a promise.

It surprises me that a magazine that is suppose to be focused on the health of people with diabetes, would publish such an article.

Look Who’s Talking

Later in the magazine is an article about Dr. Kitabchi who is doing research comparing two different diets used for Type II Diabetes. The article shows a picture of the researcher, an endocrinologist and diabetes specialist.   Either it was a very bad camera angle or Dr. Kitabchi is overweight himself. It is surprising to me that a director of a diabetes center isn’t a better role model for the patients he works with. How motivating can we expect our patients to be if we don’t “walk the walk” ourselves?

I am very disappointed in the picture painted by the American Diabetes Association through their magazine, Diabetic Forecast, which is delivered to probably thousands of people with diabetes. I am sure those people depend on the magazine and the organization to give them information to live their lives by and help them be as healthy as possible. They deserve that.

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Dr. Mary Ann Block

Dr. Mary Ann Block is Medical Director of The Block Center, an international clinic for the treatment of chronic health problems in children and adults. She is an international expert on the treatment of ADHD without psychiatric drugs. Her approach is to look for and treat the underlying problem instead of covering the symptoms with drugs.

2 Comments

  1. Avatar for Adan Iannalo Adan Iannalo on November 27, 2010 at 9:42 am

    Hi I appreciated your article. I think that it’s important when discussing diabetes to at least bring up natural treatments that have been proven to be effective in controlling high blood glucose. Various natural herbs can be including in a diabetics treatment that will help keep a wholesome glucose level.

    • Avatar for Kim Jones Kim Jones on August 24, 2012 at 10:15 pm

      what herbs can be taken I am insulin dependant and hate it, any info would be great

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