Frustrations of a medical practitioner who really cares
I’m fortunate to receive care through the UK NHS’s Healthier You programme.
Following a diagnosis of impaired glucose regulation (pre-diabetes in old language), the programme provides advice and regular group meetings. I refer to these meetings as diabetics anonymous. (I’ll tell you more about my experiences with these another time…)
The programme also offers follow-up blood tests to monitor glycated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c a signal of longer-term effects of glucose regulation). I was contacted for a test and went along for it last week.
It took place very near to my home at a time convenient to me. I was welcomed by the diabetes nurse for my area. I was her first test of the day.
She was chatty and engaging. I suppose this is a technique to help those who are anxious about blood tests. It was just nice to have a positive conversation with someone about health, diabetes and adapting lifestyle.
She told me how she had transferred to the diabetes service after seeing such an increasing number of her general nursing patients affected by diabetes and associated effects. She felt she could do more by getting directly involved.
While learning more about diabetes and working with patients she had realised that she needed to do something about her own lifestyle. Although she was not diabetic, she was overweight and leading a lifestyle that increased her risk of diabetes, heart disease and the other terrible (and avoidable) consequences of lifestyle.
We talked about her love for rice.
“Not just any rice. White, processed rice. Large quantities of it. Every day.” she said.
I shared my love for bread.
We discussed how we had both had to make what felt like sacrifices to improve our health. We agreed that we no longer consider these sacrifices. We simply consume less quantity and higher quality.
She now considers two tablespoons of rice on her plate to be sufficient and still aims to reduce it further. She also consumes whole-grain (brown, red, black) rice, rich in bran where the outer hull remains.
As we talked more she become more animated. It was clear that she really cared about everyone she met. She wanted so much for them to take on the advice being offered and to make a permanent change to their lives.
What she said next stuck with me.
“I’m not asking them to remove anything completely from their life. I don’t want them to give up something they love. If only they would try to cut down on some things…” she said.
“If only they would realise that instead of a beer every day, having it only at weekends would make such a big difference. Or a bar of chocolate. Or whatever it is that they believe they cannot give up.
So many times I meet them some time after the group sessions end and they are back to eating and drinking just like before.”
“If only they could continue they would see that it make all the difference,’ she sighed.
I feel so strongly that we can adapt. We have every reason to adapt. This is about restoring our health and giving ourselves not only a longer life, but a healthier life and a happier life.
For us. For our loved ones. We can do it…