I once asked my mom what her biggest health fear was, as she gets older. She said she is not scared of cancer or osteoporosis or gaining weight. She is scared of losing her mind.
I believe as clinicians that we sometimes have to use subtle but effective “scare tactics” to inspire change in our patients. When a patient has a “slightly” elevated fasting blood glucose, the threat of diabetes often does not change a person’s habits. The prevailing mindset tends to be along the lines of, “I’ll get diabetes anyway, and I’ll just take pills for it”. I think the constant exposure to TV advertisements about diabetes medications and living a blissful life have something to do with this….
Instead of talking about the future repercussions of diabetes, I recommend focusing on the necessity of the mind. No one wants to develop Alzheimer’s – in the mainstream medical system, there is no pill that can significantly alter the progress or symptoms of the disease. Most mainstream medical providers don’t have the answer when asked how to prevent the onset of dementia (functional medicine knows better, of course, especially with the latest research and book by Dr. Dale Bredesen!). But here’s where it pays to be up on the latest research!
This is a NEJM article from 2013, that looked at around 2000 people, and determined that an average fasting blood glucose level of 115mg/dL, in persons without diabetes, increased the risk of developing dementia over a 7 year timespan.
What’s the point of this lesson?
Anyone with “borderline” elevated glucose levels (between 100-124mg/dL) need to be advised on the danger of this. We can’t inspire everyone to change their ways, but we can educate and guide those who want to gracefully advance in age.
Wishing everyone great health, happiness, and a life at ease.
Meg