Sugar Content of Foods

Today’s Interesting E-Mail 5-14-12

Sugar Content of Foods

Someone spent a lot of time taking these pictures.  Each one shows how much sugar is in the item in the photo. 

4.2 grams = 1 teaspoon of sugar = 1 cube!

 This is an interesting concept.  It would make a great science project for school.  It’s also a great visual for anyone who is trying to cut down on sugar.  Here are some more:

Stopping your medications

I have many patients who tell me that they stopped their medications because they are “feeling fine now”.  Or they have “gone to the clinic” and been told they don’t have to take the medication anymore because their blood pressure is fine or their blood sugar is in the normal range now.

STOP!

Do not listen to this advice.  Please get another opinion. 

I have a patient now who was told to stop taking her multiple medications for her blood sugar because her levels were normal.  Her medicines included insulin (the shots) and two different types of pills.  Her blood sugars are now in the 400 range (normal fasting under 120, after meals under 150). 

I have been working with her some, but this is not my specialty.  We are down to about 250.  These levels are still UNACCEPTABLE.  She probably needs to go back on insulin – which requires someone who knows how to make those plans.  Generally speaking, this is not your local gynecologist.

Sort of FYI: other medications you definitely should not stop without getting medical advice include medicines for blood pressure, thyroid or any other hormone, any chemotherapy, antidepressants or any other medicine for your mental health.

If you are on hormone replacement from your gynecologist, you should talk to your gynecologist, not another physician about this.  We probably know more about the effects of hormones on your heart, bone, skin, bladder, uterus, hair, mental health and any other body part than any other type of doctor. 

We spend lots of years learning about this stuff.  We keep learning.  It’s required.  Besides, most of us think it’s kind of fun.  So ask a doctor about your medicines.  Not your mother, your sister or your neighbor.  Unless they happen to be a doctor. 

Random Acts of “It’s not my job”

There are lots of days when I do things in my office that are really not my job.  I’m sure other doctors do the same thing.

I have a long time patient that I see quite frequently.  I have been trying to convince her that blood sugars “around 300” are not normal.  I had her do a urine test recently that was positive for alcohol!  I freaked out, until the lab asked me “Is the patient diabetic?”  It seems that sugar in the urine will turn to alcohol and make that positive.

I convinced her we needed to check her HgbA1C last visit.  This is a test of how much sugar is stuck to your red blood cells.  The real name for it is glycosolated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1C.  Hers was almost twice the upper limit of normal.

So today, I, the gynecologist, spent almost two hours with this nice woman.  I first explained why she needed to get her sugar under control.  I want her to live for a while longer.  Then we went over what medications she used to take, and I wrote prescriptions. 

Then my patient said she was having problems with her breathing.  She has chronic bronchitis with an allergic component.   She hasn’t been able to see the “clinic” about this, either.  We went through all the different medications for this, looking up prices at the same time.  You see, she also has no insurance.  Since these are medications I don’t use all the time, I have no idea what they cost.  I was enlightened, to say the least.

Mrs. Train Wreck said that her previous “clinic provider” had told her that she could stop all her diabetes medications since her blood sugar was normal.  I’m not sure who made the mistake – the patient or “the provider”.  Since she sees a different person every time at her “clinic”, never has a scheduled appointment, never gets any continuity of care and nobody explains anything to her, it is entirely possible that someone did say something along those lines.

Remember, though, the “clinic” care is free.