tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78946550222962985312011-07-08T11:42:36.507-04:00<i><b>"Life is short, art is long, the right moment soon speeds past, experience deceives, judgment is difficult!"</i></b>~Hippocrates, 'Corpus Hippocraticum', 1st C. BCE.observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.comBlogger921100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-43292474133492087262009-08-23T14:46:00.005-04:002009-08-23T14:58:20.835-04:00

A small quote from today's (August 23, 2009) Junk Food Science blog entry "Online social media — marketing in disguise"Please be careful out there. Do your own research, go to original sources and think for yourself. The source of a belief and its popularity are never measures of its credibility...The bolded part is key. That's what I do here at "Intelligent Protocol", too: I go to the original

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-20306552856869391852009-08-13T09:21:00.006-04:002009-08-13T10:50:31.344-04:00

So, if you are a RAT, don't eat fatty food!At least, that is what a new RAT study found, published August 10 in the FASEB Journal, "Deterioration of physical performance and cognitive function in rats with short-term high-fat feeding"[1], Andrew J. Murray, lead researcher.The theory: Since fatty acid metabolism is less efficient than glucose metabolism, would eating a high-fat diet be beneficial

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-65477737123917703862009-08-10T17:57:00.011-04:002009-08-10T20:07:55.138-04:00

The definition, from "The Free Dictionary", quoted from Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th Ed.:terminal illnessEtymology: L, terminalis + ON, illr, badan advanced stage of a disease with an unfavorable prognosis and no known cure."Terminal" is also used as a general adjective; the applicable definition is this one (from the same sources as the above):terminal,adj 1. near or approaching an end, such

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-42259437249034558772009-07-25T13:04:00.005-04:002009-07-25T13:33:15.328-04:00

Here is the definition of the key term, "morbid", from the Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary: Main Entry: mor·bid Pronunciation: \ˈmȯr-bəd\ Function: adjective Etymology: Latin morbidus diseased, from morbus diseaseDate: 16561 a: of, relating to, or characteristic of disease ... b: affected with or induced by disease ... c: productive of disease ... 2: abnormally susceptible

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-69040370312742217882009-06-11T09:48:00.013-04:002009-06-12T12:18:57.668-04:00

Huh??Well, according to researcher Dale S. Bond, study author and assistant professor of research at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, R.I., if someone is extremely obese--obese enough to be a candidate for WLS--a reason they got so fat is that, like Pavlov's dogs, they salivate far too long when they encounter a new food taste. The study? "Differences in Salivary Habituation to a Taste Stimulus

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-60995495236207144402009-05-15T14:12:00.011-04:002009-05-17T00:09:46.146-04:00

for out comes the cr*p which should only indicate that some people have been celebrating the coming weekend by imbibing mood-altering substances since, let's say, Monday at noon? :) Sh*t like this from the Telegraph (U.K.): Michala Forder, a mother of a five-and-a-half year old boy got an unpleasant surprise. It came in the form of a letter from the Oxford Trust of the NHS informing her that

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-57426085871245421312009-04-26T17:13:00.009-04:002009-04-27T00:35:35.188-04:00

Or so the panicked stories read, with little current justification, like this one from the Associated Press (via. the "Burlington (VT) Free Press"). Apparently it takes little to get the health officials in the U.S. moving if this story is to be taken at face value:Officials reported 20 U.S. cases of swine flu in five states so far, with the latest in Ohio and New York. Both of these states

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-6645108310959244352009-04-22T05:42:00.008-04:002009-04-22T11:15:52.434-04:00

And we can unlearn the behavior, with a little help from the Government.Former FDA Commissioner David A. Kessler, M.D.'s new book says that unless people like him learn to learn to eat less as "avoidance behavior", we cannot help but struggle mightily to control our eating...and our weight. According to him, the brains of some people need that "sugar high" so people will treat marshmallows like

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-17513644296987652902009-04-21T10:07:00.009-04:002009-04-25T02:31:49.365-04:00

One might think the title of this post is a late April Fools' joke. However, it's not. A so-called "study" [actually, only a letter to the Lancet that also appears in that journal; see link] published recently in the International Journal of Epidemiology--"Population adiposity and climate change"--says that the Environment is Going to Go To Hell In A Handbasket Because THERE WILL BE TOO MANY

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-37122175760237781302009-04-18T15:45:00.010-04:002009-04-18T19:35:16.979-04:00

One might come to the conclusion I made in the title to this post after seeing this from the "4YourKids.org.uk" website from the U.K.:Or this:[Click on the link to access the Flash videos...yes, videos...]This frankly terrifying attempt at micro-management of young people (and their families) would be bad enough if the "treatment" actually had a snowball's chance in Hades of working. Too bad the

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-74330550718731894032009-04-09T22:40:00.008-04:002009-04-09T23:47:05.607-04:00

A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine (the AURORA study) shows that statin makers have left no stone unturned to try to find new markets. This study--"Rosuvastatin and Cardiovascular Events in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis"--was intended to show whether statins (in this case, rosuvastatin (Crestor) ) can benefit people with kidney disease who are under dialysis.For

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-8544715904224405342009-04-05T23:28:00.011-04:002009-04-06T01:41:44.660-04:00

HUH!!!???It's amazing, simply amazing the amount of scientific NON-expertise there is out there.Like this poster on a dating service message board--who is commenting on type 2 diabetes [and uses as a nick the name of a chocolate-coated candy with a naturally-sugary dried grape center!]--who demonstrates just why so many diabetics end up getting in trouble (if their doctors don't do it to them

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-59396995810941969422009-03-13T20:43:00.008-04:002009-03-13T23:11:42.103-04:00

I posted about a study--"Relation Between Obesity and Blunted Striatal Response to Food Is Moderated by TaqIA A1 Allele"--here back in December. You know, the one in which the researchers in psychology, no less, claimed that people get fat because they don't get as much "stimulation" from eating in the "pleasure centers" of their brains because their dopamine receptors don't work as well? The

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-46381971844687948442009-02-27T11:14:00.016-05:002009-02-27T14:01:08.317-05:00

That is, unless people are "convinced" and "pushed" into conforming. Not that they do much even then, even in terms of weight loss. This new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine--"Comparison of Weight-Loss Diets with Different Compositions of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrates"--studied various diets over a two-year period.This study used 811 overweight adults from 30-70 years of

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-59326463087060544982009-02-02T12:37:00.008-05:002009-02-02T14:15:09.186-05:00

Lately, there has been a BIG press release flurry over a reported FIVE YEAR OLD "study" (conducted in 2004, published in 2005!) which claims that fat is indeed contagious and they have found a culprit: Ad-36, an adenovirus which has been found to make one fatter.That is, if one is a chicken, monkey...and maybe a human. :PStudies in animals to date have resulted in only ONE human study in

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-68610408721018177642009-01-29T21:36:00.000-05:002009-01-29T21:37:08.653-05:00

If one were to believe this story (via. Reuters Health) without question--"Obesity epidemic shows perils to health reform", published on January 22, 2009--it would appear that "rearrangement" of the digestive system is the cheap solution for serious medical issues in those people who also happen to be fat.At least, that's what this patient, Bob Clegg, claims. According to the story:http://

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-17952736057691797072009-01-23T20:38:00.000-05:002009-01-23T20:38:57.215-05:00

All environment does is change the timing and how the illness/condition can be dealt with once it shows up (should the individual live long enough).Ever see this statement?"Genetics loads the gun, but environment pulls the trigger."~~Judith Stern, University of California, DavisOne should; it's quoted ad nauseum all over the Internet! This saying is used to sell every intervention known to

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-55863475109741725222008-12-15T00:01:00.005-05:002008-12-15T01:18:52.342-05:00

Sandy Swarcz at "Junk Food Science" posted a link to this item from the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, "A trial design that generates only ''positive'' results" as part of an article on acupuncture as medical treatment and its surprising connection to UFOs.The study from the JPGM deals with study methodology of the type where the populations either receive the "usual" treatment or the "usual +

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-62292047719089376232008-12-03T15:49:00.011-05:002008-12-09T19:46:38.408-05:00

In fact, they love the food so much, they make every effort to keep their eyes on it! (HUH??)A new study out of the Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University by Brian Wansink, director of Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab, "Eating Behavior and Obesity at Chinese Buffets", published recently in the journal "Obesity", says that fatter people eat too much at Chinese

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-46995896245032083192008-11-01T23:25:00.001-04:002008-11-01T23:27:09.632-04:00

Too bad that's not what got measured, really. Anyway...A study out of the University of Texas, Austin, by Eric Stice, researcher in psychology, may well become another way to label fatter people "deviants" and "anti-social". The claimed results of this piece of "research" is that those who people are obese don't have enough dopamine receptors in the brain and therefore food...especially if it

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-46017525447417115202008-11-01T21:37:00.009-04:002008-11-01T22:30:03.744-04:00

The answer to that question, which can also be stated as "Do diabetics and non-diabetics get killed by the same things?" is simple. It's also one that nobody seems to realize and it is..."Yes, diabetics and non-diabetics die of the same sh*t, with one major exception: Diabetic ketoacidosis, which rarely kills these days."In short, it's true that diabetics tend to die mostly of cardiovascular

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-8110456086332568242008-10-06T16:29:00.006-04:002008-10-06T18:23:31.238-04:00

WLS is not needed as a weight-loss "tool" and might not work nor help prevent the dreaded diabetes. This remark in an article from the New York Times, "Weight-Loss Surgery Requires Discipline", by Jane E. Brody and published September 15, 2008 actually reveals the real reason someone like Sarah Sloan loses weight and keeps it off. She went through gastric bypass surgery in May, 2004, and has

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-60778861835485815492008-08-25T13:52:00.006-04:002008-10-04T17:45:50.187-04:00

Lose the weight in one year or be forced to pay for insurance they now get for free.This "MSNBC" article,"Alabama workers to pay for extra pounds: Next year, the state will add a $25 insurance fee for being overweight" (originally from the Associated Press [original article here]) is another example of "nannyism" (read: Bigotry in disguise.) gone bad... and is proving to be a BIG

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-19915353292782952962008-08-23T20:52:00.017-04:002008-08-25T14:09:45.881-04:00

William M. Briggs, a statistician and professor, put up a post at his blog on June 5, 2008 which is an excerpt from a chapter of his future book on statistics. The topic of the post is "How to cheat with statistics". Not worth reading? Are you kidding?? As we are finding out more and more, cheating with statistics=very sick patients in a lot of cases. Sick from the treatment they got yet

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-40322392505354913302008-08-18T14:26:00.008-04:002008-08-24T21:00:11.407-04:00

This part deals with the CDC, their "Partners", and action plans to deal with the "epidemic" of the "awful, no good, very bad 'sugar'": Diabetes.First off, what "epidemic"? There isn't any! The claim that there is a diabetes "epidemic" is a crock since only less than seven percent of the total population is diabetic at all. But the CDC and "partners" don't think so; to them, diabetes is "

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-62452228594844139232008-08-18T13:52:00.009-04:002008-08-18T15:32:28.137-04:00

And what are the "Partnership" progroms programs with which the CDC will "partner"? How about programs like the one aimed at those of us who have even one more adipose cell than the health nannies want us to have, namely "Obesity".First off, note the position of the link to the "Obesity" page on the "home page" of the "Community Guide". Right under "Diabetes". That, I am sure, was no accident

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-85319714879196623192008-08-18T12:22:00.006-04:002008-08-18T14:22:32.232-04:00

If it's one tied to "Department of Health and Human Services"...well...At least, what would you think of a webpage aimed at the general public--the "Centers for Disease Control"--which would use a header using this text?"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Your Online Source for Credible Health Information"That is exactly what the header for this page says!http://www.cdc.gov/az/

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-10272391563359672772008-08-17T17:23:00.006-04:002008-08-17T18:26:29.778-04:00

I have mentioned that studies now point toward mitochondrial defects or deterioration as a cause of type 2 diabetes (because the cell cannot utilize energy properly). This may well be the condition which is mistakenly called "insulin resistance".One study being undertaken by the University of California is outlined in a news release here. A Google search brings up pages of references to this

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-37483006840860710832008-08-14T11:08:00.009-04:002008-08-14T12:33:22.680-04:00

Apparently the word is getting out:I put up a post on a study published in the Cochrane Review, "Dietary advice for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults" on July 24, "Diet and exercise CAN "manage" type 2 diabetes? They got it HALF right...".I did miss a key point, and it's this one as stated in the "Plain Language Summary":No data were found on micro- or macrovascular diabetic

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-4477787205366631102008-08-03T17:32:00.009-04:002008-08-03T18:18:46.665-04:00

The best questions are the simplest.When one has a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, the question that should be asked about ANY new or substitute treatment, before one agrees to undergo it, should be..."Will this (nasty old pill, starvation meal plan, brutal exercise routine, injection, surgery) have a significant chance of letting me live longer?"Note the question is NOT: "Will this

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-49562616638221321162008-07-24T22:18:00.007-04:002008-07-24T23:35:35.207-04:00

I have been ranting for some time about diabetic treatment, especially diet. The common wisdom seems to be "Try anything, but make sure that "meal plan" is nit-picky, boring, and does not have many calories in it. See what works to get those BG's "in control". Call that the 'Rosetta Stone' of diabetic management."Nice, neat and...Too bad the science does not support any of it! This item, a "

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-18619965552764098142008-07-07T21:16:00.015-04:002008-08-08T13:31:09.394-04:00

How about: Let's starve, overwork, and poison children with a medication that is proving to be dangerous in adults to control a surrogate measure that really means little or nothing in just about everyone (even diabetics)?The journal "Pediatrics" has published recommendations for "pre-treating" growing children with drugs and starvation diets out of fear that...they will get diseases of aging

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-66128813192708055222008-07-02T21:59:00.008-04:002008-07-03T00:23:44.592-04:00

who needs enemies?A couple of articles sent out as part of professional publications for nurses shows just how "unprofessional" the medical profession is becoming. These articles, by Susan Vorce Crocker, Ph.D., RN, are best described as being...well...described SO well in the first syllable of her last name... :D"Crock" #1: Is the problem one of the draining of the "spirit" in this one from the

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-17501436582832481152008-06-25T22:15:00.011-04:002008-08-21T12:15:09.288-04:00

is almost certainly not the way the patient will be told it does. Here's why:1.) Metformin as an "insulin sensitizer"? This idea is simply hogwash!This concept--"met" as "insulin sensitizer"--probably originates in the "insulin resistance" theory of why type 2 diabetics end up with too much glucose in the bloodstream and too little fueling the muscles. Frankly, this idea of "insulin

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-56807922648554519872008-06-17T20:45:00.003-04:002008-06-17T20:49:39.308-04:00

Just a short post thanking "Big Liberty" for sending a lot of you my way. I have more posts "in development". They are just not ready for prime time yet.I'll put them up soon.In the meantime, take a look around and read what I have up and comment if you wish to. Observer.

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-39234699869673175352008-06-13T23:24:00.011-04:002008-06-14T00:54:04.944-04:00

and why a diabetic should question authority...all of it. My thoughts, as I continue to research diabetes, make me wonder if diabetes has become the new "witch hunt" in which the diabetic is being treated as an "evil" to be "punished" in order to "exorcise" the fears of an aging population of...aging... Here are a few:1.) The continual insistence of the medical profession that "diet and

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-54330214696137186442008-05-17T16:14:00.012-04:002008-06-08T01:11:14.574-04:00

but they are so effective at showing that scared sheep most people will believe anything if you make it look "official" enough.Sandy Swarzc of "Junk Food Science" blog, within an entry reporting a "data dredge" epidemiological study dealing with activity levels and their association with breast cancer, placed an important caveat about such studies in general and the fact that "correlation does

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-2656137556369395212008-05-08T09:58:00.009-04:002008-06-01T03:48:46.410-04:00

it has yet to be shown by real science to work. Even for disease management diet as treatment is iffy at best in its effects and cannot be relied on in the long-haul to lengthen life nor even suppress symptoms. If it did, would diabetics not find themselves able to suppress the condition and prevent associated co-morbidities, for example? That does not happen; even the lucky ones find they

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-61921330310719733802008-05-05T13:37:00.010-04:002008-05-07T20:40:38.726-04:00

This is a quote by Thomas Edison which, perhaps, a certain "ellen" who has become so fond of me should especially take heed of. After all, this blog is focused on science and medicine...:Were this thinking not in the framework of scientific work, it would be considered paranoid. In scientific work, creative thinking demands seeing things not seen previously, or in ways not previously imagined;

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-16374632866041575512008-05-03T14:23:00.004-04:002008-05-07T19:53:20.362-04:00

This post started out as an answer to a comment for an earlier post. Since it got "too long", I am presenting it as a separate post here. An "ellen" wrote:Just looking briefly at your blog, are you saying it's ok to be fat, BMI charts are bunk, diet has little relation to health? Maybe I'm wrong but some it seems to give that impression.To reply to your comments:1.) BMI IS bunk. The BMI was

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-1582873557982136982008-04-28T10:27:00.000-04:002008-04-28T10:28:08.849-04:00

Traditionally, whether a diabetic patient is classified as IDDM or NIDDM (type 1 or type 2) hinges on whether the patient is insulin-dependent at diagnosis. Nice, neat...and wrong? Hmmm...The traditional naming protocol is that type 1 is assigned only to those who have known autoimmune disease at the outset (and are normally young with fast-onset diabetic symptoms). Anyone else, even if it turns

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-51129188472297467382008-04-28T09:33:00.003-04:002008-04-28T09:38:56.004-04:00

here's some wisdom from Katharine Hepburn:"Life is hard. After all, it kills you."THAT is the standard against which all medical regimens should be taken. If the doctor claims that a treatment is needed or "YOU WILL DIE!", ask yourself "Since when did anyone get out of this world alive?" before you sign on the dotted line...and accept the results of doing something that might make you even

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-23436391177900305342008-04-15T11:49:00.009-04:002008-04-15T12:39:44.004-04:00

they should give the doctor this reference...and then tell them to "Go fug yourself!". :DThis study out of Denmark--"Body Mass Index and Poststroke Mortality"--is solid proof that all those cardiovascular "risk factors" used to get fat diabetics--and the fat population in general--to be "compliant" with obsessive, oppressive and even dangerous treatment protocols is trying to "prevent" a medical

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-53357647403179551882008-04-07T17:55:00.005-04:002008-04-07T20:45:33.045-04:00

This post on "Every Woman Has An Eating Disorder" points out a real problem not only with "dieting" as most people know it (weight loss plan) and diabetic meal plans. The post is a letter from a "Karen" the blog owner received; "Karen" is a type 1 diabetic (autoimmune disease of the pancreas patient (currently known in the medical community as IDDM). "Karen"--who is dieting for weight loss and

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-47168607581094005762008-04-05T00:44:00.005-04:002008-04-05T01:57:28.648-04:00

and if you see them, watch out!This old (year 2000) post--"The Seven Words You Shouldn't Use In Medical News"-- by Gary Schwitzer, medical journalist, professor, and author of the "Schwitzer Health News Blog" deals with the OTHER set of "seven words one should not use" when reporting medical news. I am going to focus on two of them, and add one of my own in this post.Let's start with the word "

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-87135172179562962872008-03-18T15:04:00.008-04:002008-03-18T19:19:24.557-04:00

This news release--"Type 2 Diabetes May Be Caused by Intestinal Dysfunction" from Cornell is great news...IF you run a bariatric surgery center! In other words, if you are a type 2 diabetic and have even one excess fat cell, watch out! You are about to become the target of a medical profession which stoops at nothing to find ways to kill you even faster "help" find a "cure" for the dreaded

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-30865783761302778692008-03-08T15:29:00.001-05:002008-03-08T15:31:47.332-05:00

Now, to continue with the previous discussion:I.) The real problem with the obese (fat)? The same problem that skinny people have in modern society: People tend to be unfit from engaging in too little physical activity period. The availability of food problem in most societies outside of the "third-world" is solved (or can be simply by altering distribution patterns and a bit more money). So

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-41467983182746088262008-03-03T11:50:00.013-05:002008-03-03T13:59:43.035-05:00

Sue Stinson of "Suethsayings" posted this in an entry for March 3, 2008 on gastric bypass surgery which is often "pushed" on diabetics as a "cure" for [Type 2] diabetes. The quote is one which Dr Alan Wittgrove of the Alvarado Clinic stated in online interviews at the time of Carnie Wilson's gastric bypass:Question: Dr. Wittgrove, I really need to know about how this surgery will effect me when

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-84557346629553845332008-02-24T23:26:00.001-05:002008-02-29T21:20:07.566-05:00

One problem with trying to determine the real risks inherent in any treatment regimen (such as for type 2 diabetes) and making a solid decision on risk v. benefit is that the absolute risk figures are often hard to find, if they can be found at all. This is deliberate: Medical researchers--especially if profits are on the line for the sponsor of the research (such as a pharmaceutical company)--

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-79639552086962696192008-02-19T15:10:00.005-05:002008-02-20T13:34:51.145-05:00

Another thought about the ACCORD trial and "tight control":Dr. Malcolm Kendrick (as he wrote here) has stated that type 2 diabetes is not a disease. He may well have more than a little "something":Diabetes is a disease where the blood sugar level rises too high. (I am restricting the discussion here to type II diabetes by the way). Of course that is true. Diabetes is a disease where the blood

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-71428370466691062042008-02-09T14:53:00.002-05:002008-02-24T22:39:28.479-05:00

Or typical yet potentially dangerous advice? In terms of type 2's and avoiding heart attacks, dangerous it indeed may be. Tradition in medicine--and diabetic research--overlooks this inconvenient fact for the sake of playing with a number or sets of numbers from lab tests, with the goal of lowering those numbers to where ever the researcher or clinician wants them to be by whatever means

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-37813938748409127412008-02-09T00:53:00.001-05:002008-02-09T02:41:58.702-05:00

Or any food containing caffeine because it raises BGs...nanananana!! :-pThis post at the "Junk Science" blog (entry of Jaunary 28, 2008), titled "Cutting caffeine may help control diabetes…" made me livid. The entry talks about an item out of NC, a study conducted by the Duke University Medical Center which talks about a preliminary investigation (I would hardly deign to call it a study) about

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-12185329329723497062008-02-01T19:11:00.001-05:002008-02-07T21:23:33.030-05:00

The truths, as I see them from my research to date, continue to be ignored: First of all, diet and exercise prescriptions--"pushed" like illegal drugs on a street corner by so-called diabetes "experts", professional and lay person alike--do have some truth to them, but are usually "oversold" and overblown when they are unrealistic to carry out to boot. I find myself once again compelled to stick

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-55655725180577988572008-01-27T20:25:00.000-05:002008-02-01T20:31:38.859-05:00

When it comes to diabetes and its treatment, the overall vision is one of "Treat the symptoms and you will minimize the co-morbidities while we wait for a cure."Is this reasonable? Maybe, or maybe not. Depends on the variant of diabetes one has:1.) Type 1 diabetics in any form--young or adult-onset, slow or fast onset--DO have a real hope for cure. Eventually. The reason why is simple: It's

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-63327427131137666132008-01-02T12:16:00.000-05:002008-01-11T20:59:02.765-05:00

Depends on the situation...it might not be as bad as you might think.This question--posted by a user at Yahoo! Answers--appears to be a life-threatening situation. But, is it? Perhaps...or maybe it's not so bad as it looks. (Remember I am not a doctor and anything I (or others) say does not constitute medical advice.):What is a safe amount for your blood sugar to drop in 65 minutes?I took my

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-21706553741474929432007-12-10T17:53:00.000-05:002007-12-31T18:49:31.729-05:00

What is the problem, then? I found a possible answer in my research that, IMHO, may well be right on target as to explaining the probable cause(s) of Type 2 diabetes. The article, "New Insights and New Therapies for Insulin Resistance" summarizes the "insulin resistance" theory and then explains why it is neat, simple...and likely wrong!First of all, according to this theory, the problem of high

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-84701303090467239322007-12-10T17:40:00.000-05:002007-12-31T19:02:35.107-05:00

Or, do they? To parapharse Lucretius the Borg: "Prevention and cure attempts are futile."Why? How can one "cure" or "prevent" disease when there is no "disease" to prevent or cure! Until we develop the medical technology to "eliminate" this "thrifty" genotype--or end up destroying civilization and going back to Nature--there is no way to prevent the genetically "susceptible" from becoming

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-28196621291806432842007-12-10T17:39:00.000-05:002008-02-06T11:54:57.185-05:00

Until the endocrine system has been overloaded for so long something else goes wrong. I swear...if I see one more research study or stupid magazine article that asserts that "insulin resistance" exists, is a pre-disease of any kind and is--by implication or otherwise--a 'malfunction' of the endocrine system that is caused by fat and laziness ans in turncauses diabetes, never mind the implication

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-53085340249521360142007-12-10T17:23:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:24:26.081-05:00

...they prove that there is a finer line than one might imagine that separates an M.D. from a D.D. (Doctor of Divinity).Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, A G.P. practicing in G.B., wrote an opinion piece for the British Journal of General Practice in 2004 called "The Obesity Time Bomb". Within the article, he makes a point that is not specific to "obesity"(TEH FAT!) but applies just as well to any

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-82593317583301445162007-12-10T17:19:00.000-05:002007-12-10T17:20:21.270-05:00

So out comes the "we know what's good for you" shit again!This post is not about diabetes per-se, but it is about food and eating out, two supposed "landmines" for the diabetic. This "New York Times" blog entry by Tara Parker-Pope entitled "Oversized Portions? Blame the Chef" shows just how far the "diet culture" has come to meeting the "assume everyone is a brittle diabetic with an eating

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-2991120154106497662007-12-03T18:10:00.000-05:002007-12-03T18:55:55.885-05:00

Sandy Szwarc of "Junk Food Science" posted this today. This post discusses cancer and how "blaming the victim" hurts cancer patients who--even if they did everything "right"--got the disease.The main point she makes is all too often forgotten: Blame is one of the most tragic and hurtful consequences of today’s popular belief that by eating and living ‘right’ we can stay healthy and prevent

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-16986484507745162072007-12-01T19:45:00.000-05:002007-12-01T20:58:03.986-05:00

This post explores the topic of "Why won't they let me eat?", a question that diabetics, no doubt, have asked themselves.I certainly have, as you can see by some of my previous entries here at "Intelligent Protocol". Based on my reading and research so far, I have some possible answers, which I am presenting as a "Q. and A.".-----------------------------------------------------------------------

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-89504935360838175442007-11-22T19:09:00.000-05:002007-11-23T21:53:33.415-05:00

I have been musing as to why it seems that serious side effects of medications are overlooked or not yet known before a new medicine is approved. The usual argument is that the drug manufacturers and the FDA are in "cahoots" and "rush" the stuff out, more to make money than the claimed "improvement" in care/prevention the drug is alleged to provide. There is a lot of truth to that, indeed, but

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-69784926028672193252007-11-08T10:53:00.000-05:002007-11-08T12:44:44.365-05:00

Researchers are finding out that diabetes has more themes and variations than a classical music concert. In other words, this study--published in "Diabetes Care"--may well be one of the best replies to the Halle Berry "diabetes downgrade" flap we have at the moment.To start this discussion, misdiagnosis of the variant of diabetes an adult has may well be rampant. This, as researchers are

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-7499058778452464392007-11-06T23:03:00.000-05:002007-11-06T23:45:35.475-05:00

This discussion at "Big Fat Delicious" blog caught my eye--and my comments might get my head chopped off! This short article at "contactmusic.com" is a supposed quote from Berry who claims that her ability to manage the disease means she no longer needs insulin and therefore has "downgraded" 'her' diabetes from a Type 1 to a Type 2 variant.Guess what has happened in the diabetic world? That's

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-45480585254658693922007-11-05T21:23:00.001-05:002007-11-05T22:26:27.004-05:00

or the natural way that allows some people to survive to a ripe old age? A report by researchers in Israel discuss the "young hunter" hypothesis and a possible reason weight gain (and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes) tend to occur with aging:A gradual and persistent physiologic increase in body weight of 3–5 kg per decade occurs between the third to the fifth decade. ... The young hunter theory

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-70168566802727468352007-11-04T23:07:00.000-05:002007-11-04T23:46:06.370-05:00

The more I read on the Internet, the more pissed-off I get at the non-thinking stupidity and political activism and other stupid outlooks about diabetes which really do not help anyone! The "urban legends" relating to diabetes are both astounding in their scope and in their persistence, even among those who should know better by now. This in turn makes it harder for the diabetics themselves to

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-71903114779743584092007-10-28T02:49:00.002-04:002007-10-28T03:27:53.798-04:00

The answer, simply, is "NO!". This study was an examination of high-glycemic index(HG)vs. low-glycemic index (LG) foods and whether controlling the GI of foods in the diet could reduce the risk of diabetes. The answer? If someone is truly "normal", no amount of "sugary" or "sugar-producing" foods can make them diabetic...and, in fact, HG foods may actually be protective for those people, IF

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-12400523142480556722007-10-23T14:17:00.000-04:002007-10-30T22:19:35.629-04:00

This story from the "New York Times" indicates how complex it can be, reporting on studies that indicate that the entire body is involved in this metabolic disorder:October 16, 2007In Diabetes, a Complex of CausesBy AMANDA SCHAFFERCopyright 2007 The New York Times Company...[W]ith 73,000 deaths a year, diabetes is a disease in which the body's failure to regulate glucose...can lead to serious and

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-22809024112671938582007-10-23T12:17:00.000-04:002007-10-23T13:36:55.834-04:00

Another study that indicates that TEH FAT is a symptom of the metabolic disorder which is the cause of diabetes. Not the other way around. This study from Israel is another indication that equating "obesity" and "NIDDM" ( Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or Type 2 diabetes) is likely not correct and that induced weight loss--which seems to be the favorite "sport" worldwide--may well be

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-41230444265691879232007-10-14T15:36:00.001-04:002007-10-16T22:59:09.660-04:00

Here comes a disclaimer...:) :My viewpoint about diet and diabetics is based on a portrait of "AN" "average Type 2" diabetic based on information which I have obtained from researching the topic to date. (I would be one of these diabetics.). I am NOT referring to diabetics whose comorbidities REQUIRE a strict diet to treat those illnesses and that such a diet is unavoidable (no other treatment

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-68569402401964435102007-10-11T10:33:00.000-04:002007-10-13T23:33:48.251-04:00

That seems to be behind this publication, put out by Kaiser Permanente in which pure falsehoods--big fat lies-- about Type 2 diabetes are the "main course". This is one of a series of political power-mongering socialist screeds disguised as "health education" aimed at parents who are tasked with making their children "healthier". By scaring the living daylights out of them...Lies, I say? Well

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-88363212622461475022007-10-10T19:05:00.000-04:002007-10-10T20:51:40.513-04:00

So why oh why does the medical establishment continue to push the useless things on diabetics?? Not only are diabetics starved (which indicates that the medical establishment really has not come up with a decent treatment which does not call for starving the patient as part of the protocol), but they are humiliated in the process!Humiliated? Well, how would YOU feel if, to try to keep you on a

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-57451485902719979312007-10-03T13:52:00.000-04:002007-10-08T19:16:52.826-04:00

As I continue to research on the topic of diabetes, I have been struck with some thoughts. Let me outline them:1.) I am sure most diabetics--and medical professionals--would take me to task with my concept that diabetes is all one disease, just different stages progressing at different rates. In my defense, let me mention that the more I research, the more I see the flaws in this concept, IF

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-59748054064881305702007-10-02T22:40:00.000-04:002007-10-02T23:07:56.919-04:00

This commentator to this post on the "Lemonade Life" blog has made a point that I think really sums up diabetes "management':# Scott Says:September 26, 2007 at 3:43 pmLets face it, none of us is the diabetes patient we’re supposed to be, its simply not possible 24/7/365, yet few doctors or educators ever admit that. The reality is that we do the best we can with a treatment plan that is utterly

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-72320817866671613772007-09-30T12:27:00.000-04:002007-09-30T14:43:57.567-04:00

Seems that the consensus--at least from the home of the Framingham Risk Factors--is that, although the prognosis for diabetics and CHD are improving, at least as of 2004, it still is "way too high":CVD rates declining among diabetics, but absolute risk still highAllison GandeyMedscape Medical News 2004. © 2004 MedscapeNov 23, 2004Framingham, MA - A new study shows that adults with diabetes had a

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-85983231954587568532007-09-28T13:53:00.000-04:002007-09-30T15:14:51.881-04:00

I have discovered a source that anyone with health issues should look at: The "Merck Manual" online. I looked in on the "Diabetes Mellitus" pages--for obvious reasons--to try to see what the medical profession is using as accepted protocol for treatment of diabetes, and the standards which patients are directed to try to meet. This is just Part One, dealing with the characteristics of the

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-52976479828234533602007-09-25T15:51:00.000-04:002007-09-30T15:12:33.865-04:00

Or...is forcing the diabetic to starve forever an antique treatment modality that should be put in the "Obsolescent Medical Protocols Hall of Fame"? It appears that some sites--and sources--have decided that starvation does a diabetic body no good. Like this one: "Diabetes Net", which I found while I was searching for information on carb counting. If you have read some of my previous posts,

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-66439961062564971952007-09-24T23:25:00.000-04:002007-09-25T00:02:55.594-04:00

Dr. Wes, in his blog, says it's marketing...with more than a little bit of risk-avoidance by the insurance companies! This post is one of the best summaries I have seen of the real motivations of the insurance industry, and by extension, a lot of the medical establishment, never mind marketers of all those products that the "well" need...and the "sick" need more of! (Thanks to "Junk Food Science

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-79358002931531715582007-09-21T12:44:00.000-04:002007-09-30T15:39:35.225-04:00

This post by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, originally published at "Red Flags Daily" (now "Red Flags Weekly" ) and republished at the "International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics" website of September 14, 2005 has got me thinking:More Grist To The MillBy Red Flags Columnist, Malcolm Kendrick, MD...For some time now, I have been banging on about the fact that “stress” causes diabetes, heart disease and

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-46624375791922751732007-09-20T11:04:00.000-04:002007-09-20T12:48:30.686-04:00

My take, based on my research so far: True diabetes is only ONE disease, (which we could call "Pancreatic autoimmune disease", or "PAD"), of autoimmune origin that causes a partial and potentially fatal if untreated metabolic failure (the inability to use glucose properly). The types are just stages in the disease's progression.How did I come up with that? After all, the signs of autoimmune

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-80662469068345606502007-09-19T16:25:00.000-04:002007-09-19T18:39:35.572-04:00

Or, will just getting off the couch on a regular basis and doing something add up to real benefit?Exercise has been really "pushed" in recent times to help control diabetes (and allegedly prevent (actually, delay indefinetly) Type 2 diabetes). The goal, from my research so far, seems to be aimed, if at all possible, at getting diabetics to, in essence, become athletes. Good? Not exactly: Too

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-90215067389030378522007-09-18T20:05:00.001-04:002007-09-19T20:17:09.636-04:00

Yet...is this valid? Or, another result of risk factors--such as determined by the Framingham Risk Study"--being treated simply because too many buy into the claptrap?First, the study:This study says "yes"; first the news story from Reuters via. Medscape:Starting Statins for All Diabetic Patients in Their 40s Seems JustifiedReuters Health Information 2007. © 2007 Reuters Ltd.NEW YORK (Reuters

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-30856278171473904022007-09-17T13:44:00.000-04:002007-09-19T20:43:09.009-04:00

and diabetics--with already impaired health--are expected, with modern treatments available to control their condition, to do just this from the moment of diagnosis?If someone already has a chronic disease, is it worth the risks to try to change one's body weight in the hopes of ameliorating the condition?Perhaps not: This story from the "Globe and Mail" (U.K.)tells the story of a healthy, slim

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-71072154626542580132007-09-15T18:50:00.001-04:002007-09-19T21:01:23.926-04:00

Does this make things worse. Some researchers say "Of course", but the information never gets out there due to bias on the part of researchers. This treatment protocol--"tight control"--appears to be on the firing line, and for good reason: This protocol requires the patient become literally obsessed with every-f**king-detail of their lives: The day-to-day existence of the unfortunate patient

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-75405054139823950132007-09-13T13:17:00.000-04:002007-09-19T20:45:42.885-04:00

The first thing that doctors do to torture...eh...treat a newly-diagonsed diabetic is to prescribe a new "meal plan". Otherwise known as "diet". Almost all of them will be below 2,000 kCals/day, no matter how big one is and how many they may be taking in and therefore just how far one will "crash" on the "crash diets" they really are.It is well-known that starvation (famine) will "improve" the

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-53606945197089728832007-09-10T12:49:00.001-04:002007-09-10T23:14:38.336-04:00

First of all, what are the numbers you need to aim for? Depends on who you ask. Really.This About.com post, while not a direct medical source, did dredge up the information.The first table is one they provided, using this report as a partial source (forgive the spacing...it has not translated well):American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American College of Endocrinology, "The

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-17164236309639173462007-09-09T17:18:00.000-04:002007-09-09T19:27:16.039-04:00

and ends up the victim of alleged police brutality. This article from the "San Francisco Chronicle" website, "SFGate.com" tells the story:Bodybuilder grapples with Redwood City copsBut 43-year-old man was suffering from insulin shock, not drunkennessJohn Coté, Chronicle Staff WriterTuesday, April 3, 2007© 2007 Hearst Communications Inc.(04-03) 15:54 PDT REDWOOD CITY -- A reigning Mr. Universe

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-59080592971376493342007-09-09T03:37:00.000-04:002007-09-09T04:24:38.721-04:00

This article,"The Hawthorne studies—a fable for our times?" by E.A.M.Gale and published in the Oxford Journals (UK) tells about the Hawthorne studies in which expectations (and what people were told) would produce results which often were paradoxical ( in these experiments, the opposite results instead of what was expected). In this article, near the end, when he's talking about how the

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-65017336082478322942007-09-08T15:33:00.000-04:002007-09-09T00:52:24.817-04:00

or increasing the "bottom line" of pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession...and even the employers who buy most of the medical insurance? This post--likely just the first in a long line--is in response to Sandy Szwarc at "Junk Food Science" and this post, "Thar's gold in them thar pills".Note that the pills often help to a degree...although perhaps by mechanisms not yet understood

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-45317064801005245812007-09-08T03:25:00.000-04:002007-09-09T04:47:54.600-04:00

When one needs to find information fast--like if one needs to learn about a chronic disease like diabetes--search engines such as "Google" are one's best friend. Really.Back to the story I started in the last post:So, what did I do after I got some more blood work done (at another lab several miles away) and picked up my prescription? I went home and...logged on. Looking for REAL sources of

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894655022296298531.post-8845500856246261332007-09-08T02:26:00.000-04:002007-09-08T03:24:50.485-04:00

Diabetes sucks.That's what the doc says I have: Type 2 diabetes.I hate doctors. I avoid them as much as I can. Or, it seems, used to. Not an option anymore.However, aging is not an option, either: That's what I suspected was at the bottom of it all. I was feeling tired, foggy-brained, achy with enough gastrointestinal complaints to keep the makers of antacids (and other, not fit for polite

observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16403929794282571620noreply@blogger.com0