May 3rd, 2011 by KerriSparling in Humor, True Stories
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Growing up, we had these large, potted plants in our dining room, within throwing distance from the dining room table. (Stick with me – this is an important detail.) The plants were big and had wide, draped leaves and they made the corner of the dining room look like a veritable jungle.
Also, these suckers were really convenient for hiding food.
When I was little, the “diabetic diet” school of thought was based on the exchange program. This meant that my meals were structured around my calorie needs and the needs of my (then) peaking insulin doses. An average dinner would include one meat exchange, two starch exchanges, a dairy exchange, a fat exchange, and a fruit exchange. (Exchange, exchange, exchange.) When I was on insulins like Regular, NPH, and Lente, I needed to consume these portions in proportion, or I would end up with a very high, or very low, blood sugar.
So my mother (bless her anecdotal-medical-degree’d heart) would carefully measure out these exchanges and that would be my dinner. EXACTLY one meat exchange, and those two starches, etc. She worked very hard to make sure my meals were calculated and well-balanced.
And in response, I would hide my vegetables – aka “gross things” – in the dining room plants. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.*
June 11th, 2009 by DrRob in Better Health Network, True Stories
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Credit
I have to get some things off of my chest. A guilty conscience is something that can cause lots of problems, both emotional and physical. As David said in Psalm 32:
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried upas by the heat of summer.
Sounds like David lived in Georgia.
So here are my confessions:
I stole a bagel yesterday. I went to Pannera Bread Company yesterday and ordered a blueberry bagel (toasted and sliced). I have a cup that allows me to get free coffee, so when the woman at the counter was slicing and toasting I went got myself some dark roast. I chatted there with a woman about the fact that light roast actually has more caffeine than dark roast. As I went to the counter I saw someone I recognized, said “hi,” grabbed my bag and headed out the door. It was half-way to work when I realized I was now a criminal.
This morning I went back and tried to pay for yesterday’s bagel but she wouldn’t let me. I think she wanted me to live with my shame. I put the appropriate change into a can collecting money for a kids cancer camp.
I watch American Idol. Yes, I watched most every episode this year. Those who think I am all counter-culture can express their shock and disgust. I enjoy hearing them perform – they were especially talented this year – and we watch as a family. You must remember that I started college as a voice major, so I do like to hear good singing.
I was kind of pulling for Adam (his last name is almost the same as mine), but I thought Chris and Danny were worthy as well.
Sorry to those who now think less of me.
Our office allows drug reps to visit and give samples. We even have them give us lunch. I know there are some who think that this is the hight of immorality, but I have found them to be quite valuable. We have done our best to keep a limit on their access to us – they are not allowed to detail us in the hallway, only when they bring us lunch. Only 1 rep at a time and no more than 6/day (never more than one from one company).
We have a person on staff who is dedicated to getting patients medications when they can’t afford them. She will work with the reps to find a program for them and will give samples when possible.
Why do we do lunch? One main reason: for our staff. I actually skip it often because I get fat if I eat too much at lunch. Their finances are tight and so supplying them with lunch saves them money. The docs will generally tell the flat truth to the reps (”I dont prescribe your drug very much”). I do find that they have brought me good information at times.
Our practice has always been a lower utilizer of brand drugs when we have been measured (mainly United Healthcare), so I don’t think this has had an undue effect on us. Still, the conscience nags when others feel that pharma is the spawn of satan.
I have checked my blog in a patient room. During the more acute compulsive blogging phases, I have checked traffic during a lul in the exam room. I do actually feel guilty about this and have stopped doing it. I have NEVER twittered in the exam room, however.
There. I hope my bones don’t waste away now.
*This blog post was originally published at Musings of a Distractible Mind*
