Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases, not only in our country but around the world!  It is a scary disease, mostly because many of the symptoms are silent. They creep up on you and all of a sudden you are having difficulty seeing, kidney problems, heart complications, or even amputations.  

 When I was a medical student 20 years ago, I took a public health class and the question that was posed to us was ‘should there be public health interventions for diabetes?’  We had to defend the idea that there should be public health interventions or take the side that people have the right handle their health on their own.  At the time, I was on the side of having people handle their health on their own and I went into all the reasons the government should not interfere with people’s health decisions.

At the end of my presentation, my professor Dr. David Katz, who is a well-respected Yale Physician and Professor, shared this thought with me. One of the most difficult things about the disease called diabetes is that the complications are devastating to people’s lives. These complications include blindness, amputations of limbs, or weekly dialysis, all of which are horrible, life-altering problems that can’t be taken back once they get to a certain point. We have to change the path of the disease before it gets to the complications.  It was perspective that I had never considered before.  

Now, after 17 years of treating patients, this is what I know.  Many people with diabetes or pre-diabetes don’t feel bad. They don’t have paiN, so they don’t take steps to manage their disease. Over many years, they start having more issues and problems, less energy, higher cholesterol, more weight gain, heart disease and kidney issues.  It is a slippery slope of slowly getting sicker.

On the other hand, there are people who make a conscious decision to take action and change their lives, weight, energy, and even their finances because they are not paying for all the medications and the glucometer strips.  It is truly inspiring to see each of their transformations.  

So, if you are dealing with diabetes or pre-diabetes, I ask you…. what will you choose? It is up to you because we know that simple steps with a strategy can reverse diabetes before it gets out of control.  If you are ready to have a fresh look at how to treat your diabetes then call the office 202-291-2238 to learn how we can empower you!

To Your One Sweet Life,

Dr. Dae