Fake diseases?

From Endocrine Daily Briefing 16-Sep 2010. This is published by the Endocrine Society.

Endocrine Society Warns Public On Two Fake "Diseases."

In its "Booster Shots" blog, the Los Angeles Times (9/15, Maugh) reported that the Endocrine Society's Hormone Foundation is warning the public that two commonly discussed Internet "diseases" are in fact not real and were "apparently conceived only in an effort to sell products promoted to treat them." One is "adrenal fatigue," which promoters say can be treated with products that "often include extracts from human adrenal glands and hypothalamus that could be dangerous" and are not regulated by the FDA. The other fake condition is "Wilson's temperature syndrome...supposedly identified in 1990 by 'E. Denis Wilson M.D.' of Longwood, Fla.,'" who promotes various products, including "WT3," which could damage the heart and bones.

Endocrine discussion group

An open forum for discussion will be held live at my office Tuesday, May 25 at 5 pm.There is no fee. You do not have do be a patient at the practice to attend. Friends and relatives are welcome. I've just received the exercise equipment. I'm learning to program it and operate the metabolic cart so studies can be performed.

Changing human behavior

There are only three motivating factors that change human behavior; pain, fear or ambition. Which button do you want to push?-- Steve Hogg, 2007

I see people who need to change their behavior for the sake of better health. I look at these three factors and talk about the 'buttons' to find out what will help them do better. The hard part is identifying what buttons have been pushed in the past to put them on the course of poor nutrition and sedentary activity. Why these old buttons so much more powerful than the new buttons associated with their current state of compromised health? Or is it simply a matter of presently insufficient pain, fear and ambition to lead to change.

An interesting example are patients so fearful of hypoglycemia that they never let their blood glucose drop under 200 mg/dl. After a few years of this the pain of neuropathy, vision loss or kidney dialysis set in. Yet, even that level of pain does not outweigh the fear of hypoglycemia.

So, what motivates you? Why? I'd love to read your answers.

If you are taking 200 units of insulin a day...

and your A1c is still over 8%, maybe you're not taking the right type of insulin. First, see your diabetes educator to determine that you are eating and injecting appropriately. Taking your meal time insulin an hour after you eat is an easy way to keep your A1c over 9%.

If Everything is in order, maybe you need U500 R insulin. That's right, a 5x concentrated insulin. The vial is 20 cc so you effectively get 10 bottles of insulin for one copay. The retail price of $230 may seem high but that works out to $23 a bottle of 'ordinary' insulin. The high concentration given before meals can break through severe insulin resistance. Some people may still need a little basal insulin at bed time to keep the morning sugar in target range. You may need to ask around to find a doctor who is familiar with this insulin and will work closely with you to get optimal results.

Learn more about thyroid conditions

than you ever will in a 15 minute appointment. I am holding a conference to discuss thyroid conditions on March 23, 5 pm at Endocrine Associates. Bring your questions and I will bring answers. This is open to the public; you don't have to be a patient to attend.

Attention Medtronic pumpers!

As a Medtronic Diabetes Customer, we invite you to attend:

Advanced Insulin Pump Skills

Designed for MiniMed Paradigm® insulin pumpers who are ready for the advanced features

Tue, Mar 16, 10 @6-7 PM;

Tue, Jul 20, 10 @6-7 PM;

Tue, Nov 16, 10 @6-7 PM

Optimize CGM on Your MiniMed Paradigm® REAL-Time System

Evaluate your customized CGM alert settings and learn how to make adjustments

Tue, May 18, 10 @6-7 PM;

Tue, Sep 21, 10 @6-7 PM

Place: Endocrine Associates

540 Plumb Lane Suite 200

Reno, NV 89509

Light snacks and drinks will be provided

Registration is required for any portion.

Reserve your seat by calling Sonja Mendes RN and Trish Cooper RN at

1-800-MINIMED (800-646-4633), ext. 62568.

Why weight?

It's a curious observation that the people who have the most excess weight are the least likely to think that they overeat. Granted, once the weight is gained it doesn't take much to keep it on, but during the time that the weight is increasing there has to be clear excess of calories (presuming that there is no underlying metabolic disorder). After some consideration it starts to make sense. A person who can't recognize that they are overeating is going to gain the most weight. And if theat person continues in their inability to recognize excess calories, they will persist in their weight gain/retention because they don't think they're overeating. There may be some biochemical or neurologic abnormality that causes a person to not recognize excess food. Research continues but in the meantime people have to grasp the concept that even if they don't think they are overeating, they really are if the weight is increasing.

Endocrine discussion group

A small, lively group met at my office last night to discuss metabolism including nutrition, exercise, attitude, goal-setting and prioritizing needs. Offf-label use of prescription medications was an interesting side topic.
Please plan to join me March 23 for a discussion on thyroid conditions. If 5 pm is too early let me know and I can start later.

Conversations with an Endocrinologist

Here's the topics planned for the talks at my office:

March 9: General discussion on the endocrine system, metabolism and nutrition

March 23: Thoughts on thyroid- natural and bioidentical thyroid hormone replacement, 'Wilson Syndrome', goiter and other thyroid conditions

April 20: Guest speakers Lisa and Dolf Gower: How we each released over 100# without surgery or prescriptions

May 11: Adrenal adventures- Cushing disease, 'adrenal fatigue' and adrenal supplements

May 25: Optimizing exercise

June 15: Diabetes dialogue- can diabetes be treated 'naturally'?

June 29: TBA

Free! Endocrine talk series

NEWS FLASH!
Meetings for nutrition, exercise and endocrine conditions will held at my office on these dates at 5 pm:
March 9 and 23
April 20
May 11 and 25
June 15 and 29
A different specific focus will be offered at each meeting. There will also be plenty of time for questions you may have about your endocrine condition, research, nutrition or anything else you might want to ask. If 5 pm is a little too early for you let me know. I can start with Q&A and get to the main program later if this helps some people who don't get off work until 5 pm. You will have a chance to sample different Isagenix products at these meetings.

My address is
540 W Plumb Lane, # 200
Reno, NV 89509

Please e-mail me to reserve your seat.
We will be meeting in the 'activation room'. Ask the front desk for directions if you don't know where this is.

I will not wait for nice weather!

I hear the following weather reasons that people don't exercise: 1- It's too cold. 2- it's too hot. 3- it's too windy. 4- it's too slippery. 5, 6, 7, 8, et cetera. Some people are skilled enough at this game to have only a few good days a year to exercise.

My Pugsley is a snow-sand-mud bike. The wings are handlebar covers to keep my hands warm. Coldest ride so far is 28 degrees F. I burn a lot of calories going a short distance. I've commuted on it once (dry roads) and it takes some effort to keep the bike moving. I will get back in shape quickly with this beast.