Deadly sin #4: Being stubborn

Gracious, if this were a sin for everyone, we would ALL be guilty some time!

My family is riddled with stubbornness, including me. Sometimes it is helpful, it makes you not give up when you really want something, and it gives you a spine. However, at other times, especially in the lives of diabetics, the wrong kind of stubbornness can be very harmful.{{more}}

Example #1: I don’t have diabetes. Really, you don’t have diabetes even though your blood sugar is high multiple times? Even though your hemoglobin A1C is 9%? Even though your eyes blur after you drink juice and your cuts don’t heal? Listen, just because you don’t WANT to have diabetes does not mean you won’t have it, if all the proof points to this disease. The longer you put off addressing this issue, the longer diabetes has a chance to do serious damage on your entire precious body.

Example #2: My doctor says I need to eat less but that means I will be hungry. Well, of course you will be hungry, for a while, and then it will get better. It amazes me how reluctant people are to changing eating habits because they don’t want to be hungry. A little hunger won’t hurt, it just makes you grumpy. Then after a week you adjust to the lower amount of food as long as your body gets what it NEEDS. And if your doctor identifies specific foods you need to cut out, like sodas, please do it. If you do not want to do so, let your doctor know and try to find an alternative plan if possible.

Example #3: My cholesterol is high but I am not taking any cholesterol pills my doctor wants me to take. Hmm, and who is being harmed here, you or the doctor?

I am not saying you should never question your doctor’s advice, or that you should take everything without any reluctance. Being careful is good. However, continual refusal to take prescribed medication that can help save your life, especially if you are not doing anything on your own to help, is not a good approach at all. So if you want to try and avoid cholesterol pills, for instance, talk to your doctor about it, and start cutting cholesterol out of your diet for goodness sake. Don’t refuse the cholesterol pill, and then keep eating fried eggs every day on top of that.

Those are just a few examples of stubborn attitudes in diabetics, but I could go on and on and on with examples I see every day. Remember: this is one of the few diseases where you as the patient hold all the power to make things go right or wrong. Unless your stubbornness is being used to keep you from having a second piece of cake at dinner, be sure it is serving you well and not hindering you from becoming healthier.

Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD endodocs@endocrinehelp.com
Medical Director Endocrine Care Group
www.endocrinehelp.com
Tel: 843-798-4227