Food Pyramid

The American Diabetes Association had a life-threatening food pyramid on their website. This is no myth. There you could find your path to lofty glucose – in beautiful Carbohydrate-laden technicolor – right on their website:

http://tobyhowl.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/food-pyramid-for-diabetes-designed-by-american-diabetic-association-ada/

In August, I wrote to the American Diabetes Association, succinctly explaining my medical perspective:

From:  <me>
Sent:  8/1/2010 02:03:55 AM
To:  <AskADA@diabetes.org>
Subject:  food pyramid

You forgot to mention smoking illicit substances. This should be right
at the base of the food pyramid, as whoever put the listed foods as
the ‘foundation’ for a diabetic diet was surely imbibing.

It seems that not only don’t these items belong in the ‘foundation’
position, they should pretty much be eliminated altogether from a
diabetic diet. Diabetics who follow the food pyramid listed on the ADA
website are putting themselves at a tremendous health risk.

Who created the diabetic food pyramid, and why hasn’t the ADA changed
it?

Please get back to me on this, as the health of millions of people
worldwide is at stake.

Sincerely, Yours Truly

I got the following response back:

Date:     August 9, 2010 9:09:46 AM EDT

Dear Sir,

Thank you for contacting the American Diabetes Association. We have received your e-mail regarding the food pyramid.

We apologize for the delay in response to you e-mail. We’re in the process of getting rid of the pyramid. There were concerns about analytics etc.

Sincerely,
Jane Nyondo
Center for Information and Community Support
American Diabetes Association
1-800-342-2383

I like to think I can do some good in the world. Perhaps somewhere, someone has benefitted from my actions. Although their website is still laced with horrible food misinformation, today they have eliminated the food pyramid:

http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/diabetes-food-pyramid.html

While I offer no proof, perhaps I have saved a life. The Health Care System, Insurance Agencies, Our Government… all needs a major overhaul. Our American system should seek things that are good, regardless of who profits. Oil exists only because their money funds campaigns. How do you change a system which is literally fueled (paid for) by the toxins living in the bloodstream of voters?

Sure, we can vote. But funding determines outcomes, not issues. If voters spent more time investigating the funding for the politicians, their perspective would change dramatically. Fortunately, there is funding in place to make sure voters are oriented towards the issues out of the mouths of politicians, rather than their diametrically opposed funding.

When Pepsi helps to sponsor the ‘run for Diabetes’, is the Diabetes Association going to give an honest evaluation of Pepsi in a Diabetic diet?

When Philip Morris sits on the board at the American Cancer Association…

When Big Oil funds Al Gore… (It wasn’t on purpose, it was Occidental).

People believe what they are fed, while ignoring the ingredients.

Is it truth or myth? Take a little myth, mix in a dose of personal experience and, voila! You become a myth-mongering man on a mission to dispel the mythtics, or you eschew knowledge of disinformation from a personal perspective.

The National Pharmaceutical Association makes money off prescriptions. Doctors make money off patients needing prescriptions.

Only experience can change a myth to a reality. Your health is – and has always been – in your hands.

Health Insurance

I went to the doctor’s office this past week. This was my first visit since my diabetic prognosis reared it’s ugly (half-millennium glucose mark) around 7 weeks ago. The disease is calming down. The Doc was impressed, though he wants to see me lose more weight. It seems extra exercise is in order. Perhaps a gym membership.

I spoke to my sister Liz today. I asked her if she thought insurance would cover a health club membership. “They are not going to cover that.” She said. “People who are obese go to the doctor all the time. If Insurance paid for that, everyone who was obese would be covered.”

I said, “I’m not so sure. I have a medical condition. I have a disease. A health club membership would immensely help my glucose levels.”

“Well,” she said, “Good luck with that.”

I then called my health insurance company to discuss coverage for a health club membership. As my sister had prophesied, they do not have these benefits. I am not surprised, but I am incredulous: “You will cover drugs which cost more than a health-club membership, but you won’t cover a membership to a health club?”

“No we don’t cover that.” she said.

I said, “You will cover me if I am hospitalized, and I need an operation. You cover hospital stays… but you won’t cover the cost of a membership to a health club which would prevent these other costs?”

“That is right.” She said.

About 10 years ago a huge branch from the only tree on my (in-town) property fell onto my yard. I called my insurance company. They told me they would come and take the branch away, and repair the damage caused by the fallen branch. I told them that the tree was rotten and needed to come down. “We don’t take down trees which are standing,” they said, “only the branches which fall.”

“I don’t know if termites or carpenter ants have been inhabiting this tree for many years, but it’s completely rotten. It is hollow inside. This is a big tree.” I said.

“We don’t get rid of trees, sir.” They said.

“Okay,” I said, “let me give you a little background: This tree abuts my garage. The eaves of my garage – and my next-door neighbor’s garage – overhang each other. If the tree falls, it will take out my garage, and the neighbors garage. The neighbors had a fire a few years back, so their house has been totally re-done. So it is possible this tree will take out both garages and break into the brand-new house next door. Or, perhaps it will bounce off the new house and land on my other neighbor’s house. It doesn’t matter to me, though. I am just letting you know, because you are the ones who will be paying for it.”

They came out, took a look, and had the tree removed.

I spoke their language! But when it comes to health insurance, the language isn’t about health, at all! If dental insurance allowed 4 cleanings a year, they would be paying a lot less in fillings. That is dental health, but it is not a language insurance agencies speak. I feel sorry to these poor workers who have to deal with me on the phone, I really do. They have no answers and no authority. They only have the ability to regurgitate policy. Before I called, they probably hadn’t even considered whether or not it made any sense. Apparently, I am the only one who has noticed the snake eating it’s own tail. I said to the agent:

“You will cover drugs, but you won’t cover the activities which would alleviate the need for drugs. You will cover sickness, but you won’t cover health.”

“If you want to put it that way.” She said.

“It doesn’t matter how I phrase it. That is the way it is.” I said. (The rest is just semantics.)

Tonight I rode my bike for 45 minutes. My blood sugar dropped to 105.

Can I get a witness?