In Celebration of National Diabetes Month: Dealing With Type 2

November 7th, 2009 · No Comments · Back Pain

In Celebration of National Diabetes Month: Dealing With Type 2
My blood sugar and blood pressure are back in the red zone, so this time I’m using herbs, diet, and some very high-tech tests to get my diabetes under control.

By Sara Altshul

Last winter, after being in denial for years, a battery of standard tests revealed that I had type 2 diabetes, sky-high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. What’s more, I had a heart murmur, my coronary arteries were starting to narrow, and my heart was showing early warning signs of disease. I mentioned some of this in my blog about meditation last year, but I confess I didn’t come clean about just how serious things had become.

But I stuck with the weight loss and exercise program I started back then, and four months later, I’d lost nearly 30 pounds. By last summer, I was trimmer, stronger, and more energetic than ever, even though I had another 15 pounds or so to go.

Then, like Oprah, I fell off the wagon. My doctor wasn’t helpful. I simply lost the jones to exercise (deadline pressures, I told myself, had to trump gym time), and I couldn’t control my diabetes, even though I was eating less food more mindfully and taking my prescribed meds, and I hadn’t gained back any weight. Stupidly, though, I was back in denial again; I even stopped monitoring my blood sugar and blood pressure. When I finally used my glucose meter and blood pressure monitor a couple of weeks ago, I was in for a nasty surprise: My numbers were back in the red zone.

Mapping my brain chemicals
That’s when I heard about Eric R. Braverman, MD, a professor of neurological surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, in New York City, and the author of the new best seller, Younger (Thinner) You Diet. Dr. Braverman told me that everything I knew about weight loss was wrong. He assured me that I fell off the wagon not because I was undisciplined or lazy, as I’d firmly believed. My fall was most likely due to a deficiency in my brain chemicals, he said.

To prove his point, he had my brain chemicals measured via a series of tests known as BEAM (Brain Electrical Activity Map). He said the tests will assess my brain’s ability to produce the primary neurotransmitters serotonin, GABA, dopamine, and acetylcholine.

In addition to the brain tests, I also underwent an exhaustive series of noninvasive ultrasound scans, blood tests, and other exams to determine my general state of health, via Dr. Braverman’s special Executive Health Program, a sort of one-stop, head-to-toe diagnostic assessment. Though those results aren’t in yet, here’s what I’ve learned about my brain chemicals:

I have significant dopamine and serotonin deficiencies and a mild GABA deficiency. Combined, these could explain the vague symptoms and behaviors that block my path to health. Dopamine deficiencies are linked to addictions, including food addictions, among other unhealthy problems. According to Dr. Braverman, people who have low dopamine levels have low energy levels and may rely on stimulants, like caffeine.

Serotonin deficiencies are linked to depression and a host of diet-busting behaviors. GABA deficiencies heighten anxiety, stress, and insomnia—which might explain those sleepless nights I continue to have.

What’s the solution?
In his book, Dr. Braverman outlines the foods you should eat—and those you should avoid—to balance your brain chemicals. He also includes handy quizzes so you can assess your status without springing for the Star Trek-ian brain tests I took. What really resonates with me is that many of Dr. Braverman’s solutions, in addition to dietary tweaks, are herbal or other natural supplements that have been proven over time. He advises people to use certain herbs and spices—like cinnamon or marjoram—liberally, because of their antioxidant potential. Add herbs near the end of cooking time to retain the most benefits.

(Getty Images)

Dr. Braverman also advises patients to drink tea—particularly rooibos, which is packed with vitamin C and 50% more antioxidants than green tea—at every meal. I’ll be sharing more about how herbs and spices can help in the coming weeks. Theory is, once you rebalance your brain chemicals, you’ll have the energy—and motivation—you need to stay on track.

Will it work for me? We’ll see. I’ll be reporting on the results—honestly this time!—of my tests, and will follow the program Dr. Braverman and his staff outline for me next week. I’ll keep you posted by blogging about my progress every week or so. Hopefully, in a few months, I’ll have my sugar and blood pressure under control and be on my way to losing those last pounds. My heart will thank me for it. Wish me luck!

Previous posts by Sara Altshul:

Health Benefits of Salba Seed: Is This Chia-Pet Cousin the Next Big Superfood?

Laser Acupuncture: Star Wars Meets Ancient Healing

Alt-Med Apps for the iPhone

5 Ways to Minimize Failed Back Surgery and Continued Back Pain

November 5, 2009
by: Sylvia Marten

A back surgery may not achieve its desired results for various reasons that are out of the patient’s hands; with that said, there are some things that patients can do to minimize the chance of an unsuccessful surgery in which postoperative [url:145,type=|term|,content=|sciatica|] is present.

Be Confident in Your Diagnosis

The number one reason that back surgeries are not effective is because of misdiagnosis of the probable cause of sciatica, leading to operation on the wrong anatomical lesion. Prefacing this point, it’s important to know that [url:1583,type=|node|,content=|spine surgery|] is only indicated when there is an identifiable anatomical lesion causing spinal instability or nerve pinching.

With this stated, assess your spine surgeon’s confidence in his or her diagnosis of the source of your sciatica. Ask them about the specific anatomic lesion that would be addressed by the surgery, the alternatives to surgery, and what would happen if the condition is left untreated, and also question the surgeon on why he or she is recommending the specific surgery.

If the surgeon is unsure about the diagnosis, if you are not confident in the answers provided or if you would just be more comfortable, consider getting a second opinion. Visiting a different spine surgeon can allow the patient to get another perspective on radiographic findings and see what that surgeon would suggest for the situation.

Remember that if you are going to have surgery, you owe it to yourself to know that you’re doing it for the right reason. Understand how to get an [url:673,type=|node|,content=|accurate sciatica diagnosis|].
Trust Your Spine Surgeon

It goes without saying that your spine surgeon will play a major part in the success of your surgery. Regardless of whatever surgery is suggested, ask the surgeon about his or her experience performing the procedure. For example:
- How many of the recommended surgeries does this surgeon perform each year?
- How have other patients fared in the past following a similar surgery by this surgeon?
- Does the surgeon have any patients who have had the same surgery and would be willing to talk to you about their experiences?
- Who would be assisting with the surgery?
As you will be entrusting this person with your health during surgery, it’s important to be confident and comfortable with your spine surgeon. Consider these specific [url:1549,type=|node|,content=|questions to ask your spine surgeon|].

Know the Percentages

Patients should know that even with the best surgeon and indications, spine surgery is not 100% guaranteed to produce a successful result. In other words, a spine surgery can be performed for the right anatomical reason and done according to textbook, yet some pain may still exist following surgery.

To cover some of your bases in regards to this above point, know the success rates of the recommended surgery. For example:
- Certain surgeries like a discectomy or microdiscectomy for a lumbar herniated disc that is causing [url:887,type=|node|,content=|leg pain|], and a spine fusion for spinal instability from spondylolisthesis are more predictable operations.
- On the other hand, surgeries like a discectomy for a herniated lumbar disc causing [url:896,type=|node|,content=|lower sciatica|] or a spinal fusion for multi-level lumbar degenerative disc disease are far less likely to be successful.
Knowing the success/failure rates of specific back surgeries can provide patients with a better feel for the surgery, yet patients should not put full stock in these success rates as applied to their situations. For example, just because a surgery is successful 90% to 95% of the time doesn’t mean that it will automatically be so for you.

Learn more about what you can expect from [url:1615,type=|node|,content=|spine surgery for lower sciatica|].

Be Ready to Rehabilitate

Back surgery is more than just the surgery, with rehabilitation playing an important role in making the surgery as beneficial as it can be. Probably the second most common reason that back surgeries do not succeed is because of inadequate or improper rehabilitation following the procedure.

With this in mind:
- Understand what your rehabilitation program will entail following surgery (how many hours per day/times per week, etc.)
- Speak to a physical therapist to learn more about your rehabilitation program and to get a projected schedule of what will be expected of you
- Honestly ask yourself if you will be dedicated and self-motivated to rehabbing to the best of your abilities after surgery.
Learn more about the importance of [url:1239,type=|node|,content=|rehabilitation and exercise following spine surgery|].

Set Realistic Expectations and Avoid Stress as Best as Possible

Easier said than done when it comes to having surgery, this point hits on the overall theme of doing your homework prior to surgery.

Ideally, the more prepared you are for surgery, the more prepared you’ll be for it afterward. Extensive research has demonstrated how the patient’s overall experience and ultimate outcome from back surgery can be improved with psychological preparation.

From having confidence in your decision to have surgery to making accommodations in your work and daily life for rehabilitation prior to surgery to even having your [url:6591,type=|node|,content=|post-operation must-haves|] all in order before the operation, there are many ways in which you can minimize certain stressors and focus on what matters the most: achieving effective pain relief after surgery.

Learn [url:1453,type=|node|,content=|how to prepare psychologically for back surgery|].