Diabetic beau must clean up his diet
Dear Dr. Roach: My daughter has been dating a man who is diabetic but is not diligent about his diet. He is outwardly in good health, in that he runs competitively and bicycles in races, but sometimes he has blood sugar readings of 300 plus. He loves a diet of meat, sauces, and rich and sugary foods, and is trying to cut back, but not very hard. I worry about her being in a long-term relationship with him. He is 47 and already has gout. Is he right that he can change this on his own with a small effort?
K.N.
Answer: I don’t have enough information to com- ment much on his diet, but he should be speaking with his doctor or with an experienced dietician nutritionist for advice.
I sometimes have seen serious and even elite-level athletes feel that their exercise program can compensate for a bad diet. Usually, it doesn’t. You can always out-eat your exercise.
Depending on the details of his diet, he may indeed be able to get under excellent blood sugar control just by making changes in his diet. However, people with sugar readings of 300-plus often do need insulin. It sounds like he needs a wake-up call. Dear Dr. Roach: Could you explain to me what Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is? My granddaughter has this.
M.M. Answer: There are now 13 different recognized types of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. By far the most common type is hypermobile EDS syndrome. The major organs affected are the skin; abdominal wall; mouth and teeth; fingers and arms; blood vessels; and joints. The joints are very lax. This can lead to dislocations and frequently chronic joint pain.
Some people with hEDS develop a type of nerve damage, especially to the nerves that regulate blood pressure and stomach movement, leading to dizziness, “brain fog” and irritable bowel symptoms.
Fortunately, in most people, these symptoms can be managed, and although many people have chronic joint pain, lifespan is not affected.
You can find out more from the National Institutes of Health at tinyurl.com /info-hEDS. Readers may email questions to: ToYourGoodHealth@med .cornell.edu or mail questions to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.