Another Unfortunate Experiment - Diabetes in Situ?
At NZ's National Women's Hospital, 30 years ago women diagnosed with carcinoma in situ (CIS), were not all treated with the best available care. This became known as "The Unfortunate Experiment."
In NZ today, because insulin testing is only available in main hospitals and can only be ordered by a few specialists, a pre-diabetic condition Dr Joseph Craft calls "diabetes in situ" is not diagnosed.
Diabetes in situ is something most people over 40 have developed, even though your doctor says, "You are healthy." This is about where you draw the line between sickness and health. It's also about when you first understand that if you don't make some changes to your lifestyle, you are headed for major problems.
In the diagram below, we're showing the insulin response to a glucose drink over four hours. (You usually see the glucose response on a similar graph.) The people on the red line using the common HbA1c test , or a fasting glucose test would be diagnosed as diabetic. The people on the blue line are healthy. Those on the yellow or orange line, according to Joseph Kraft, have diabetes in situ, but in NZ, they would not be identified as being at risk.
So are you at risk? If you are over 40, and you live in NZ, probably, even when your doctor says you are "healthy."
Here are some clues. Do you weigh more than you did at 25? Do you have problems controlling your weight? Do you eat snack foods a lot? In your blood tests, are any of the following high: blood pressure, triglycerides, or fasting glucose. Is your HDL cholesterol low? Do you have trouble sleeping? Do you retain water easily? Family history of diabetes, stroke or heart disease?
Does that include most of us? I guess so. What can we do? There's lots you can do. Read the link attached to this post. Read the two previous posts. That will keep you busy for a while. Become aware, and take an active interest in your own future.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84% Yes
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14.7% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
Spring gardening tips
Dreaming of a garden bursting with colour and fresh produce? Shane Fairbairn, Ryman Healthcare’s Landscape Manager, shares his top tips to make it happen. You’ll be set to create a gorgeous, relaxing space in no time - grab your trowel, and let’s dig in.
Click read more for more information.
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.