Conflicting Information

So, my primary care doctor found that I have "Sub-clinical gout".

"What the heck is Sub-clinical gout" you ask? Good question! Sub-clinical gout is where you have all of the symptoms of gout- elevated purine and uric acid levels in the blood, with none of the pain and inflammation to let you know your kidneys are taking a beating. Isn't that just special?

Diabetics are prone to this. Myself more so, as kidney stones and gout run in the family (genetic markers are SUCH a bitch).

So, back to the point. How does one combat this? One reduces the purine in one's diet (for those of you who've been folowing, I'm now juggling: Low carb, low protein, low sodium, low potassium, and now -TA DA- low purine. I'm seriously thinking of trying to become a "breathairian"). My doctor told me to go to the internet to find out which foods are low in purine, and whis are high and to avoid the high ones.

I went to the internet.

WTF?!?!?!

All agree that organ meats (which I'd have to be starving to THINK about eating) are out. Mammal meat is not great. Alcohol & caffine are BAD. 'Kay, not a problem so far, right? Right!

Now we get into the fun. One site listed fish as great. Another to never touch sea food. One site listed poultry as okay. Another said that animal protein of any kind was the devil. Dairy is okay, dairy's not okay. Legumes are okay, legumes are the devil. All of these web pages were written by doctors with impressive sounding titles, from impressing sounding institutions.

What I'm finding in my research is that either:
a) the medical community doesn't have a freaking CLUE, or
b) the information out there is based off opion rather than actual resarch, or
c) all of the above.

I'm leaning toward all of the above.

The internet is a fantastic tool. I love it. Be cautions and care-filled when trying to find out information which will affect your health.

As the guy from Hill Street Blues would say:

"Be careful out there."

The Moody Grays

Not too many people in the medical industry talk about this side of diabetes. I call it the "Moody Grays". Other people call it depression.

For me, its not the end of the world. There isn't any of the wanting to curl up and die, or shut the whole world out. I get up. I go. I do. Its just that on those days, its like the whole world is a moving sepia picture, or its like black & white television.

I don't know why counseling isn't built into an endocrinology practice that focuses on diabetes. It should be - and I say this as someone with a deep and profound mistrust of all therapists.

This disease is HARD. Medical professionals try to be positive, and give the impression that its just follow the formula and all will be well.

That's true - and its not.

I've had days where I exercised and ate right and did what I was supposed to do and had perfect blood sugars all day. It was great! Then there are the days where I do everything right, and my blood sugar won't drop below 300. Might be stress. Might be an illness coming on. Might be the wind? No clue. You can do everything right, and still not have control, and with this disease, control is absolutely essential.

After more than 27 years with this, I'm tired. I'm tired of trying to explain to my endocrinologist why my blood sugar was out of control 3 months ago. I'm tired of wondering what the hell I did to have it spike up. Not every day, and not all the time, but yeah, I'm tired enough that I have a hard time seeing the color & sparkle of the world around me.

The Moody Grays.

For more info:
Deppression & Diabetes