Re: Pima diet (WAS: Non-caucasian diabetes)

August 23, 2000

Thornton wrote:

<< I presume that US primary care physicians are merely helping to compile

statistics on the assumption that there might be some genetic background to

most illnesses ... >>

My guess would be that beginning their notes that way gives the doctor and

other personnel reading the record a mental picture of the person. I think

doctors are taught that in medical school, and it sticks. They all fall into

their own routine when dictating ... certain abbreviations, the order in

which they describe each physical exam, etc.

<< For example, if a Spanish-speaking Pima Indian from Mexico fails an oGTT

in New York, does his

hospital record in NY show him as a Hispanic, as a " native American " or as a

Mexican Pima? >>

Well, the doctor might not know the patient was born in Mexico. But if my

guess is right, he would describe his patient in a way that would give him a

mental picture. He might give a fuller-than-usual description, such as " a

Pima Indian born in Mexico. "

<< Has it occurred to you that there IS no " carbohydrate problem " outside of

your mind, Susie? Isn't that a real possibility? >>

It occurred to me years ago, but, as they say, I've come a long way. And

nope to your second question.

<< ... 30 years of Pima research and it doesn't strike you that not one of

the researchers appears to have

had the idea of cutting down their carbohydrates? >>

I think the government studies have been a huge misappropriation of our tax

dollars. The researchers are keeping themselves in jobs until they can

retire. The overwhelming problem for the U.S. Pimas is type 2 - not type 1.

<< Another idea comes from the description of the way the Pimas used to

accumulate fat during the summer and lose it all during the hard winters. >>

Dr. Atkins talks about that. Many people believe that is the case. We get in

trouble with our overfed modern lifestyle because our ancestors were the

ones who didn't starve to death when the food ran out. The way type 2's

collect fat around their midsections is similar to pregnancy - and in fact,

women with a tendency to be diabetic will often be first diagnosed during

pregnancy. And bg's are more difficult to control during pregnancy.

<< ... see if I can reproduce that effect. No heating in my office. >>

Well, a calorie is a measure of heat. A man I worked for had the idea that

if we drank lots of ice water, that would cause us to lose weight.

Susie

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