Patient Stories
Carrie
Carrie, a 13 year old with newly diagnosed borderline type-2 diabetes was facing the need for daily medication to control her blood sugar levels. Her blood pressure was above the normal level for age. The family was very motivated to avoid putting her on any prescription medication, and wanted to better understand her lab test results.
Carrie was approximately 20 pounds over her ideal weight for age, and did not enjoy exercising. She was getting a lot of teasing at school due to her weight, and was starting to resist going to school.
In the initial consult, her past medical history was reviewed in detail and lab test results were reviewed and explained. Nutrition and exercise habits were discussed in detail, and school and home stressors were discussed. Obstacles to her successful weight loss, social connections, and development of her life coping skills such as stress management, problem solving, resiliency, and taking initiative were also covered.
Treatment started with education about nutrition and the anti-inflammatory diet, exercise strategies, and age appropriate recommended dietary supplements. She learned several mind-body skills to help her manage stress more effectively, and we explored ways to extend her responsibilities within the family unit. She was seen in follow up three times over the summer, and kept records of her progress in a personalized workbook.
Over the summer she was able to lose 15 pounds, reduce her blood pressure to normal, and able to avoid all prescription medication. Actually, everyone in the family ended up losing weight as they adjusted their meal planning and activity levels to support her. Her pediatric endocrinologist was kept fully informed of her treatment plan and followed her progress through the summer. She is doing well at school this year and uses her stress management skills during testing situations and times when she feels she is getting off track.