I came across an interesting video on YouTube called Unveiling the Truth: Why You Can’t Trust Your Doctor About Medication with Dr David Unwin. The reason I found it interesting is because I personally believe that the prescription companies financial encourage doctors to “push” certain medications. But what if there are other reasons.
Dr. David Unwin, who is a United Kingdom general practitioner physician and an award winning low-carb pioneer who has written several books on diabetes and low carb diets. In this video, he tells the story about one patient who changed his whole view towards patient medication many years ago. He states that the doctors are paid in the UK for medicating their patients, which was the common practice. This female patient had been prescribed Metformin (Glucophage), an insulin response enhancer, used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. But she stopped taking it.
He wrote to her and encouraged her to make an appointment to see him soon. He was all prepared to tell her off for not following his treatment. He believed that she was harming herself by not taking the medication and what he found shocked him. When she arrived at his office, Dr. Unwin did not recognize her. His patient had lost about 42 lbs. and looked fabulous. Her blood sugar and blood pressure were normal. She stated that she did not need Metformin anymore once she went on a low-carb diet. She felt that Dr. Unwin would not approve, but no matter how much he insisted she refused to take the medication. She also brought up the point that he never asked her any follow up questions about her dietary sugars, or starchy carbs in the last ten years. Like the majority of people, she did not realize that food such as potatoes, bread and rice are essentially sugar (Glucose). Because of embarrassment, she never told him that Metformin was giving her diarrhea, which is a side-effect of the medicine. The one comment that she made really made him think, she said “I’m wondering if you’re medically qualified because it is so basic the understanding that starch is sugar.”
This awakening made Dr. Unwin start asking the necessary question about his patients’ diet. The remission from Type 2 diabetes can be achieved just by having a good understanding about the foods we eat.
Most doctors only receive eleven hours of nutrition training claimed by a 2021 survey of medical schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. Couple that with the financial rewards and “push” from the pharmaceutical companies towards doctors to prescribe their drugs is a recipe for disaster. Most medications will treat the symptoms but without discovering the reason for the chronic disease, people will remain in bad health. If you take a look at birth control. Just imagine the profits of the pharmaceutical companies for having a pill that millions of women have to take daily.
According to Today.com, can you trust your doctor? There are seven signs that they are a “good fit” and five signs that they are not. The number one is that there is a sense that you are on the same team. Does he/she listen to you? Do they interrupt you or not allow you to talk? Do they know and share the science? It’s nice to have a doctor that seems confident and knowledgeable, but a good doctor be honest when there is uncertainty about the medicine or treatment. A good doctor will admit that they are wrong when they are wrong. They will notify you when new information exists. A good doctor will also allow you to make decisions about your own health. If a doctor believe that you might do something harmful, they will be more explicit about their disagreement about the right treatment of your health.
There are several warning signs that you should change your doctor. The first is that their “go-to” is to prescribe a medication for a quick fix. For example, to lose weight, they will prescribe Ozempic or suggest surgery. The truth is there are no quick fixes. If the doctor guarantees the outcome, that is a warning sign. There are no guarantees because everyone’s body is different. People respond to treatments differently. If a doctor acts like they have some “secret knowledge” from other doctors, this can be a red flag. Doctors who will not share their information or allow you to do your own research is another. When most people go through any health issue, it can be emotional. A doctor who doesn’t understand or address the psychology and emotions that their patients endure is a warning sign as well.
I will preface my opinions with the fact that although I am a certified nutritionist, I am not a doctor, nor do I claim to be. Always consult your primary care physician before making any nutritional or activity changes. I believe that you should gain as much knowledge as you can regarding your health and never try to fix a problem with a drug. Look towards the natural health and you will find that you will feel better and emotionally stronger.
Very informative. Like the content.