Article: Don’t pinch, it’s real
Don’t pinch, it’s real
By Dr Yen Ang
In April 2010, Mr Lim (not his real name) received his most dreaded news in the doctor’s clinic. He must be on insulin pump right away, at 100 units a day. That’s $18,000RM (for the pump), plus $1000RM (for insulin etc) every month.
You see, Mr Lim has been diabetic for 14 years. All oral medications and even injections had failed him; his blood sugar was totally out of whack.
At over 40 kg overweight, and constantly short of breath, Mr Lim thought he was going to die, literally.
In Oct 6, 2010, he came to my clinic. Right way, he enrolled in our 10-week Weight Matters Program—a non-pharmacological intervention that focuses on lifestyle factors that contribute to disease development.
In Oct 24 (exactly 2 weeks after the program), he discontinued his insulin pump—with a little trepidation. People have been telling him he might get into a coma if he did so. Nevertheless he decided to try: he unplugged the machine that he carried 24/7. He passed the day with no signs of trouble. Second day and third day passed with no problem. Then a week passed, he was perfectly FINE without insulin pump.
How did he do it—normalised blood sugar, lowered blood cholesterol, lowered uric acid, lost weight, all without medication? Eating food the way our body is designed to eat, moving the body it is supposed to move. A diet and exercise regime based on research evidence, not hocus pocus.
The 5-foot-9-inch big man walked into my clinic.
Almost jumping, “I am off insulin pump” came the declaration.
For the first time in 14 years, Mr Lim experiences no more shortness of breathe, his blood sugar is beautifully normal. What’s more, he is 18 Kgs (40 lbs) lighter, in just 10 weeks!
Mr Lim has to constantly pinch himself to make sure he is not in a dream.
“Don’t pinch, this is real,” I assure him.
Yours in wellness,
Dr Yen Ang
DrPH( USA), MSc(S'pore), MPH (USA), RD, ACSM
Lifestyle Intervention Consultant
About Dr Yen Ang
Yen Ang has two master degrees: one in nutrition (from United States), one in Exercise Science (from Nanyang Technological University Singapore), and a doctorate training in Preventive Care from Loma Linda University, USA—the one and only university in the world offering a graduate program that studies diseases at their root, namely: lifestyle.
She is also a registered dietitian (RD) from the United States and a certified fitness specialist from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
She is currently practicing as a Lifestyle Intervention Consultant in a private hospital in Penang where she created a whole new series of lifestyle intervention programs targeting at chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
In addition to her clinical practice, Yen is an adjunct professor and fellow researcher with the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University—the university that engages in one of the world’s largest and most renowned epidemiological studies that examined the association between nutrition and disease patterns, namely the Adventist Health Study.
Some of the research work she is currently working on are: soy and breast cancer, omega 3, vitamin D and depression and mental health.