When I signed up for the "Dr. Bernstein treatment", I was aware, from having read the patient testimonials in his book, that I would be subjected to a far more thorough physical exam than I had ever experienced. I also learned that people whose doctors told them they were complication-free discovered from Dr. Bernstein that they did, indeed, have diabetes-related damage.
I don't know why I thought my experience would be different. I guess on some level I expected him to say "wow, you're the first diabetic I've met who has NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL!" Needless to say, this didn't happen. I do have some complications, and it seems as though another one pops up every day. Today I had a sonogram to see if my high liver enzyme levels are a result of gallstones. The good news: no gallstones to be seen. The bad news: the high liver enzymes are as yet unexplained. The unexpected news: during my conference with the radiologist, right after she told me my liver looked fine, she offered the information that the had seen "some plaque" in my aorta. My aorta! I think that's pretty important. "Are you diabetic?" she asked. And when I responded in the affirmative, she said "well, that would explain it." When I asked if the plaque was reversible (could I, through strict adherence to my chosen program, somehow sweep all that plaque away), she replied that the objectvie was to keep it from getting worse. In other words, no. I left the office totally despondent, feeling old and sick and used up, and wondering what the next piece of bad news will be. I can't help but think that, if Dr. B were not so thorough, if he had not followed up on this liver enzyme thing, I would still be living in blissful ignorance of my aortic inadequacies. I guess it's better to know than not know, but I'm having a hard time convincing myself of that fact tonight.
