121_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDygm-rh6hk_diabetes management
gpt
Uh, welcome. And, uh—
human
Thank you.
gpt
I'd say my name is Mark and I work here at Green Prescriptions. And-
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
I know a little bit about you from the referral letter from the doctor.
human
From my GP?
gpt
From your GP, yeah.
human
Uh.
gpt
But before we get to anything, I'll probably want to just ask you a little bit about what's led you to come here today and get a bit of an idea about what's been going on for you.
human
What's led me to come here?
gpt
Mm.
human
My GP.
gpt
And what did he have to say?
human
Well, um, you know, I had my sort of, uh, checkup.
gpt
mm.
human
And it revealed that apparently, I might have diabetes 2. Well, that's what he says.
gpt
Right.
human
Um, I-I think that I feel perfectly well. I-I'm, you know-- I understand people with diabetes are a little bit plumper than I am.
gpt
Mm.
human
But, um, that's really why I'm here. I'm on his command, almost.
gpt
Right, so he kinda gave you a directive?
human
Well, he did. He says he's going to put me on some sort of program if it gets worse.
gpt
Mm.
human
But as I say, I-I feel absolutely fine now.
gpt
So it kind of came a bit of a surprise, you feeling okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
You go for this checkup with the doctor. And he says, "You've got Type II diabetes."
human
Mm, I'm very surprised.
gpt
Mm. Came out of the blue for you?
human
Yes. I think it did.
gpt
Mm.
human
Mm.
gpt
And you said you kind of don't fit that kinda Type II diabetes look. That you kinda have had this idea-
human
I-
gpt
-you've been-been overweight with it.
human
That's what I understand.
gpt
Mm.
human
You know, and I'm not overweight.
gpt
Mm.
human
I-I sort of look after myself to a limited extent in that way. Um, but I'm a busy person, I suppose I burn off the calories. And-
gpt
Mm.
human
I don't know, really.
gpt
Mm.
human
My lifestyle—
gpt
Hmm. So it doesn't quite fit in your head, Type II diabetes and-
human
No.
gpt
-your lifestyle?
human
No, not at all.
gpt
Comes as a big surprise. And what was your reaction when he told you that at the time?
human
Well, I-I thought he must be joking. To be honest. I thought-
gpt
Mm.
human
-you know, why you are-- Look around you.
gpt
Mm, mm.
human
um, I just felt that, um-- I mean, I don't think he was wasting my time because why would he do that?
gpt
Yeah, yeah.
human
Right?
gpt
He's got a lot to do.
human
Um-- Absolutely right.
gpt
Mm.
human
He's got a job to do. And obviously, the tests have come through. And I have got these signs of diabetes 2.
gpt
Right.
human
Right? Um, I just think that-- Well, I just don't feel like it, Mark.
gpt
Mm.
human
Um—
gpt
So how are you feel in your head-
human
I feel absolutely fine.
gpt
-and what the tests say kind of like don't join up.
human
Yeah. Well, physically, I feel absolutely fine.
gpt
Mm.
human
I'm-I'm-- I didn't see anything wrong with me at all.
gpt
Hmm.
human
I mean, I get around, I sleep pretty well-
gpt
Hmm-hmm.
human
I sort of you know-
gpt
Hmm.
human
- I'm-I'm compos mentis. So I don't—
gpt
Yeah. What's the problem? Mm.
human
What is the problem?
gpt
And how did this happen is probably kind of what you're also thinking. Well, how did this--?
human
Well, uh, yes. I mean-
gpt
Mm.
human
-I must admit, I haven't done too much research. I've been a bit busy.
gpt
Okay.
human
Um, but he-he was saying something about, I don't know, family or whatever. I don't know.
gpt
Yeah.
human
And I don't know if it's hereditary.
gpt
Mm.
human
I think he said something about it being hereditary.
gpt
So he mentioned, it might be a family thing. And so you-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-maybe got from your parents or something of the sort.
human
Yeah, it could be-
gpt
Mm.
human
-because, um, my mother mentioned-
gpt
Mm.
human
-that, uh, my father had diabetes-
gpt
Right.
human
-diabetes 2. And if I think about it, um, his brother-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-uh, I haven't seen him for years.
gpt
Yeah.
human
But he might well have it because he is-
gpt
Mm.
human
-a pretty cuddly guy. You know-
gpt
Right.
human
He's pretty big.
gpt
So he fits the picture-
human
Well, yes, the stereotype,-
gpt
-when you think about what he-he-- Yeah, he's stereotypical.
human
Yeah, I guess.
gpt
A little bit bigger, perhaps doesn't look after himself that well, and he fits that foot
human
Well, yeah. I mean, as far as I know, I hadn't seen him for-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-I don't know how many years.
gpt
Mm. So you got this knowledge as a witness there's some family history of diabetes in the past?
human
Apparently so. Yes, apparently so.
gpt
Doctor mentioned that as being a factor.
human
Mm, I mean, it is hereditary, is it?
gpt
That's certainly true. Yes. We know that people who've had parents or have been in the past, there is a hereditary factor or genetic factor in-involved.
human
A genetic factor. And so, does that mean that if you've got, um, if you've got a history of this within your family-
gpt
Mm.
human
-if it's a gene-- you are more likely than not to get it?
gpt
Correct. Yeah.
human
Also, it's—
gpt
But it's not inevitable.
human
Right. Okay.
gpt
Because its genes or the-the-the-the hereditary factor is not the only factor that causes it or is involved in it happening to you. So there's other factors that come into play.
human
I'm sure you're going to tell me what they are.
gpt
Well, you've-you've mentioned some of the things you know, and one of those is hereditary factors. You mentioned that the doctor mentioned that. And what else do you know or have you heard? You say you haven't had a lot of time to do the research. What else? Other things you've.
human
To be frank, Mark, I honestly don't know. I mean, I honestly don't know what causes it because I've never had any reason. It came upon me from the GP and it took me back.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um, the hereditary thing I thought, well, maybe that's the explanation.
gpt
That makes a bit of sense.
human
And why go any further, it's there?
gpt
Yeah.
human
Can't help it.
gpt
Yeah.
human
They live pretty long lives, they did, all right.
gpt
They managed with it.
human
Relatives relatively went into their 70s.
gpt
Okay. I don't know if it'd be helpful for you if you'd like to know a little bit more about some of the factors involved in time Type II diabetes.
human
Well.
gpt
If that would help.
human
If there's something that you think that-- Yes. Yes, of course.
gpt
Well, I'll perhaps share with you what I know from working with other people and some of the things I've experienced in working with people.
human
Okay.
gpt
And see what you make of it. See if it fits a little bit more with where you're at. We know that there is a strong family factor or hereditary factor, so that's one aspect. So also it tends to happen a little bit later in life, rather than something you might get when you're a teenager, this type of diabetes. So-so it's a later onset. It takes a bit of time for it to develop maybe. And the main reason I think, um, the main aspect of it is that it, have you heard about insulin.
human
I've heard of it yeah.
gpt
So that's a hormone or a chemical, it allows you to utilize sugar in your body.
human
Right.
gpt
All right. And Type II diabetes typically people have a resistance or a resistance to insulin in their cells, in their fat cells or their muscle cells or liver cells. They can't use insulin. And so sugar builds up in your system.
human
Are you saying that they-they like they can't digest insulin or is that?
gpt
You need insulin in your cells, individual cells in muscle or in fat or wherever to, um, use up excess sugar or to utilize sugar.
human
Oh, I see. So-so it's like a-it's like a balance.
gpt
That's right.
human
So insulin you-you.
gpt
Kind of, as your.
human
You have yourself draws bar.
gpt
Yap.
human
Or something, and then what balances that out in the body is the insulin taking off the excess.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Or-or digesting? Should I say the excessive sugars?
gpt
That's a good way to think.
human
Is that what happened?
gpt
Exactly. And what's happening in Type II diabetes is your-your fat cells and liver cells and muscle cells are resistant to insulin. It's almost like they're saying we can't use that.
human
Why?
gpt
And if-- Well, there's a number of-- We're not entirely sure, there's a lot of research still going on as to how this happens and how that could be modified. But what we do know is that, um, one of the key things in managing it is to try and modify or modulate, control the amount of sugar that are in your system.
human
Right. Okay.
gpt
Yeah. So there's a couple of things that we know that people with Type II diabetes have to look after and have to think about if they want to control the amount of sugar that's in their system, which is the main issue that's causing some of the health problems that people have with Type II diabetes. Too much sugar, and if it's not able to be utilized in the blood cell, in the fat cells, or liver cells, and the muscle cells stays in your bloodstream. And that can cause problems with your circulation. So too high blood sugar and too low a blood sugar can be a problem. So sugar is the main concern in Type II- Type II diabetes.And you mentioned earlier on, a couple of things that the doctor-- You've mentioned some signs that he was kind of a little bit concerned about. Well, what things did you notice over the-over the last month or so?
human
You mean, personally?
gpt
Yeah.
human
Well, I didn't know. I mean, the thing is you see that-- I mean, I did think about this a little bit and I thought, well, over time, if things happen slowly, you don't really notice.
gpt
Yeah.
human
As you get older.
gpt
Yeah.
human
I mean, I don't-I don't leap over five bar gates like I used to, you know, um, as opposed to, uh, running with the backs now, I tend to spend more time, you know, with my old mates in the bar.
gpt
Yeah.
human
At the rugby club and-and-and the such like, yeah. And, um, the fish I'm hooking, I'm not after the kings anymore, I go for the snapper now, it's a bit easier, you know.
gpt
A slightly more sedate lifestyle.
human
Yeah, absolutely. You just do.
gpt
Yeah.
human
You just do. Um, so you're less demanding, I guess, on your-on your body, you realize, and you don't really want to do these things anyway. You know, you let the youngsters get home.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Been there, done that. So you don't really notice. So I'm coming back to this diagnosis I had from my GP and him saying, "You've got diabetes 2," well, I should feel like that, shouldn't I?
gpt
Yeah. It should feel like there's something really wrong with you.
human
Yeah, I mean.
gpt
What's-how have you been feeling over the last month? So, you say you're very busy you're doing a lot of work.
human
Yeah, I mean I'm a busy person. All right? I uh, my work uh, I work in insurance, so I'm always hopping from one place to another place.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um, I haven't noticed.
gpt
Mh-hmm.
human
I really haven't noticed how, um, okay I get a bit--I suppose I get a bit out of breath sometimes.
gpt
Okay.
human
If I rush too much that-that's true. Um, I suppose, um, I don't go upstairs two at a time anymore, I use one at a time.
gpt
So a little bit sort of energy is not quite there sometimes? The vitality.
human
Oh, certainly the energy I have is-is not what I-what I had. I mean I do need to, you know, I'm busy but I do need to sit down, um, uh, I do need to sit down and relax with a cup of coffee, you know, and, uh, things.
gpt
Yeah, Mh-hmm.
human
Um, more than I would normally.
gpt
Yeah.
human
But that would be, that would be about it.
gpt
Mh-hmm.
human
Um, is it getting worse? I don't know. I-I-I suppose. What worse? Is it-is it increasing? Well, to say, I don't really notice it.
gpt
You haven't noticed it. So it's a progressive, you know, you've just seen this, as-as you got older, things have slowed down. You know those activities you used to do, but that's kind of like what happens.
human
Yeah, yeah. Um, at least, that's what I think. I mean I don't know if you're telling me that I should be more active or my GP is saying I should be more active.
gpt
Mh-hmm.
human
Um, as I say, uh, you know I-I don't do any regular form of exercise, I have to say, not anymore.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um.
gpt
Okay.
human
But maybe I-maybe I don't know.
gpt
Hmm, a bit of a mystery there.
human
I mean I've got uh, well I-I mean I've got a great lifestyle. I mean if it's very-it-it's very good. I mean I've got all my mates in down at the rugby club. And I've got uh, you know even in the summer when that's a bit damn. I used to coach rugby and I coached cricket when I finished playing. So-so I've got the-the guys in the cricket club, um, you know, for the-for the, uh, for the summer evenings. And, uh, and then, uh, the-then, of course, we've got the fishing, and that's all of us combined. We're a big gang, really.
gpt
Really? So what I'm hearing is there's actually a lot of aspects in your life which are really good.
human
Oh, I think my life yeah. My life is great.
gpt
From your perspective, things are going well?
human
My life is great, and then you turn around and say, "Hey you've got-- you-you're ill, you're sick.
gpt
Yeah. It doesn't fit.
human
And um, no I'm not. But you see, he said to me that he's gonna put me on some sort of, uh, a daily monitoring of, is it sugar levels?
gpt
Mh-hmm.
human
And I'm gonna have to take regular pills.
gpt
Right.
human
Well frankly, the only pills I take are sort of paracetamols.
gpt
Yeah. When you get uh, a headache.
human
For a bit of the head in the morning, you know.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um.
gpt
So the idea of having to test-test your blood sugar and take medications is kinda like off--
human
Come on, you know.
gpt
And you know that's a bit too-
human
Well, life is too short.
gpt
Too much.
human
You know it's the truth.
gpt
Yeah. Okay.
human
I mean you know—
gpt
And you're here today and that's probably something in you you've thought well I'll follow this through, you know I'll-I'll come along and see what-see what they've got to say. And I'm just wondering for this session, for the time we have today, there's a number of things we could talk about. You mentioned a couple of things about your lifestyle and, um, medication is one thing you've been told by the doctor you might need to do that. And a number of things that we could talk about today. Which-which area would you think would be useful for you to focus on?
human
Well there is-there is something that you sort of prompted me to think about, and, um, I split up-- My wife and I, we split up several years ago now. And, um, you know we've been married for many many years.
gpt
Hmm.
human
And um, I think she used to look after me because she used to do the cooking and-and-and stuff like that.
gpt
Okay.
human
And I have to say that I'm not the best cook in the world.
gpt
Mh-hmm.
human
Um, and-and being on the run all the time and you know once I get back home, it's, you know, it's time to go down to the rugby club or whatever it might be, uh, we're out with the mates. And, uh, I-I do I suppose my food is not as healthy perhaps as it used to be when she was around. She's moved down to Hamilton to live with her mother, if you've met her mother. Anyway, but, um.
gpt
So then, since you've been on your own since you've separated, divorced and you've noticed that the things you eat and how you eat has changed.
human
Yeah, I mean mates and their wives are pretty cool about it sometimes.
gpt
Hmm.
human
Because, you know, they'll invite me for dinner and so on.
gpt
Yeah, yeah.
human
And, yeah, yeah, yeah. I guess, you know, that's when you, well, or whatever reason, you split up in life.
gpt
Hmm.
human
You start looking at the home life of somebody else, you're thinking, "Hmm, I use d to have this."
gpt
Hmm. Yeah, yeah.
human
And you think, " This is nice food, " isn't it? and you know.
gpt
Yeah. And your-- part of your wife used to do a lot of that for you?
human
Oh, she would do all the cooking. Yeah, yeah,
gpt
Yeah.
human
I mean, I never bothered to boil an egg in the water, you know.
gpt
And so she would kinda look after what you ate and healthy things that you had, spread in front of you and off you go.
human
Totally. I mean, I was just in charge of the wine, you know.
gpt
Mm-hmm. And now you have to think about what you might eat and sometimes you don't eat the best.
human
Well I-- This is what I'm saying. Maybe I'm not thinking about it. Maybe that's the thing.
gpt
Okay.
human
Maybe I'm just—
gpt
Hmm.
human
You know, because it-- you know this-- the pizza shop's just on the road.
gpt
Yeah.
human
And then there's-- I mean, okay, I confess that lunchtime, occasionally, it's uh, I'm hungry and McDonald's is very convenient
gpt
Yeah.
human
-or Kentucky Fried or whatever.
gpt
Very appealing, isn't it?
human
You know, it's very easy. and then, um, then you think to yourself, well-- I mean, I do think of myself that maybe I should have a few vegetables around here or whatever. But then you go out into the supermarkets, you know, and you can pick up, uh, your- one of your TV dinners.
gpt
Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm.
human
So you bring those in and you open them up and put them in the microwave and there's vegetables there.
gpt
Yeah they look pretty good on the plate, don't they?
human
Yeah, it looks- it looks fine, you know, et cetera. I mean, so that will happen occasionally if I've got a night in. But cooking-wise, no, I haven't cooked anything, um, other than boil the water for the kettle for a cup o coffee.
gpt
Yeah.
human
-for ages.
gpt
They're food choices in what you eat and what's in your diet it's not what-something you actually you've actually been aware of or had to think about in the past.
human
Yeah. I do miss her breakfast. I have to say, we used to have get a nice breakfast.
gpt
So one thing that you noticed is diet and the eating patterns and-
human
Well—
gpt
-when you eat. That's one aspect. What other aspects do you think you've-- you would be--?
human
Well, I used to be quite a heavy smoker, right? I mean, I'd smoke a pack in a half a day. And I knew that wasn't doing me any good.
gpt
Right.
human
I mean the thing is when you're a-- I mean, I've always smoked. So, but when you're young and you're a sportsman, you know—
gpt
You kinda juggle those two things and kinda--
human
Well, the two things they balance out, you know and everybody else is
gpt
You still run and have a cigarette?
human
You know, you pass a cigarette down the backline almost, don't you? You know, just before the game gets—
gpt
Hmm. Hmm. Yeah, part of the culture.
human
Yeah, part of the of the whole thing. And it's changed a bit now, because in my day when we were playing, of course, it was a very much more of a social game, which was spent-spent in the rugby club.
gpt
Yeah.
human
That's why you played and it was a big buddy-buddy thing.
gpt
Yeah.
human
That was rugby and cricket was the same really.
gpt
Hmm.
human
Um, but now—
gpt
But over the years, you've actually reduced your smoking or you've stopped altogether or at times?
human
Well I-I, yeah. I was getting a bit sort of-- I was getting a bit, you know, a bit wheezy and I thought, "I'll cut this out."
gpt
Hmm.
human
But I enjoy smoking. I really do enjoy it. So I cut it down to I suppose it's about 10 a day now.
gpt
Okay, so you meant to reduce.
human
Yeah, yeah.
gpt
You were noticing that it's having an impact on your breathing and health wasn't so good.
human
Yeah.
gpt
When you related that to your smoking, so you managed to reduce your smoking.
human
Yeah, yeah. I sort of—
gpt
So you've made our decision to do that?
human
it-it-it's-- you know, she will, "Why don't you give up? You've gone so far, why don't you just stop?" But I don't want to.
gpt
Hmm.
human
It's-it's-- I-I enjoy it, um—
gpt
Yeah, and it's hard to get to stop something you enjoy, isn't it?
human
Well, yeah. I mean, you know, the thing is that you get to, you know, you've got to-- when you get down to that, you, uh, you have to regulate sort of-
gpt
Hmm.
human
You know, you have to be quite strong-willed about, I suppose, in a way.
gpt
Yeah.
human
So you say, "Okay, well, you don't have a cigarette unless you have a cup of coffee. [laughs]
gpt
Hmm.
human
Of course, that's a double-edged sword a bit, because then I found I was drinking more coffee, you know.
gpt
But they go together so well. And sugar in the coffee?
human
Oh, yeah, yeah. I have two sugars. A couple of sugar in coffee. Yeah, yeah.
gpt
Hmm.
human
So we cut that down as I say.
gpt
Hmm.
human
But the problem goes that coffee, we're up to 8 or so, 10 cups of coffee a day now.
gpt
You're drinking more coffee. So what I've heard you say so far is, if I can just start right back from the beginning and you used to come in and sais, "I went to the doctor." You went for-- it sounds like you went for just a checkup.
human
No, you know, there's a friend of mine, one of the guys down the rugby club, he said- he said, "I'm going for my annual, you know-
gpt
MIT.
human
-warranty of fitness, sort of thing, you know. And I thought, now that's an idea, not been to one of those.
gpt
Got to check out, why not?
human
So I'm 55, and you read in the papers, you know, it's that at 55 you will-- you know, heart disease is more prevalent
gpt
Hmm.
human
-and all these sorts of things that you get around this middle-age time. So I thought, "Well, I'll go and have one." And frankly, when I went along, I was very confident. I thought, you know, the doctor is going to saying, "Hmm, I wish I was as healthy as you," sort of thing.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um, but unfortunately, uh, he-he came up with this. And it's the only thing I think he really came up with. I think-
gpt
So everything else looked pretty good?
human
My cholesterol is quite good, not too bad.
gpt
Cholesterol good, your weight is good.
human
Yeah-yeah. Not too bad.
gpt
Um, you are smoking, but you've managed to reduce that.
human
Well, yeah, I've cut it down, yeah. I mean, that's been three years, mind.
gpt
And anything else, you know, you go ticking down the list. The tire is good, oil good.
human
Absolutely.
gpt
So we're looking good.
human
And then we come to this-
gpt
And ah, hang on.
human
-too much sugar in the tank, or something. I don't know.
gpt
Yeah, there's something wrong with the, uh, with this bit.
human
So, yeah.
gpt
And it doesn't quite fit with how you see your own lifestyle.
human
No.
gpt
Because you've-- it sounds like what you've been doing, you've made some conscious effort to be aware of some of those things you might think are important.
human
I mean, yeah. I mean, you know, the thing is, you see, the thing is, and I mean, and probably you've-- I think you've heard this before, but people, they turn around, oh, uh, you know, doom and gloom prophets, you shouldn't drink.
gpt
Mm.
human
You shouldn't smoke.
gpt
Yeah.
human
And then I think to myself, "Well, maybe I shouldn't socialize." And then after that, "Well, maybe I shouldn't be alive."
gpt
So like a domino effect, and they'll all be just sitting-
human
You know. I mean, what-what-what's going on here? This is- this is- this is so many people's lives.
gpt
Mm-hm.
human
And um, I suppose, you know, if it came down to it, then, and somebody said, "Well, you can solve this problem by taking a pill once a day, um, you know, it will keep it down, and there will be no problems," Then I-I could go with that. But what I don't want to do, um, the doctor was saying, or insinuating, that I'd have to change my lifestyle.
gpt
A bit broad kind of like you've gotta change everything.
human
Yeah. It was um, and I-I said, well, no. I'm sorry. [coughs] I'm not going to change my lifestyle. I've got to where I am. I'm reasonably happy. Okay, I wish I wasn't separated. Okay, I wish my kids were-were still around, um, you know. One of them is off now in, um, in-- back in Europe playing rugby in France.
gpt
Yeah. And your thought was, yeah, right, I hear that, but actually, I don't want to make all these big changes in my life.
human
No, I don't want to, because I don't feel that I need to.
gpt
Feel like you need to. Yeah.
human
I mean, it's you know, why?
gpt
Mm.
human
Um, I can't argue with a medical professional, Mark, because I know nothing, you know.
gpt
The test, is the test, and experience, yeah.
human
So, I mean, what-what-what-what suggestions would you have? I mean, what-what sort of-
gpt
I don't know. I think it's up to you where we start, and that's the question I've got in my mind. You've mentioned a couple of things that you've already made some effort, or been conscious of. You've mentioned the diet, you've mentioned your smoking, those are two quite important aspects that we often talk about here in how people work.
human
Is smoking related to diabetes then?
gpt
It can have an impact, yes. So smoking, um, affects your blood system, so it hardens the arteries, um, and over time, it can have a significant impact on the healing of wounds. So people with Type II diabetes, often, if they get a cut, or a bruise, or something, it takes a long time to heal. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in your system, so that can further, you know, limit the time it takes your body to heal.
human
Oh.
gpt
So we know that smoking and Type II diabetes together-
human
Don't help.
gpt
-isn't a good combination.
human
Is it okay if you have one without the other? I'm sorry, it's a silly question. [laughs]
gpt
Well, the question is, I suppose, that I have for you is, where would you think, for you, would be a good place to start? If you were gonna make any changes, even small changes at the beginning, rather than just thinking, oh, I got to change everything, which it sounds like you're not prepared to, you know, do a whole lifestyle change, and I don't think that's what we're talking about here. Where would you feel most comfortable to start if you were gonna make any changes at all?
human
Where would I start? Well, I-- What if about if I cut down on sugar in the coffee? If we could have long blacks, no milk, and no sugar.
gpt
Yeah. Hmm, that might be a start.
human
I think I could- I think I could probably handle that.
gpt
Hm. What we also find is that people make these little changes, small changes, and that starts to kind of well, it makes them-
human
Something of a rollover effect.
gpt
-rollover, the domino effect starts to happen, and they start looking at other aspects.
human
Domino effect, yeah.
gpt
So rather than thinking, "oh, my God, I have to change all these things. I've gotta stop smoking, I've gotta exercise more, I've gotta, you know, start eating more fruit and vegetables," you might start with these small changes, and then-
human
I mean, how much exercise should I do a week?
gpt
Um, I-I'm reluctant to give a prescription for that because I think it's really up to you. And I think it depends on how things go, as to how much you need to do.
human
Right.
gpt
You mentioned earlier on, the doctors talking about you monitoring your blood sugar.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So on how-- It depends on how-how that goes. Let's say, if you started doing that and you do some more exercise, you start to have longer blacks, rather than short blacks with lots of sugar. And you get down the sugar and you find your blood sugar starts to come down, then we're heading in the right direction.
human
Okay, so—
gpt
So it's really, I suppose, up to how things go for you, and you get that feedback. And if that's going in the right direction, you carry on doing and do some more of that.
human
So, a-are we saying then that-that, really all I need to do, for this moment, is I can forget about everything, but cut out the sugar, uh, in the coffee and the milk-- I don't know, but you might as well, you know, milk without sugar is silly. But, um, if we do that, is that where we start?
gpt
I think where we start is where you feel comfortable starting.
human
Well, I mean that's something that's not difficult to do.
gpt
Apples for breakfast.
human
You start off at breakfast and get yourself an apple, a bit-a bit of apple and-and so on. Um—
gpt
So what I'm hearing you're kind of saying is, that there's-- You're now starting to think of some very useful little starting points.
human
Maybe.
gpt
Not huge changes, but some little things you could do.
human
Yeah.
gpt
And it's kind of dawning on you there may be some possibilities here for making some changes. Let me ask you this. Um, let's say you put some of these things in place and you start to make some of these small changes.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Um, where do you see that taking you in the next set of three, four, five years? You know, where do you want to be in three to four years' time? What would be your ideal picture?
human
Well, you know, and this is difficult because I don't feel unhealthy now.
gpt
No.
human
So, I suppose it would be fun to-- Maybe I should join a club or two, that's what I'm thinking because I'll be with mates.
gpt
Yeah? You like the social aspect?
human
I love the social aspect of it, and, um, there's-there's-- I know there's a bar in this club as well. I-- Don't-don't misunderstand me, I don't drink-
gpt
No, no, I get that. I get that.
human
-till-- You know, I'm not an alcoholic or anything like that, I—
gpt
So part of that whole keeping fit and exercise stuff is actually the social side of it, isn't it?
human
So yeah, so to get that balance, and maybe that's what I'm actually missing in life, and maybe this is, um-- I mean yes I do get up in the morning sometimes, and I suppose I do feel a bit—
gpt
Yeah.
human
You know? Even after a decent night's sleep, you know?
gpt
Haven't quite that-
human
And you need-- I'm getting this cup of coffee and maybe I'm—
gpt
And the coffee helps a little bit because it perks you up?
human
And that gets me going. Yeah.
gpt
And the sugar in it helps too.
human
Yeah, the sugar gives me the boost, I suppose. I-it's fantastic.
gpt
So what I'm hearing is that your life, your work, your routines are-- Sometimes you're driving or you've got to keep awake, get up in the morning sometimes and you haven't quite got that buzz or the energy. You need a shot, and then throughout the day you might need just more shots to keep that energy up.
human
Hmm. If I give up sugar in my coffee, give up the milk, black coffees, right?
gpt
Yeah.
human
if I find some social form of exercise, like squash.
gpt
And an activity which has got a starting to finish and it's something you do for a slot.
human
Yeah.
gpt
And then there's maybe some social aspects to it as well.
human
Yeah, and then—
gpt
You can see some benefits and some enjoyment that.
human
And then, you know, give this, say, six months, I don't know what period it would be, then go back to the GP and say, "Test me again."
gpt
That sounds like a great plan.
human
And so maybe that would, uh—
gpt
Yeah, sounds like a good idea.
human
Maybe it's an idea. I mean—
gpt
I think anything you do, it has to be something you've decided. You know, just start where you want to start. You've mentioned some really good ideas about possibly getting a little bit more exercise into your life, doing something like squash or something of that nature. You've mentioned some really good ideas about reducing the amount of sugar you-you-you're-you're intaking during the day, and coffee is a good place to start. Having an apple for breakfast, I think you mentioned that, a bit of fruit.
human
Yeah, like my wife used to. Yeah.
gpt
Those are some really good ideas and good starting points. So thinking about it like that, what-- Where are you now? What's your-- What-what-- Where-where is your thinking now?
human
Well, you see, I mean, I'm thinking, "Actually it might not be a bad idea this," because [chuckles] it would mean I could socialize harder, couldn't I? No, no I'm just joking. Uh, but, um, yeah, I mean, why not? Why not? Why not? It might be fun, it's a new path.
gpt
What's to lose? What's to gain?
human
Well, it would appear that there is something to gain, and-- I mean, I-- What do I lose? I don't know until I do it. But I'm thinking that if I do it and I do what I'm enjoying doing, I won't miss what I'm not doing. Does that make sense?
gpt
It does make sense, yeah.
human
Um, yeah I don't mind. I-- It's not a—
gpt
So when you look at it, there's probably more to gain from making these changes than there is to lose.
human
I'll talk to Billy about, um-- Billy is, um, he's the gym bloke.
gpt
Right.
human
I'll have a word with him because I'm due down the club tonight.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Really.
gpt
So you've got to work these things on your mind. You know, the-- And workout where's the place to start.
human
Yeah, I think that you say where-where you're at now, where you're going, where—
gpt
Yeah.
human
-and-and-and this is what I've got to do. I think I'm in a rut. I think that's where I've—
gpt
You've been stuck?
human
I'm-I'm just-- I'm-I'm satisfiedly sort of contented, uh, sitting in this- in this rut and, um, that my doctor has actually di-diagnosed me with diabetes 2-
gpt
Yeah?
human
-which he says can be managed, and you seem to be insinuating that it can be managed.
gpt
Indeed, yeah.
human
Uh, maybe this is a blessing, actually-
gpt
So rather than--
human
-because I think to myself, "Well, if someday, I am diagnosed with diabetes, I'd just carry on and-"
gpt
Carrying on.
human
"-sitting in the corner of the bar, and chat, and talk and probably get fat." I don't know, and make it worse. And, yeah, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe.
gpt
So it's been a bit of a-a bit of a shock, but now you kinda reflect on it.
human
Yeah, that's cool.
gpt
Maybe this is the-
human
That's really cool.
gpt
-bit of a shake that I needed, you know, just sort of remind me. I might feel okay. I might-- From my perspective, your perspective, you're thinking, "Well, what's the problem? Everything's fine."
human
Mm.
gpt
But now you seem to be thinking looking and thinking, "Maybe things weren't, or aren't, as good as I thought they were."
human
Yeah, I mean, I think you're quite right. I think you just—
gpt
Things could be better?
human
I don't know, you become sedentary, don't you? No, it seems that-- No, actually, this is quite exciting. It quite [unintelligible 00:31:28]
gpt
Yeah, I sense that. I sense that in you that you're--
human
I think to myself, I think, "Oh," I think go—
gpt
Quite invigorated with the idea of--
human
Yeah. I mean, this is- this is- this is cool, it's like an old challenge again.
gpt
Making some of these changes. Yeah.
human
This is good. And, um—
gpt
You're up for the challenge?
human
I think I am. I mean, I never thought about it, but when I think about it now it's, "What am I doing here?" Why am I like this? Why am I just happy contented to drift?
gpt
So think about when you were-- This-this is an interesting question to see what you think. You were- you were a coach. You-- Maybe you'll be a coach again.
human
Yeah.
gpt
What would you say if you were talking to yourself, if you like, you know, if you were the coach saying, "Right--"
human
Oh, so if I was obs- if I was sort of-
gpt
Yeah, what-what would you be saying?
human
-observing as it were?
gpt
Yeah.
human
Watching myself, what would I say? I-I-- Well, I would say, you know, are you happy?
gpt
Yeah.
human
That-- Are you contented with that performance of you and your team?
gpt
And, I suppose, our own personalized a little bit like that, there's lots of different aspects that need to be tweaked.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Modified and looked at, to get the best out of ourselves, to get the best out of the opportunities we have.
human
I think you're- I think you're right. I think, um-- And again, you put them together and it's-it's-it's becoming-- It's-it's a sort of a-an individual team job, isn't it really?
gpt
Yeah, yeah.
human
That, okay, do a bit of this and do a bit of that.
gpt
Some good things I'm- some things I'm good at and there are some other aspects we think, "Well--"
human
Yeah, but I don't have to give up anything really, do I?
gpt
It's not about giving up your personality or-
human
No.
gpt
-changing who you are fundamentally.
human
No it's not. It's not.
gpt
It's just tweaking things. Just fine-tuning a few areas and being a bit more aw-aware of one aspect of your life a bit more, like the food choices or whatever. Well, Mike, I-I've really enjoyed listening to your perspective, and your story a little bit, and it's helped me a lot to get an idea about where you're coming from, and a little bit about who you are, and what's happened in your past. And-and we've also talked a bit about what's going to happen next. And you've come up with some great ideas. What I hear you saying is that, you know, before all this, before you met the GP, things are going fine.Well, as you would of-- As, you know, as you'd seen it, you were just doing your thing, and getting on working, and being busy, and being successful, and then suddenly this diagnosis, this doctor tells you that you've got a problem.
human
Mm-hmm.
gpt
It comes along to me and talk today a bit about how you felt about that. Initially, it can be quite a bit of a-bit of a shock. It didn't quite fit with how you saw things.
human
True, true.
gpt
And as we've been talking, I'm hearing you're saying that maybe if you look back to where you were before you went to the doctor, things weren't quite that right, maybe. Things weren't as good as you thought they were.
human
Now that I think about it- now that I think about it, maybe.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Maybe they were.
gpt
And what I also hear you saying, it's possibly the-- It's now possibly more possible, in your mind, that you could make some of these changes, rather than bring broad-brush, you know, huge changes to your lifestyles. It's not about changing who you are, it's not changing huge facets of your life, but maybe small steps that need to be taken.
human
Yeah, you see—
gpt
What you're kind of thinking about what those might.
human
Mm. When your life comes to a halt-
gpt
Mm.
human
-your family splits up, or whatever, and you don't have anymore, I-I think you stop caring really. Uh, y-you know, you stop caring about yourself
gpt
Yeah.
human
Because everything is just f-
gpt
Nobody there too.
human
Nobody there, [crosstalk] it's true and so,-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-you know,-
gpt
Mhm.
human
-you don't care.
gpt
So now it's time-
human
So that's maybe [crosstalk]
gpt
-to think about looking after yourself a bit more.
human
Maybe, a bit selfish but maybe why not?
gpt
Why not?
human
Why not? Yeah, that's a good idea.
gpt
Yeah. So, we've run out of time but I also want to ask you a final question, where to from here, what's next?
human
Oh right, well, wha-what we talked about. Now, you know, uh, okay, uh, coffee. Right? No sugar.
gpt
You'll start with that?
human
I'll start with that.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Um, I'm gonna, um, I'll be talking to Bill, uh-
gpt
The gym.
human
-about the gym but-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-I like the idea of, actually again doing squash-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-or something else-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-and I'm gonna go down to the rugby club and I'll- I know that will be accepted. I'll offer my services again because-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-it was reasonably successful.
gpt
Yeah.
human
And, uh—
gpt
And you also mentioned you'll perhaps go and- back and see the doctor and just give him a bit of an update as to-
human
No, [crosstalk] oh, well, okay, yeah I didn't- yeah, I'll go back and say-- Well, look, I'd-I'd rather not go back to the doctor and say, "I'm gonna do this, this, this-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-this and this.
gpt
Mhm.
human
This is between you and me.
gpt
Yep.
human
All right?
gpt
It's fine.
human
But this is what I'm gonna do. All right? And like I said, I'm gonna make the inquiries, I will start there-
gpt
Sure.
human
-I will give up, uh, I'll give up the V drinks,-
gpt
Mhm.
human
-I think, um, look for some better wine. [laughter] Um, and-and I-I'd take an interest really.
gpt
You are gonna make a start?
human
I'll take an interest really and-and, uh, but it is quite exciting, Mark.
gpt
It is. Well, just to help you, because there's probably a lot of other questions you might have, other questions that might come up after this session.
human
Yeah.
gpt
-before we go, I'd like to just-just give you a lot of- some information that might help-help you.
human
Not too much.
gpt
Not too much, just some stuff that might just give you a little bit of background information on-
human
Yeah, yeah.
gpt
-some of the things that have-
human
Just give me a bit of background, really.
gpt
-around type- around Type II diabetes and some,-
human
Oh, yeah, and what it is-
gpt
[unintelligible 00:36:53] some of that.
human
-because I don't really know. Yeah, yeah.
gpt
Um, and I'd like to us- for us to meet again, so to catch up with you and make an appointment before you leave. Just to see how things are going and-
human
Okay.
gpt
-see what sort of little changes you've managed to make. I'd be really [unintelligible 00:37:07]-
human
Wha-what are we talking about, sort of few months down the line?
gpt
It's really up to you. Probably a little bit sooner would be good.
human
What, in about a month's time?
gpt
That'd be great.
human
Yeah, okay, I'm up for that.
gpt
How does that sound?
human
I'm up for that. Yeah, now-now that's putting me, um, that's very gently putting my head on the block
gpt
Because you don't know the timeline?
human
-and I don't mind that because, um, yeah, that's cool.
gpt
Mhm.
human
Yeah, yeah. I'll see you in a month.
gpt
Yeah.
human
No worries.
gpt
Excellent, excellent. Thanks, Mike. [croostalk]
human
And I appreciate it. Thank you.