Diabetes Blog Week. The Blame Game

This week is Diabetes Blog Week. #DBlogWeek.

Each day a topic is provided and diabetes bloggers write about the topic.

Today's topic is the Blame Game.

I recently saw a patient for weight loss to assist with his control of Type 2 Diabetes.

At our review consultation he asked me: "Do you think that having 2 cafe latte's per day is to blame for not losing weight"?

"I don't really know for sure" I replied.

I went on to explain that the inability to lose weight was a result of excess total energy intake. Specifically excess energy intake relative to activity, or in this case, inactivity.

Excess total energy (calorie) intake which may have possibly included a contribution from cafe late. However only blaming the one food, or drink in this case for not losing weight is a long bow to draw.

It's like blaming carbohydrate in isolation. Or sugars. Or fructose. Or Glycemic Index. Or fats. Or saturated fat. Or alcohol.

Blaming one macronutrient, whilst ignoring total intake and energy contribution as a whole is shortsighted.

Sure, these individual foods or individual macronutrients may need to be addressed, modified, or reduced. But they need to be viewed as part of the whole picture.

Like individual pieces of the puzzle.

Speaking of the blame game...I'm blaming diabetes blog week, and writing 3 articles in 3 days after busy days in clinic for my tiredness.

So I can be on my game, excuse me while I have 2 cafe lattes. Or maybe, 2 double shot expresso coffees.