Meet Phil Poppenpill. At the relatively young age of 58 he has very gradually accumulated a significant amount of excess weight. In fact, at 5 feet 8 inches tall and 200 pounds, he is 40 or 50 pounds ( or about 30%) over his ideal weight. He also has the misfortune of having inherited a tendency toward adult onset or Type 2 diabetes. His doctor first diagnosed diabetes for Phil a year ago. Phil’s diabetes problem has brought along with it the usual sidekicks of high blood pressure (his is 170/100), high uric acid (gout), and high cholesterol. In a few years this combination will likely result in a heart attack.
Let’s follow Phil through a typical day. Phil is running late this Monday, but he does remember to grab his pills. Let’s take a quick analysis of what he pops in his mouth.
Glucophage (metformin) for his blood sugar
Glynase (glyburide) also for his blood sugar
Zestril (lisinopril) for his blood pressure
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ for short is a water pill, also for his blood pressure
Allopurinol for his gout.
Lipitor for his cholesterol
He gets a late start this Monday morning and stops for a sausage croissanwich at Burger King on his way to his job as a car salesman. His job is a tough one especially with the recent economic slowdown. Phil often doesn’t have time to pack a lunch, so a burger and fries are often the only convenient choice.