You Are Not Alone

Our conversation started out pretty blunt …

I had seen him 4 times before so he welcomed it..

He was in his 70’s

Maintained his youthful swag and still loved hanging out with his lady…

I had reviewed his lab results the night before..

Exchanged pleasantries and got right to it ..

Me: I know your independence is a really big deal to you

Mr “Joe”: He nodded in agreement … yes that is correct

Me: I want to help you maintain that Independence but I don’t know what else to do

Pause

Mr : oh

Me: your kidneys are starting to struggle, your blood pressure is high and your diabetes is a record high … but not in a good way

Still me: I know you like sweets and soda but your organs don’t

Mask on … my eyes spoke volumes

I was concerned …

He ached and his legs tingled a lot

I said rather quietly ..

“My goal… our goal is to keep you as independent as possible”

But I need your help

We spoke kidney disease … dialysis and things

We spoke sweets… how grapes are also sweet

We spoke exercise … walks and such

I want to keep you feeling as good as you look

He agreed to make some changes..

Asked to give him 3 weeks to implement said changes

We talked team work - him, his nutritionist, his endocrinologist, his lady and I

Hi (high) fives were in order

A week later…

His endocrinologist reached out

“What did you say to him?”

I simply “nudged” him I responded…

“Whatever you did worked”

In health,

Dr. Olabintan

Author

Dr. Tolulope Olabintan MD, AAHIVS, FAAFP, dipABLM Dr. Tolulope Olabintan is the Co-Founder and Medical Director of Livingspring Family Medical Center. She is a Christian, Family Physician, writer, mentor, mother and wife. She takes joy in empowering her patients and readers to live their fullest lives possible. She helps patients live long and well as she believes that the quality of life is just as important as the quantity of life. She is also a foodie and loves the colors teal and orange. Dr. Olabintan completed her medical degree at UMDNJ Rutgers Medical School in 2007. Dr. O went on to finish her Family Medicine Residency from Albert Einstein College of Medicine Family Medicine residency where she also served as a Chief Resident. She then went on to complete a women’s health/surgical obstetrics fellowship at St Francis hospital in 2011. She is a board-certified Family Physician, Lifestyle Medicine, a HIV specialist and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.