ACCORD, Foxes and Grapes

Of the stories I learnt as a child, the ones by an ancient writer named Aesop have often proven to be full of wisdom over the years.

Remember this one?

'One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."'



Going by the popular press and various responses in medical literature ACCORD appears to indicate to the experts that achieving normal HbA1c levels in long-term diabetics is obviously too hard for modern pharmacology without dangerous side-effects.

So obviously it can't be done. And obviously it isn't important any more.

Normal HbA1c has become a sour goal.

It never occurred to the fox to build a ladder or pile up some rocks.

It never seems to occur to the experts to review the traditional diet and lifestyle guidelines to see whether different ones may assist the HbA1c goal and reduce the medication levels and thus the side effects.

Years ago I also learnt a different lesson about goals. Good goals are set in concrete; plans to achieve them are drawn in sand.

I'll write more on ACCORD and it's interpretation in a few days.

Cheers, Alan

Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter