Corporate hype & medicine

[Marta Russell]

Yesterday my chiropractor informed me she had learned of a new study
that showed about 90% of children who are diagnosed with ADD have
hypoglycemia.  Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar -- the pancreas
secretes too much insulin when one eats sugar or carbohydrates like
pasta, bread, etc.  It can cause irritability, lack of focus, fatigue,
wanting to sleep (or passing out) after a meal.  It can be controlled
by eating more protein and vegetables every three or four hours in
small portions and by eliminating these other foods.  So it seems that
all those children were dosed with Ritalin or some heavy drug when all
they needed was a corrected healthy diet -- which isn't the American
diet by the way.  That may explain why they are hypoglycemic in the
first place.  What may explain the Ritalin craze is the below article
by Trudy Lieberman.
Marta

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/science/20010618/t000050547.html
LOS ANGELES TIMES
When Hype Stands In for Solid Science
By TRUDY LIEBERMAN

excerpt
Several studies show that the proportion of medical interventions
firmly grounded in evidence is much smaller than most people realize.
"The public is shocked when they hear that 80% of medical practice is
not based on evidence," says Dr. Gregg Meyer, who directs the Center
for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the federal Agency for
HealthCare Research and Quality. Much of what doctors do is based on
opinion and consensus but that doesn't always produce the best
outcomes and highest quality care."