Dr Google and I

"Dr Oz is probably one of the top three most dangerous sources of health information in the world."

- STEPHEN DAVIS

A few years ago, while running a journalism school in Sydney, I a stark health warnA received ing from my GP.

Unless I changed my diet and lifestyle, he said, I was on my way to being diabetic and I would be booking an appointment with a cardiac surgeon in about three years' time. I took him at his word and embarked on a vigorous regime of diet and exercise. Soon, my test scores returned to normal.

Back in New Zealand, I resumed my lifelong love affair with Kiwi-style baking (infinitely superior to the Australian equivalents). Raspberry buns, Sally Lunns, cream-filled chocolate profiteroles - I love them all. But I was exercising every day and confident I had it all under control, so when I received my latest HbAlc result - the test of your blood glucose (sugar) levels I reacted to the fact that it was shockingly high by questioning the result.

I went online and did a Google search to see if stress could be a factor - the test came as I was facing multiple deadlines: for the paperback edition of my book, my new podcast and, of course, this column. I even wrote to my GP suggesting there had been some kind of error in the test and could I take another one please.