A patient is admitted with high blood sugars. He is a known diabetic already on a lot of oral medication and on insulin as well. His A1C, the average 'sugariness' of his blood over 3 months, is 11. For diabetics, we aim for at most 7; or 6.5 if it's a young patient. 11 basically tells me he hasn't been taking his meds or sticking to his diet.

I ask him if he remembers to take all of his medications.

"Yes," he says immediately.

"All of them? Every time? Every day?"

"Well..." He averts my gaze. "Maybe once in a while I forget."

"How long is a while?"

"Maybe... once or twice a month."

"With all of the medications?"

"Just the tablets. I remember my insulin."

"Every dose?"

He averts my gaze again. "...Yeah."

I don't start off thinking all my patients lie, but it's pretty obvious when they are lying.