Epidemic.. (a bit harsh)

[Cinnabon]

I Know there are a lot of Diabetics that do not take care of themselves, but I found this article a bit harsh. It been on the news and in the papers today. Is it just me? Check it out:
http://www.amhersttimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=573&Itemid=27

[camjen1]

And of course the pic of the person they used just happens to be overweight. How come we never see the thin one's?

[EdnBama]

That is one long article!

[jen_slc]

hmm, yeah, the article paints a pretty harsh picture, but the numbers appear right to me and I would definitely label it epidemic - for T2 anyway. There are so many people who don't get the treatment they need. Who knows, maybe the more articles we see like this will get people's attention and mean more money for diabetes research in general (there's a thread on here somewhere about time until a cure and how money is going to other diseases), though I admit, it's probably unlikely.

[Princess_In_KS]

Being a very recently diagnosed member of this "epidemic" I feel the need to mount my soapbox....

Had I read this 3 weeks ago, right after my dx, I probably would have jumped off of a bridge. What this article is NOT mentioning is the fact that the majority of New York areas are not wealthy, upper-class citizens. They are middle to lower income families with little or no insurance coverage. They can't afford the foods that are good for them, they can't afford to take care of themselves in the proper manner.

I happen to be presently unemployed, so since my diagnosis I have forked out right around $1000 or more in supplies, testing, & prescriptions. Thank God my husband has a very well paying job.... if I was still a single mom on my own - I would have wound up in a coma because I couldn't afford to go to the doctor WITH or WITHOUT insurance.

This is the most irritating factor of the disease - it is by far one of the more expensive diseases with the financial longevity of George Burns!!!!!! The media & government needs to pay more attention to finding & fighting for a cure for this, instead of inventing new & more expensive ways of prolonging the disease so that they can line their pocketbooks with our "sick" money. More money in the disease than the cure, donchaknow?!?! :eviltongu

Okay, dismounting now - just needed to vent, I feel much better now. :smokin: Thanks for bringing the article to our attention.

[valc3]

Being a very recently diagnosed member of this "epidemic" I feel the need to mount my soapbox....

Had I read this 3 weeks ago, right after my dx, I probably would have jumped off of a bridge. What this article is NOT mentioning is the fact that the majority of New York areas are not wealthy, upper-class citizens. They are middle to lower income families with little or no insurance coverage. They can't afford the foods that are good for them, they can't afford to take care of themselves in the proper manner.

I happen to be presently unemployed, so since my diagnosis I have forked out right around $1000 or more in supplies, testing, & prescriptions. Thank God my husband has a very well paying job.... if I was still a single mom on my own - I would have wound up in a coma because I couldn't afford to go to the doctor WITH or WITHOUT insurance.

This is the most irritating factor of the disease - it is by far one of the more expensive diseases with the financial longevity of George Burns!!!!!! The media & government needs to pay more attention to finding & fighting for a cure for this, instead of inventing new & more expensive ways of prolonging the disease so that they can line their pocketbooks with our "sick" money. More money in the disease than the cure, donchaknow?!?! :eviltongu

Okay, dismounting now - just needed to vent, I feel much better now. :smokin: Thanks for bringing the article to our attention.


Rants on soapboxes are good. Welcome to the wonderful of diabetes.

I think more effort needs to be focused on how to help diabetics with the financial end of the disease. There are diabetics that don't manage because the can't afford it. Not all diabetics are lazy about managing. While it's important to educate people how life choices could have an effect on when they would acquire this lovely disease, I think the people that are already suffering from it need more help.

Having the means to treat the disease at the start, can slow or stop the complications. These complications are the HUGE expenses that is associated with diabetes. Give the people the financial means to avoid the complications.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Okay rant over, dismounting soapbox. Next.

[TechKnowBabble]

I should NOT have read that article. I go through stages of feeling that I can handle this, if I work hard, exercise, eat right, lose weight I'll be fine. At other times I feel like I am a time bomb waiting to go off, that complications are around every corner. For every person that tells me, you will do fine if you work at this, I feel there are 5 more that are telling me I've been given a death sentence. Fear and ignorance are the worse culprits against this disease.

[discordia]

The only thing they left out was a pic of me having a smoke. *Sigh* Yes, I do, and yes, I know better.

[Cinnabon]

I also found no report and the portion of the Diabetics that do take care of themselves (DForums..) how they are doing. I agree w/ Nikki.. For every person that tells me, you will do fine if you work at this, I feel there are 5 more that are telling me I've been given a death sentence. Fear and ignorance are the worse culprits against this disease."

[jen_slc]

For every person that tells me, you will do fine if you work at this, I feel there are 5 more that are telling me I've been given a death sentence.That's terrible! :eek: I'm sorry you feel that way. I don't feel like I am doomed, no-one has ever told me that, and if specific people ever did they would get an earful from me. I guess with the media stories, I read them but I try not to let them affect me.

[TechKnowBabble]

That's terrible! :eek: I'm sorry you feel that way. I don't feel like I am doomed, no-one has ever told me that, and if specific people ever did they would get an earful from me. I guess with the media stories, I read them but I try not to let them affect me.

I think I just need lots more education and I'm hoping I'll get that in March when I go to my first CDE appt

[Cinnabon]

Jen,
I think Nikky tried to express what a lot of others feel in the sense that ignorance is beyond belief, like people that made this article. The ignorance gives you more complications than diabetes ever will.

[jen_slc]

ah yes, I see that angle now too. I was just shocked at the possibility that people might actually be telling you Nikki that you're doomed! It's very true, ignorance is a huge problem.

[TechKnowBabble]

ah yes, I see that angle now too. I was just shocked at the possibility that people might actually be telling you Nikki that you're doomed! It's very true, ignorance is a huge problem.


My boyfriend's father said to me the day I announced that I had been diagnosed as being diabetic. I told him my fasting number was 179, he told me oh your doctor should have put you on insulin immediately. Scared me to DEATH. That's why I really don't discuss any details with anyone who isn't diabetic, they always want to share their opinion, which is inevitably wrong.

[DONS]

I'm even careful discussing diabetes with people who are diabetic. Some are in denial and will give you wrong information to justify what they do. I try to find people who are doing a pretty good job of controlling their bs and then see if their information is consistant and makes sense.

[TechKnowBabble]

I'm even careful discussing diabetes with people who are diabetic. Some are in denial and will give you wrong information to justify what they do. I try to find people who are doing a pretty good job of controlling their bs and then see if their information is consistant and makes sense.

Which is why I am here so often :) I read ALOT of posts even if I don't reply. So I have a pretty good idea of who is on target...maybe not always, but most of the time.