Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 An excellent letter, Vicki, written with clarity and authority. Paice www.dapaice.com " Click on Potpourri for diabetes tests. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 In a message dated 1/9/2006 6:58:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, whimsy2@... writes: Much better to place type 2s on insulin if there is clear evidence that pills and/or diet/exercise are not working adequately. I am type 2 but I am getting tingles in my arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 I read it this morning and thought it was a very good part 1, although pretty depressing. I did write a letter to the editor, which I'll paste on here. Wonder if they'll print it? Here's the letter: Congratulations on your series about the diabetes " epidemic " and its social consequences. I would like to point out that all is not as hopeless as it seems. Change can happen - but it will have to start at the very top, institutions such as our medical schools, insurance companies and the American Diabetes Association. The medical schools need to revise their curriculum to reflect, among other things, the latest findings such as the use of the glycemic index for diabetic control. This index quantifies how carbohydrates are metabolized in the diabetic's body. High GI carbs, such as the " whites, " -- breads and in fact, anything made with grains, including pastas and cereals, rice and root vegetables, cause high blood glucose. Eliminating these foods from a diabetic diet helps keep BGs in the non-diabetic range. And frequent glucose testing with meters needs to be encouraged. Insurance companies need to expand the number of permitted test strips, which are very expensive. At the beginning, at least, new diabetics need to learn how different foods affect their blood glucose and then eliminate those foods from their diet. Diabetes is not a " one-size-fits-all " disease, but up till now, it has been treated thus. Far too few doctors understand that this is the true purpose of blood glucose testing with meters. It's probably too much to ask drug manufacturers to reduce the cost of test strips to make them more affordable. However, insurance companies could certainly revise their guidelines to allow for more than 2 or 4 tests per day. In the long run, this will save millions of dollars because more diabetics will be able to afford to test more frequently, avoid the foods that cause high BGs and thus avoid diabetic-related complications. Further, far too many doctors rely on the American Diabetic Association recommendations, which encourage high GI food consumption. So the ADA needs to redefine its teachings. At this point, following the ADA " diabetic diet " truly does cause high BGs and diabetic related complications. Medical schools should have a specialty in diabetics, not merely as an adjunct to endocrinology. They also need to have more classes on psychology and the psychology of motivation, to get diabetics to test more. Unlike many other chronic conditions, diabetes is best managed by the educated diabetic Medical schools also need to teach doctors how to prescribe insulin properly. Most doctors prescribe a " set dose " of insulin one or two times a day, which rarely works, since the amount of carbohydrates one eats in a day varies widely. Much more efficient is basing insulin dosage on the amount of carbs eaten, as those on insulin pumps do. Further, they need to recommend the use of newer, faster-acting insulins instead of the old NPH and regular insulin, which have irregular action curves and often cause unexpected and dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. I would point out that there are other categories of diabetes besides type 1 and 2. There is LADA, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, which is essentially type 1 diabetes occurring after age 35 and caused by the same autoimmune process that causes type 1 diabetes in children. Too often doctors assume that if a patient is adult at onset of diabetes, it's type 2. This is clearly not true. My own LADA diagnosis was made at age 60, 8 years ago. In this case, misdiagnosis can be dangerous and cause diabetic related complications because after a short while the traditional type 2 remedies -- diet and exercise or pills will not work. Insulin is the only appropriate and proper treatment for LADA, as it is for type 1. I have been managing my LADA successfully since diagnosis and have no diabetic related complications and my plan is to reach a ripe old age with all my parts in excellent working order. Lastly, I would point out the excellent support available with online diabetic groups. I would especially refer people to Dr. K. Bernstein's website. Dr. Bernstein is an MD, author and type 1 diabetic who successfully reversed his diabetes-related complications through the use of insulin and a lower carbohydrate diet. The successful management of diabetes is complex but it is, indeed possible. Unlike many other diseases, the patient can actually control his/her diabetes. But it's not going to happen unless all the above changes take place. I'm rather pessimistic about it happening in my own lifetime. But one can hope. Vicki Abbott Portland, Oregon Times series > The lead story in the New York Times today is the diabetes epidemic. I > guess > the prevalence in New York City is the highest in the nation. They're > doing > a 4-part series, Monday through Thursday, with more stuff and feedback > online. This might be a good chance to spread the word about the > benefits of > good control. > > Gretchen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Vicki, I sure hope they do print your letter. It was beautifully written and covers all the important things. Lots of good luck. Lou whimsy2 wrote: > I read it this morning and thought it was a very good part 1, although > pretty depressing. I did write a letter to the editor, which I'll paste > on here. Wonder if they'll print it? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Three cheers, Vicki, for a succinct letter with an important message! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Good letter Vicki. I hope somebody will read it. CarolR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Very well written Vicki, I hope they print it. Bev Thoman -- Re: Times series I read it this morning and thought it was a very good part 1, although pretty depressing. I did write a letter to the editor, which I'll paste on here. Wonder if they'll print it? Here's the letter:... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Thanks, yep, me too! V. Re: Times series > Good letter Vicki. I hope somebody will read it. > > CarolR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Just realized I forgot to mention in that letter that doctors need to place type 2s on insulin far earlier than they have been. Once the complications are there, it is too late. Much better to place type 2s on insulin if there is clear evidence that pills and/or diet/exercise are not working adequately. O well. Vicki Re: Times series > An excellent letter, Vicki, written with clarity and authority. > > Paice > www.dapaice.com > " Click on Potpourri for diabetes tests. " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 > I read it this morning and thought it was a very good part 1, although > pretty depressing. I was pleased to see that they pointed out that a lot of overweight couch potatoes *don't* get diabetes and that type 2 can be delayed " and possibly prevented " by lifestyle changes. This is a big change from the usual blaming the patient and saying that type 2 can be prevented with " simple lifestyle changes. " > I did write a letter to the editor, which I'll paste > on here. Wonder if they'll print it? If they don't, you could post something to the Web site. You might want to wait until the end of the series to send the letter, if it's not too late. It's a good letter, but if you could shorten it a bit, you'll increase the chance that they'll use it. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 An excellent letter, Vicki! I hope they do print it. Hugs, Dianne __________________________________________ Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less. dsl.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 In a message dated 1/9/2006 8:09:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, gretchen@... writes: > It's a good letter, but if you could shorten it a bit, you'll increase the > chance that they'll use it. That's great advice, Gretchen. The letters I've had published were short and controversial. Unfortunately, non were about diabetes . . . yet! Paice www.dapaice.com " Click on Potpourri for diabetes tests. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I've just finished part 2 of the series. It's good, but they made a major error, and I wrote them about it, as follows: << There's a glaring error in your otherwise excellent series on Diabetes, part 2, in today's paper: You stated, " Type 1, which comprises only 5 percent to 10 percent of diabetes cases, is not associated with behavior, and is believed to stem almost entirely from genetic factors. " Type 1 in fact stems almost entirely from AUTOIMMUNE factors. Genetic factors are almost purely coincidental. I hope you will correct this, either by printing this letter or by a sidebar. << They haven't printed any of the Letters on the subject yet -- maybe tomorrow -- but I'm sure mine was too long. I did post it on their Forum section in a somewhat edited form -- it was too long for that venue also. It's an interesting discussion, though. This is the link: http://forums.nytimes.com/top/opinion/readersopinions/forums/health/thediabetesc\ risis/index.html?page=recent There was also an excellent and related article in the Health section about the connection between diabetes and heart disease: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/health/10hear.html Vicki Re: Times series > In a message dated 1/9/2006 8:09:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, > gretchen@... writes: > >> It's a good letter, but if you could shorten it a bit, you'll >> increase the >> chance that they'll use it. > > That's great advice, Gretchen. The letters I've had published were > short and > controversial. Unfortunately, non were about diabetes . . . yet! > > Paice > www.dapaice.com > " Click on Potpourri for diabetes tests. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I started to write or email the Times yesterday, but then decided it was futile. I get so sick and tired of reading how type 2 diabetes is " caused " by obesity. They don't seem to get it that just because there is a correlation between the two, that doesn't mean you can draw that conclusion. In my case, and in others I'm aware of, I'm certain that the slow onset of diabetes was responsible for my weight gain and not the other way around. Three years prior to diagnosis, my doctor mentioned an elevated glucose level, but since he kind of blew it off I didn't worry about it. By the time I was diagnosed I had a fasting BG of 338 and an A1c of 10.7. I had also gained about 45 pounds. As soon as I got my BG under control, I dropped those extra pounds with no effort. It makes sense to me that if you have increased IR, you have both insulin and glucose building up in your system, and from what I've read, it will cause you to store the excess as fat. So as I became increasingly IR, I gained weight. I also lost energy and became tired easily, so my activity level went down. Once I got back to normal BG levels, my energy level shot back up. I did not " cause " my diabetes. My father died from complications of diabetes, and it is also prevalent on my mother's side. None of the diabetics on either side are particularly overweight, and some are downright skinny. I wasn't morbidly obese at 45 pounds over even at my highest weight. Some of my family members who do have weight problems are NOT diabetic. For me, it was a strong genetic predisposition. Oddly, we have both T1s and T2s in my family tree. Christy -- In diabetes_int , " whimsy2 " wrote: > > I've just finished part 2 of the series. It's good, but they made a > major error, and I wrote them about it, as follows: > << > There's a glaring error in your otherwise excellent series on Diabetes, > part 2, in today's paper: > > You stated, > > " Type 1, which comprises only 5 percent to 10 percent of diabetes cases, > is not associated with behavior, and is believed to stem almost entirely > from genetic factors. " > > Type 1 in fact stems almost entirely from AUTOIMMUNE factors. Genetic > factors are almost purely coincidental. > > I hope you will correct this, either by printing this letter or by a > sidebar. > << > > They haven't printed any of the Letters on the subject yet -- maybe > tomorrow -- but I'm sure mine was too long. I did post it on their > Forum section in a somewhat edited form -- it was too long for that > venue also. It's an interesting discussion, though. This is the link: > > http://forums.nytimes.com/top/opinion/readersopinions/forums/health/th ediabetescrisis/index.html?page=recent > > There was also an excellent and related article in the Health section > about the connection between diabetes and heart disease: > > http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/health/10hear.html > > Vicki > > > Re: Times series > > > > In a message dated 1/9/2006 8:09:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, > > gretchen@s... writes: > > > >> It's a good letter, but if you could shorten it a bit, you'll > >> increase the > >> chance that they'll use it. > > > > That's great advice, Gretchen. The letters I've had published were > > short and > > controversial. Unfortunately, non were about diabetes . . . yet! > > > > Paice > > www.dapaice.com > > " Click on Potpourri for diabetes tests. " > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 This would help to explain why I was GAINING weight the last month before I was DX'd. and I was trying to be " good " with my eating. mind you I am not on any meds - and hopefully won't need to. but I am gaining control over my BG's now. so hopefully the weight will come off (and take a few " friends " with it too!) :-) Shauna :-) _____ I started to write or email the Times yesterday, but then decided it was futile. I get so sick and tired of reading how type 2 diabetes is " caused " by obesity. They don't seem to get it that just because there is a correlation between the two, that doesn't mean you can draw that conclusion. In my case, and in others I'm aware of, I'm certain that the slow onset of diabetes was responsible for my weight gain and not the other way around. Three years prior to diagnosis, my doctor mentioned an elevated glucose level, but since he kind of blew it off I didn't worry about it. By the time I was diagnosed I had a fasting BG of 338 and an A1c of 10.7. I had also gained about 45 pounds. As soon as I got my BG under control, I dropped those extra pounds with no effort. It makes sense to me that if you have increased IR, you have both insulin and glucose building up in your system, and from what I've read, it will cause you to store the excess as fat. So as I became increasingly IR, I gained weight. I also lost energy and became tired easily, so my activity level went down. Once I got back to normal BG levels, my energy level shot back up. I did not " cause " my diabetes. My father died from complications of diabetes, and it is also prevalent on my mother's side. None of the diabetics on either side are particularly overweight, and some are downright skinny. I wasn't morbidly obese at 45 pounds over even at my highest weight. Some of my family members who do have weight problems are NOT diabetic. For me, it was a strong genetic predisposition. Oddly, we have both T1s and T2s in my family tree. Christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 The thing that strikes me about the Times series is how medicine and the current health care " system " (or lack thereof) fails poor people. Today's article was depressing as he**, and knowing that those stories are repeated millions of times all over the country doesn't help. Poverty is an emotional, spiritual, cultural and physical condition. It seems to me that relying on free clinics or emergency rooms are poor ways to get medical care, but often all that are available to many poor people. Clearly, it's better to be rich, thin, and live on the upper east side of Manhattan than to live in Harlem. Gee, and this is news? Culture is also an issue, one we are all probably familiar with when we go to family affairs and are told to just have some this time, or just have one bite so as not to insuln grandma. Lack of money means no education or training. Many may bash the ADA method of diabetes control, but clearly it would be an improvement over what many people are doing right now. Lack of money means it's harder to be high quaility food. Lack of money and insurance means it's harder to afford strips and medications. Getting through the medicaid morass isn't easy. Lack of follow up care means no help when a diabetic gets weary or frustrated. Sure, computer groups help, but, to me, they're a third tier thing. First tier being lack of decent healthcare to begin with, second tier being lack of money for decent food. There's so much more that could be done before we get to the idea that computer and internet access should be there for everyone. More than anything, this series makes me want to do outreach work. Not to convert people to my viewpoint on how to deal with diabetes, but more to encourage people to believe that it's worth it to care and take as good care of oneself as possible. I will read the rest of the series, though I understand tomorrow will be about prevention issues. That should be interesting, to say the least. Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 > > The thing that strikes me about the Times series is how medicine and > the current health care " system " (or lack thereof) fails poor > people. Today's article was depressing as he**, and knowing that > those stories are repeated millions of times all over the country > doesn't help. does anyone have the link to today's article? thanks! kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Here you go!! http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial5/10diabetes.html?th R. -----Original Message----- > > The thing that strikes me about the Times series is how medicine and > the current health care " system " (or lack thereof) fails poor > people. Today's article was depressing as he**, and knowing that > those stories are repeated millions of times all over the country > doesn't help. does anyone have the link to today's article? thanks! kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Stacey wrote: >Lack of money means no education or training. Many may bash the ADA >method of diabetes control, but clearly it would be an improvement >over what many people are doing right now. > >Lack of money means it's harder to be high quaility food. > >Lack of money and insurance means it's harder to afford strips and >medications. Getting through the medicaid morass isn't easy. > >Lack of follow up care means no help when a diabetic gets weary or >frustrated. > >Sure, computer groups help, but, to me, they're a third tier thing. >First tier being lack of decent healthcare to begin with, second tier >being lack of money for decent food. There's so much more that could >be done before we get to the idea that computer and internet access >should be there for everyone. > >More than anything, this series makes me want to do outreach work. >Not to convert people to my viewpoint on how to deal with diabetes, >but more to encourage people to believe that it's worth it to care >and take as good care of oneself as possible. > > Hi Stacey Couldn't agree with you more. I'm in England so I don't see the NY Times, but I wonder how many of the poor people get to read the articles as well? I'm lucky in that I don't need insurance but because I am not working, for other reasons than the diabetes, my diet is not the best. I can't afford the supplements that would assist with this condition. I have had to borrow some money to buy some multi-vitamins, luckily there was a sale at the store so I got enough to last a year at one go, but now I have to repay the debt also. Have the articles been picked up by other newspapers in the states? Is this information only available to those with computers or the money to buy a copy of the Times in New York? -- Rob T2 Metformin; Multi Vits with Minerals; Soya Lecithin; Effexor XL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 > I'm in England so I don't see the NY Times It's online. www.nytimes.com. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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