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Saturday 25 June 2011

It works for me, we are all different, no one size fits all.

Hang around diabetes forums for a while and you will see those phrases many times. Yes we are different, but as far as diabetes goes in many ways we are all the same. We all have to control our blood glucose levels to stay healthy. By and large the foods that raise BG numbers have a similar effect on most diabetics. What varies greatly is the way BG is kept in check. Some control diabetes with diet and exercise. Others prefer or need to use medication. Some insulin users use MDI some use a pump. Many use a combination of methods to control blood glucose. The method of control is not important, if it works and keeps on working. The problem is for many no method appears to work. This is so very obvious when you look at the NHS published data.

NHS Statistics for 2008 2009:
Percentage of Type 1 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 7.5 per cent = 71.4 per cent.
Percentage of Type 2 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 7.5 per cent = 33.4 per cent.
Percentage of Type 1 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 10.0 per cent = 33.6 per cent.
Percentage of Type 2 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 10.0 per cent = 14.3 per cent.
These results are very similar to those found in 2006 – 2007 and 2007 – 2008.
NHS results indicate:
On average Type 1 diabetics have a 20 year lower life expectancy.
On average Type 2 diabetics have a 10 year lower life expectancy.


With relaxing of the NICE guidelines, very poor dietary information for most newly diagnosed, refusal of free test strips. Huge cutbacks in NHS spending including banning of certain drugs because of cost, reduced full bloods and HbA1c testing, the future for many looks bleak. The above NHS data is grim and I cannot see any way outcomes for many will improve.

So, back to we are all different, what does a person do when he knows about the grim and very often unnecessary outcomes for many diabetics and where elevated BG numbers will lead to ? What do you do when you know how to obtain long term non diabetic numbers ? Smile smugly and think I’m ok, hard luck Jack and go quietly on your way to a peaceful life ?

I am beginning to see things in a different way. I am beginning to think the almost unthinkable, that so many diabetics do not care about their outcome and the last thing they want is the truth. I am beginning to think some forums are more of a social club than a place to learn the truth. Am I going over the top ? I don’t think so. Just look at the grief some members get when trying to educate the don’t know and don’t want to know. Just a thought.
 
Eddie

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so right Eddie, I tried to bring some common sense to a discussion following an idiotic post from a moderator. There were some posts supporting my point of view thank goodness - the rest is history.

First there was the usual guff from the angry mob who seem outraged that anyone should question the wisdom of the new mod. Then there followed the usual attacks from the village idiot, with his facile attempts at humour, and attacks from the rest of the moronic clique.

It's a pattern that occurs all too frequently and I can only assume it's behavior that meets with the approval of the owners of the forum.

I was outraged to be told we should discuss such matters by private message - what's the point of having a forum?

I did, in fact, receive a slightly rude PM from the new mod who seemed quite angry with me. Perhaps her blood glucose control was a bit on blink!

One thing the episode revealed was that some of those who write very lordly posts that would possibly impress a newcomer have no control over their BG.

One actually went so far as to say he eats what he likes!

The fact is, the whole thing is dominated by a cabal who have little else in their lives but writing pompous and wordy posts to massage their own fragile egos.

To me, their outpourings are a form of mental masturbation.

Perhaps that why some gentle souls find an argument "scary" - pleeease!

Being wracked with pain and your vision going blurry - that's scary!!!

As to the "Why can't we all be friends" type of post - get real, life's not an idyllic picnic, you have to stand up against these fascists.

With the supposed departure of the head Gauleiter I really had high hopes - sadly I was wrong.

Ray

Anonymous said...

Common sense and diabetes just doesn't seem to go together. All we can do is keep repeating that we all need to aspire to low blood sugar levels. A reading of 11 is not good, I myself would not be happy with a reading of 7 ouch!

Its not only diabetes where people block out the truth but surely it is the duty of those in the know to keep saying the right things.

Sarah

Anonymous said...

So, if as you say there is no one size fits all solution to blood glucose management, why is low gi/low fat so wrong?

Anonymous said...

The future can be brighter than these figures suggest but only if those in the enlightened know keep spreading and talking about how to improve bs numbers.

Please don't give up the fight, shame it has to be like it but thats how it goes.

P

Lowcarb team member said...

Thanks Ray

Don't give up hope for over there, you never know. Fingers crossed eh.

Eddie