Epidemics

Speaking of epidemics.... has anyone noticed how many people sign up on the
list saying they were just diagnosed?

T2 diabetes *is* a life-threatening epidemic and how much do you hear about
it in the newspapers, magazines and on TV? A little, sure, but how *urgent*
are these reports? Nothing like what we heard about the swine flu, which
turned out to be much ado about nothing. More people die of the seasonal flu
in the US every year than has died of the swine flu (the swine flu hype was
just aother way for drug companies to make $$.)

It's affecting not only adults but *children* which is the scary part.

What we really need is to spread the word to our friends and families about
the ravages of diabetes.... how to work at preventing it (watch what you eat
and be active) and the need for regular checkups.

Our son & his wife live in another state but guess what the first thing I do
is when I see him? Yup, a finger stick! He's overweight (loves his carby
comfort foods, although not a big dessert eater), inactive (computer geek)
and has family history.....

And of course, if we know someone who has it and is in denial, we need to
come up with a way to encourage them lovingly to take better care of
themselves.....

Sherry

I found out I had Type 2 from a finger stick forced on me by my little sister way over a decade ago. She was taking care of our father at the time who also had Type 2. I self-treated with mixed success for about six months before being formally diagnosed by a doctor.

That being said, the present criteria for a Type 2 diagnosis make it look like an epidemic, but in fact folks with relatively normal metabolisms are receiving a Type 2 diagnosis and being placed on oral anti-glycemics. This is sometimes not without peril to patients. We see patients in here on not just Metformin right out of the gate, but also a sulfonylurea. Just a couple of days ago, a recently diagnose poster mentioned lows around 50. That is a recipe for heart problems and likely a greater risk to his health that a BG barely above normal.

Anyway, regular denizens of this group know I am a contrarian, but I do worry about this overly aggressive treatment of very early stages of our favorite disease.

Syd