Comments on: The Book I Did Write http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:05:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Kim http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36496 Kim Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:41:08 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36496 Last week we buried my brother-in-law at the age of 52, a diabetic since the age of two who suffered every complication known to man (except blindness) He had been on dialysis for eight months. Amputations were around the corner, without question. He didn't have the tools we have today for the majority of his life, this is true. But we have them now. And that is why this book is so important. Patients today need to be educated, as well as their doctors, and the seriousness of the illness along with the importance of control drilled into every new diabetic who is diagnosed. It's never too late to learn more and be more pro-active, no matter when you were diagnosed. My copy is on the way via amazon.com right now. Kudos for writing and congratulations on being published! Last week we buried my brother-in-law at the age of 52, a diabetic since the age of two who suffered every complication known to man (except blindness)

He had been on dialysis for eight months. Amputations were around the corner, without question.

He didn’t have the tools we have today for the majority of his life, this is true.

But we have them now. And that is why this book is so important.

Patients today need to be educated, as well as their doctors, and the seriousness of the illness along with the importance of control drilled into every new diabetic who is diagnosed.

It’s never too late to learn more and be more pro-active, no matter when you were diagnosed.

My copy is on the way via amazon.com right now.

Kudos for writing and congratulations on being published!

]]> By: InsureBlog http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36498 InsureBlog Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:29:32 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36498 <strong>Grand Rounds</strong> From the Fellow Blogger Makes Good file: Diabetes Mine blogress Amy Tenderich has published a guide for diabetics, aimed at helping them manage their care. Mazel Tov, Amy! Grand Rounds

From the Fellow Blogger Makes Good file: Diabetes Mine blogress Amy Tenderich has published a guide for diabetics, aimed at helping them manage their care. Mazel Tov, Amy!

]]> By: Scott http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36495 Scott Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:09:03 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36495 The problem you describe is indeed multi-faceted (sp?), but the solutions are hardly simple. Our healthcare system is a HUGE contributor, as the number of employed persons without healthcare continues to grow. My biggest gripe is the cost of testing supplies, most of which are manufactured in China for pennies on the dollar yet retail for outlandish sums of money. dLife has contributed a great deal with its "test, don't guess" message, but the cost of testing supplies remains a sore point. At one time, a generic strip manufacturer named Inverness Medical existed until a few years ago, but the FTC turned a blind eye to reduction in true competition by allowing giant Johnson & Johnson Lifescan to acquire the company in 2001. However, an equally important contributor lies within the medical profession. There are countless doctors (many of whom are general practitioners or family doctors) who have not taken any continuing medical education (CME) credits since graduating from med school -- decades ago. Many react just as you describe, with hardly urgent statements like "your blood glucose is a LITTLE on the high side (382 mg/dL)". While that comes from not wanting to alarm patients, the fact is that these patients need to be alarmed! I am optimistic that since the Federal government will be picking up the cost of drugs via the new Medicare Drug Benefit, that the costs will soon receive greater public scrutiny since U.S. taxpayers will be assuming a greater portion of these costs. However, the medical profession, and particularly the ADA should be dedicating more time and effort towards investigating these issues, and instead, their priority seems focused mainly on prevention of type 2, in spite of their poor historical track record in this area, and the fact that the CDC and the NIH/NIDDK are already dedicating significant funds and efforts towards this as a priority. Why not refocus the ADA's prorities towards areas not receiving sufficient attention rather than duplicating efforts sponsored by the CDC and NIH? Now, if only the ADA would listen! The problem you describe is indeed multi-faceted (sp?), but the solutions are hardly simple. Our healthcare system is a HUGE contributor, as the number of employed persons without healthcare continues to grow. My biggest gripe is the cost of testing supplies, most of which are manufactured in China for pennies on the dollar yet retail for outlandish sums of money. dLife has contributed a great deal with its “test, don’t guess” message, but the cost of testing supplies remains a sore point. At one time, a generic strip manufacturer named Inverness Medical existed until a few years ago, but the FTC turned a blind eye to reduction in true competition by allowing giant Johnson & Johnson Lifescan to acquire the company in 2001.

However, an equally important contributor lies within the medical profession. There are countless doctors (many of whom are general practitioners or family doctors) who have not taken any continuing medical education (CME) credits since graduating from med school — decades ago. Many react just as you describe, with hardly urgent statements like “your blood glucose is a LITTLE on the high side (382 mg/dL)”. While that comes from not wanting to alarm patients, the fact is that these patients need to be alarmed!

I am optimistic that since the Federal government will be picking up the cost of drugs via the new Medicare Drug Benefit, that the costs will soon receive greater public scrutiny since U.S. taxpayers will be assuming a greater portion of these costs. However, the medical profession, and particularly the ADA should be dedicating more time and effort towards investigating these issues, and instead, their priority seems focused mainly on prevention of type 2, in spite of their poor historical track record in this area, and the fact that the CDC and the NIH/NIDDK are already dedicating significant funds and efforts towards this as a priority. Why not refocus the ADA’s prorities towards areas not receiving sufficient attention rather than duplicating efforts sponsored by the CDC and NIH? Now, if only the ADA would listen!

]]> By: Scott K. Johnson http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36494 Scott K. Johnson Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:04:29 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36494 Very cool Amy! I think it's a great idea, and will fill a need out there. Way to go! Very cool Amy!

I think it’s a great idea, and will fill a need out there.

Way to go!

]]> By: No name http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36493 No name Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:44:01 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36493 >If only these people had gained a better sense of >how to manage their health early on... That sounds dangerously close to blaming the patient to me! What, like having a good sense of how to manage translates into good control? Tools weren't always what they are now, Amy. Back before basal/bolus regimes, R was the best anyone had, and NPH had (has!) an insane absorption variability. Somedays, you could inject 10 units and get 10 units worth... other days, you'd inject 10 units and get 6 units worth (and different peaks each day), setting you up for blood sugar chaos, even if you knew the theory cold. Even the DCCT folks in the intensively treated group could only average an A1c of 7 back then. That means that HALF of patients couldn't meet target -- despite having the most aggressive care and follow up schedules with endos, nurses, dieticians, psychologists, etc., and the best technology of the day (including insulin pumps). >If only these people had gained a better sense of
>how to manage their health early on…

That sounds dangerously close to blaming the patient to me! What, like having a good sense of how to manage translates into good control?

Tools weren’t always what they are now, Amy. Back before basal/bolus regimes, R was the best anyone had, and NPH had (has!) an insane absorption variability. Somedays, you could inject 10 units and get 10 units worth… other days, you’d inject 10 units and get 6 units worth (and different peaks each day), setting you up for blood sugar chaos, even if you knew the theory cold.

Even the DCCT folks in the intensively treated group could only average an A1c of 7 back then. That means that HALF of patients couldn’t meet target — despite having the most aggressive care and follow up schedules with endos, nurses, dieticians, psychologists, etc., and the best technology of the day (including insulin pumps).

]]> By: Jo's Cafe http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36497 Jo's Cafe Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:49:43 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36497 <strong>Specials of the Day 11/29</strong> Specials of the Day for 11/29 ... Specials of the Day 11/29

Specials of the Day for 11/29

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]]> By: Jo's Cafe http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-248361 Jo's Cafe Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:49:43 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-248361 <strong>Specials of the Day 11/29</strong> Specials of the Day for 11/29 ... Specials of the Day 11/29

Specials of the Day for 11/29

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]]> By: Jo's Cafe http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-242988 Jo's Cafe Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:49:43 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-242988 <strong>Specials of the Day 11/29</strong> Specials of the Day for 11/29 ... Specials of the Day 11/29

Specials of the Day for 11/29

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]]> By: joan http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36492 joan Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:11:40 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36492 To Cindy - I read your comment about "diabetic sponsorship" and I am thrilled to tell you that here in San Diego under the umbrella of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute founded and directed by Bill Polonsky, Ph.D., CDE, we are in the beginning stages of designing a diabetes mentoring program to fulfill the need that you so eloquently described in your comment. This will be one-on-one connection between individuals living successfully with diabetes and those who are newly diagnosed and/or struggling. Please contact me if you want to be involved. Joan, catmom@worldnet.att.net To Cindy -
I read your comment about “diabetic sponsorship” and I am thrilled to tell you that here in San Diego under the umbrella of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute founded and directed by Bill Polonsky, Ph.D., CDE, we are in the beginning stages of designing a diabetes mentoring program to fulfill the need that you so eloquently described in your comment. This will be one-on-one connection between individuals living successfully with diabetes and those who are newly diagnosed and/or struggling. Please contact me if you want to be involved.
Joan, catmom@worldnet.att.net

]]> By: Cindy http://www.diabetesmine.com/2006/11/the_book_i_did.html/comment-page-1#comment-36491 Cindy Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:51:01 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2006/11/28/the-book-i-did-write/#comment-36491 Being new to this and working to understand everything I need to know, I can relate to how overwhelming all of this can be. I, too, am fortunate that I can access information from other sources and have been able to educate myself in addition to Endo and CDE. I have been thinking of asking my endo's office if they have considered some type of diabetic sponsorship...where newly diagnosed diabetics can contact an "experienced" diabetic for support. Not medical advice of course, but emotional support along with personal experience and guidance for all the little things the docs don't tell you. I think having someone that you could talk to especially in the beginning can provide encouragement and understanding that you can't get at a doctor visit. Also during those times of inevitable burnout, you would have an understanding ear and probably a gentle kick in the pants. I don't know....just my two cents. If my Endo's office had this....I would volunteer to help out. Being new to this and working to understand everything I need to know, I can relate to how overwhelming all of this can be. I, too, am fortunate that I can access information from other sources and have been able to educate myself in addition to Endo and CDE. I have been thinking of asking my endo’s office if they have considered some type of diabetic sponsorship…where newly diagnosed diabetics can contact an “experienced” diabetic for support. Not medical advice of course, but emotional support along with personal experience and guidance for all the little things the docs don’t tell you. I think having someone that you could talk to especially in the beginning can provide encouragement and understanding that you can’t get at a doctor visit. Also during those times of inevitable burnout, you would have an understanding ear and probably a gentle kick in the pants. I don’t know….just my two cents. If my Endo’s office had this….I would volunteer to help out.

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