Comments on: ADA’s Richard Kahn Drops a Bomb

By: gagner argent

gagner argent — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:06:52 +0000

But Jeff, you’re using technology to manage your numbers, aren’t you? The A1c test has only been around since the seventies. Glucose monitoring is also relatively new. Only in the past 15 years have there been a lot of studies about the benefits of tight control. Technology has helped us (I’m a type 1) take the reins and properly self-manage.

By: ADA is a Joke

ADA is a Joke — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:51:08 +0000

ADA just cut research and what little they were providing for type 1 and kids is now next to nothing. While this Kahn may be a fool, look to their new CEO Larry Hausner. He is driving the organization into the ground.

By: Undiagnosed

Undiagnosed — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:17:25 +0000

arrrgggggg the medical profession….. how frustrating it is for all of us in chronic pain.
Love your articles !

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:44:18 +0000

I have never had any faith in the ADA. They are beholden to their corporate sponsors and as such I don’t think they do much in the case of being advocates for diabetics.

Great Post Amy. Keep up the great work.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:08:21 +0000

By: AmyT

AmyT — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:09:21 +0000

Jeff,
You are entitled to your opinion, to be sure. This post is simply reporting on conversations with audience members — highly informed, industry-connected people who were quite upset over Kahn’s speech. I also read the script carefully myself, and was quite surprised. Please keep your eyes peeled for my follow-up post.

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:32:22 +0000

Amy what an irresponsible blog entry you have posted. Read his speech. You were not there. You can not possibly be credible by making sweeping statements that “everyone in the room was stunned”

We have the text to examine and unfortunately irresponsible bloggers to judge with no real objectivity. I have type 1 and I think the best way to control my diabetes is to manage my numbers first and foremost—then manage technology 2nd

In the future, please do not make personal comments on something you did experience first hand

By: WC

WC — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:35:31 +0000

Unfortunately, I think you might find the insurance industry to be the biggest champion for a cure. After all, they stand to lose the most if technology wins.

By: Felix Kasza

Felix Kasza — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:23:25 +0000

OK, would all the commenters who have actually read the speech please raise a hand?

The text is available at http://professional.diabetes.org/News_Display.aspx?CID=57894&TYP=9, and I highly recommend reading it.

For instance, here is what Dr. Kahn had to say about insulin pumps and SMBG:

“Laser photocoagulation, insulin pumps, [...] and many more technological advances, have given people with diabetes a far better life [...]. They have certainly saved lives, improved many more lives, and made diabetes manageable for millions of people. Yet in some instances, for example self-monitoring in type 2 patients on oral drugs, the technology was not preceded by any long-term, randomized controlled study showing benefit. Of note, for that technology, even now, we do not have robust proof that the technology works in such patients, yet Medicare is spending over 1 billion dollars to provide it.”

Dr. Kahn is stating verifiable facts, and he is not even speaking out against pumps or SMBG — he is saying that there is not a single study that shows SMBG to have any positive effect in diabetics who do not take insulin.

So, what is this hubbub all about?

Cheers,
Felix.

By: Melitta

Melitta — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:05:30 +0000

It is ironic that Kahn laments the poor quality of diabetes care in the United States, when ADA itself is a promoter of poor care. ADA fails to distinguish between two different diseases, Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. ADA fails to head-on address the fact that Type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease, and prevention is less costly than cure (and here I mean true Type 2 diabetes, which does not include slow-onset autoimmune diabetes (aka LADA) or MODY, etc.). ADA misrepresents the number of Type 2’s in the US by including the largest population of Type 1’s (that being adult-onset Type 1 autoimmune diabetes) in the statistics for Type 2 diabetes. ADA is the promoter of wrong information about Type 1, and ADA is no friend of Type 1’s.

posted by Melitta who loves her technology (Mr. Pumpy!) and wants Mr. CGM to join Mr. Pumpy