Comments on: NEWS FLASH: Top Orgs Band Together for New “National Diabetes Goal”

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:13:14 +0000

Allison…we’re saying that this seemingly will have NO benefit for Type 1 diabetes whatsoever. I don’t see the word “cure” coming from anywhere in the press release. Fact is, you can eat right, bike all day long, and be skinny as a rail, but if you cannot control your BG into normal ranges (like most Type 1′s) with today’s lacking technology to do so, you are still screwed. What’s the point of trying to find out “cost data” for Type 1 if you offer no real solutions for the people who have it?! This campaign is big on fanfare, lacking on substance.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:08:32 +0000

I don’t hear the phrase “prevent type 1 diabetes” but I DO hear the blanket statement “prevent diabetes” all the time. The problem is that the diseases are rolled into one category, and most laypeople don’t understand the distinction. For that matter, a lot of people in the medical field don’t understand the difference. The things I’ve heard nurses, dieticians, and even doctors say are unbelievable (including an ER doc telling me her mom got type 2 at age 26, so I must be type 2 due to my late dx). And after the 60 Mins story on gastric bypass & type 2 aired, I was deluged with comments about there being a “cure” for diabetes. Anyway let’s hope these efforts are targeted to the specific needs of T1s and T2s.

By: Allison Blass

Allison Blass — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:15:16 +0000

Has it occured to anyone that maybe they have different goals and action plans for both type 1 and type 2? Just because they want to educate about prevention doesn’t mean they are going to talk about prevention for both type 1 and type 2. Obviously, the AADE and the other orgs know you can’t do that, so I would assume they have different steps they are going to take for educating on the two diseases.

I agree with Scott that some of the economic data might very beneficial in arguing for more funding, but I don’t think that just because an organization focuses on both type 1 and type 2 means they are going to do the exact same thing for both them. Does it say anywhere they are going to help educate people on how to prevent type 1 diabetes? No, it doesn’t. And if does and I’m missing it, please show me.

By: whimsy2

whimsy2 — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:38:02 +0000

A good first step would be to make strips affordable so at least the people who WANT to test frequently can afford to do so.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:25:55 +0000

If I had a nickel for everyone who has told me I can “beat diabetes” through exercise and diet, or who has advised me to cure it through gastric bypass (I am a normal-weight person), I would be able to pay back my med school loans in a lump sum. There’s no “prevention” for T1, at least no preventative strategy that isn’t experimental and immune-modulating. The next time I hear the phrase “prevent diabetes” I I may blow a gasket.

Having said that, I appreciate efforts to get people to understand their numbers AND make lifestyle changes. Heart surgeries and amputations are drastic measures. Exercising daily and making more healthful food choices are not drastic changes compared to the alternative. I’m constantly grateful that my disease allows me, in fact encourages me, to run, walk, jog, bike, and get my heart pumping every day.

By: mollyjade

mollyjade — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:18:56 +0000

Tmana, I have a friend who’s doing exactly that. She’s an MD/MPh student, and she and her fellow students have “adopted” a small town. They labeled healthy food at the town’s grocery store. They met with the mayor, the school principal, teachers, and other town leaders to discuss healthy habits. And they’re doing their rotations with the town doctor. They’re transforming the town, and there’s been a great response.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:13:28 +0000

What good is this? Big Pharma is looking for another way to attract more customers (i.e. those with a slightly higher than normal fasting BG level?).

People already KNOW how to prevent Type 2 diabetes. They don’t care to exercise that knowledge though, as clearly outlined in this post.

Also, what is the point of including autoimmune insulin deficiency (Type 1 diabetes), if there is absolutely no known way to prevent it? Or at least not through weight loss, diet, and exericse?

The problem is, just as those mistakenly think that us poor Type 1′s brought this upon themselves, a lot of Type 2 diabetics with lifestyle induced Type 2 diabetes DON’T take any responsibility for their actions and think that “bad luck” somehow brought it on.

These programs/surveys in and of themselves are useless. But they may get Big Pharma (in bed with the ADA) a few more customers…

By: AmyT

AmyT — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:19:31 +0000

Hey Scott,
I don’t think this is directly related to http://www.dancingtochangediabetes.com — but certainly a big part of Novo’s push to make waves in diabetes. And you’re certainly right that it *could* be more hype than anything else, TBD. But it would be awfully embarrassing for all these leading orgs if there were really no “meat” behind this National Goal.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:44:29 +0000

I suspect this is part of the Novo Nordisk-sponsored “Dancin’ to Change Diabetes” national video contest with former 98 degrees boy-band celeb Drew Lachey http://www.dancingtochangediabetes.com also announced yesterday — and to considerably more media attention, I would add.

The issue I have with these programs is that too often, they are launched with much fanfare, only to accomplish very little. The reason is exactly those you noted: vague objectives, lack of implementation plans, and lack of reliable measures used to measure outcomes. Perhaps the reason for this is because its difficult to get 20 diabetes health, non-profit and business advocacy organizations to coordinate on any effort, with conflicting priorities, egos in terms of who’s running the show, etc.

The area I found most intriguing was the fact that the Economic Barometer may finally attempt to quantify the economic costs, and surprise, even include details such as the cost differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, an issue that even the CDC doesn’t think merits sufficient attention to try and quantify how many people have each type of diabetes.

Its a bit tough to get excited about this program, over the past 32 years, I’ve seen so many programs come and go, but it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

By: tmana

tmana — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:44:27 +0000

If prevention is key (at least for T2), it would in some ways be better to partner with school cafeterias and physical education/health programs, corporate cafeterias and HR departments, supermarkets, and restaurants, promoting healthy foods and correct portion sizes, daily mandatory physical education in schools, company gyms, intracorporate sports leagues (for large companies), and community sports leagues (for smaller companies)…

In the end, though, I’d rather have the government OUT of medicine…