> Normally I’m all for data and evidence.

This starts to open the door to the larger, background conversation: what information is reliable? What can we count on?

We used to think “doctors,” in all innocence. Then we realized that not everything every doctor said was gold, so we need to think for ourselves. Learning to look for evidence is an important part of that.

Next came learning to inspect the evidence, and ask questions where necessary. The article Susannah mention (discusseded in http://e-patients.net/archives/2008/11/making-sense-of-health-statistics.html) is a brilliant education on that point. (Read the comments for important additions.)

For me, a patient of a different stripe, this has become the next brick in my wall of being responsible for my own situation, my own health, and particularly assessing my options about treatment.

What was still stunning to me, though, was reading how many doctors didn’t have the statistical literacy to understand what they were reading it, and thus to question it.

I find the entire continuous glucose monitoring denials preposterous. Should we do a study on whether asthmatics improve when they can breathe, before we give them albuterol and oxygen? It’s completely obvious that CGM will help diabetics. Think of the car accidents that could be avoided, along with trips to the ER for hypoglycemia — the technology is priceless based just on those measures.

I am so tired of physicians and patients knuckling under to these insurance companies, who collect “evidence” only so they can delay and deny payment. They are not actually evidence-driven, not in the slightest. They are driven only by profits. We’ve got to do something about this — I am hoping the Obama administration has the guts to push for a change.

If people are interested in this topic, please drop by and join in the conversation that surrounds some of our recent posts:

Making sense of health statistics

Lies, Damn Lies And Statistics: Collective Statistical Illiteracy

And, possibly of special interest to PWDs:

What’s wrong with this picture?

32 years type 1 (since age 17)