My fellow diabetics, now is the time for us to come together. According to the news last week, there are 24 million diabetics in the United States. (I know, some six million of you don’t know you’re diabetic yet, but sooner or later you’re going to ask why you’re going to the bathroom six times a night.)
We now represent a significant part of the American landscape. There are more diabetics than members of the NRA, PETA, and Daughters of the American Revolution combined!
I know, you think the American Diabetes Association is doing a fine job representing us. (I think they’re doing a fine job, too.) And there are places like dLife and Diabetic Connect where we already gather. But they’re just groups and websites. We could be a movement!
Think of it: the 24 Million Diabetic March. We could storm the capital and build a mountain of blood sugar strips on the White House lawn to make our numbers known. It’s possible—we have heft (for once I’m not talking about waistlines and BMI).
We could even make demands. This will take some discussion, but I think we should start by asking for access to better health care and sugar-free donuts that actually taste like Krispy Kreme.
But seriously, when a disease reaches critical mass—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 57 million Americans have prediabetes (a condition in which individuals have elevated blood glucose levels that are not high enough to be classified as diabetes…yet)—it demands attention all on its own. So, what exactly would we be fighting for?
- A war on obesity and sedentary lifestyles—especially among children and adolescents.
- A serious national discussion of diet and nutrition.
- Earlier, more frequent screening. If 57 million Americans are headed toward diabetes, early intervention is a must.
- Better, less invasive diagnostic tools. Did you know the FDA doesn’t have a rigid accuracy standard for blood glucose monitors? An international standard of plus or minus 20% is under development.
- New therapeutic treatments that target diabetes at onset and freeze its development.
- More diabetic specialists. There are only 3,000 endocrinologists in the U.S., for those 24 million people with diabetes. Nine out of 10 people are treated by their family physician or internist, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it means we also need better education for general practitioners on the front lines.
The big numbers are frightening and beg for movement if not a movement. Otherwise, the next time I address American diabetics, I may be speaking to all my fellow Americans.
(PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO)
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Comments (5)
Stop all the b-sht about BMI and test strips, recent research shows that strict A1c levels have little to no affect, Diabetes is a disfunction of the endochrin and metabilism systems – Stop giving billions of dollars to fat cat diet companies and testing labs and work on a cure for the disease – do we try to manage cancer and hope we wont die from it??
Diabetes is not a character flaw it is a disease- pls stop accusing me of not using my glucose strips and address the issue of the cure for this terminal disease that eats its victim one system @ a time.
Lets induce the weasels of fashion and medical communiteis with this metabolic disfunction and see how quick they put on the sympathy loin cloth to hide thier hypocrisy.
jimney sakes – get a life then get real
Joe VanCott
ValleyForge Pennsylvania
Hello:
I’m all for embryonic stem cell research. I was very mad when Pres.Bush, the Vatican and other “holy” people came down on it. I’m Roman Catholic and I don’t believe Jesus would tell us to forget it. Does the general public know that the cells are discarded when they reach 14 days old?
If all the diabetics wrote to the above people, things would surely change. But, what do I know, I’m only a grandmother.
Sincerely,
Angela M. Rosati
Cranston, RI
Hello,
Diabetes is not as frightening as it is made out to be. I have been its victim (type ii) since past 5 yers but with abstinance i am living a fuller life.
I do take sweets but within limits.
Being a teacher i never sit in the classroom but
for the sake of burning calories make it a point to stand & teach.
I try to move around a lot doing simple household chores at home than being a couch potato.
So far so good without medicine.No sedentary lifestyle for me.
Anita
Delhi,India
Sean:
I also wanted to add to the list http://www.TuDiabetes.com, the first social network for people touched by diabetes, founded back in March 2007. Now we have close to 4,000 members, along with another 1,000 in our sister community in Spanish, http://www.EsTuDiabetes.com.
Diabetes is a disease – but we’re not victims, we’re people who have it and have to manage it
thinking of yourself as a victim doesn’t help you or anyone because it’s a powerless position