A white elephant is a supposedly valuable possession whose upkeep exceeds its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability. Every type 2 diabetic is a valuable possession to someone: a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son...you get the picture. But when it comes to the complications of the disease - it costs the U.S. health system an extra $22.9 billion a year to treat these complications.
"It is a pretty significant wake-up call for people, or should be. It really points out the importance of managing the disease," said Willard Manning, a health economist at the University of Chicago who worked on the report.
Dr. Daniel Einhorn says "the fact that people are still getting complications means we are not using our tools effectively enough," When people fail to follow their diet, exercise and drug treatment plans, the disease leads to complications that boost the total health bill to $57.1 billion. "Either the patient doesn't recognize they have it and complications develop, or they are not good about adhering to their doctor's orders," he said, adding, "We've got to do a better job of managing the disease." Dr. Einhorn serves on the board of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Of course, it's the patient -- NOT the drugs they are using. It couldn't possibly be the drugs.
1. It is clear who has the responsibility. Is is both. The Patient in changing his Lifestyle to a healthier one and the Physician in making all the tools available for the current treatment in Diabetes.
"You can bring a Horse to Water, but you cannot make him drink".
Complications wait for no man.
Posted at 10:38PM on Apr 15th 2007 by BetterCell