1. I like your comments. The Diabetes problem is not being managed well. Sometimes I think the biggest obstacle is the physician healthcare provider. They are not recognizing the hazard of elevated blood sugar levels in their patients. They accept elevated levels that are destroying the patients immune system, that are causing deterioration in patients vascular system and consequently their renal system, and causing delays in their patients healing processes after surgery or injury.

Bottom line: Healthcare in this country needs to be reformed.

www.charlesclarknovels.com

Posted at 9:25AM on Aug 13th 2007 by charlesclarknovels

2. charlesclarknovels--

I would argue the other end of the spectrum. Too many endo/specialists DEMAND control that is so tight that little margin for error remains; witness the acknowledgement of dead-in-bed-syndrome; the rise in "sudden death" and the recognition of hypoglycemia unawareness. This last symptom is rife with potential for harm--not only to the diabetic but to others--collateral damage, so to speak.

Despite the "wonder" offered by rDNA human insulin, and the regular introduction of new, latest-greatest drug therapy, outcomes in many areas of diabetic complications have not improved.

As with most issues, I expect the pragmatic choice involves BALANCE . . . not TOO high, not TOO tight. Because this disease truly is too profitable to cure, the only "hope" may be that when diabetes--both T1 and T2--overwhelm "the system," some of the powers-that-be will demand a cure. Such demands coming from diabetics seem to fall on deaf ears. Until diabetes threatens to pauper the NATION (including the wealthy), not merely diabetics, don't expect much progress.

Posted at 4:28PM on Aug 13th 2007 by Melody

3. First I won't disagree the health care industry in this country could use some rdeform. But to think the federal government should get involved would only make things worse. Why should we follow the failed ways of other socialist countries. Canada EU Cuba etc.. You think Michael Moore would have major surgery outside the US. Doubt it!! Better health care starts with with personal responsibility. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago. I was 70 lbs. overweight and never exersised and ate what I wanted. Higher taxes and government healthcare and expecting the other taxpayers an hard working Americans like you and Michael Moore to be responsible for me. How was that going to help?? I recieved education and information about my disease. I took all that and made lifestyle changes. I began to exersise change my diet. Now I have it under control. We need less government imposing itself on our freedoms in this country and more personal responsabilty. Government regulations and reforms are the reason why most people can't afford healthcare anyway. Maybe if the average person was't so bogged down with credit card debt in this country paying out thousands of dollars in interest for items they don't even need. They could afford to buy their own healthcare insurance if that's such a priority. In my pinion it's not government healthcare and a bunch of liberal socialists contoling billions of our tax dollars and putting the burden on overtaxed working men and women in this country choosing when or when you can see the doctor. But pesonal responsability using the vast amount of information already available to us along with right choices that will make our system better not government!!

Posted at 5:26PM on Aug 18th 2007 by Dennis

4. Dennis--

If our healthcare system is so "fine", why does the U.S. rank so low--actually abysmal describes our place among industrialized nations--#38. While our critical care services are superb, we're not talking about that . . . we're discussing the burden on both individuals and society that result from chronic disease; the impact of uninsured citizens; and the broad discretion of insurance companies to determine who gets treated, and how.

You seem to think the government would screw things up. I think the unfettered insurance industry has already succeeded quite well in this area. While the profits for this industry are skyrocketing, improved outcomes for patients are declining. Doctors are ceding their authority (willingly or unwillingly) to this industry; and discrimination is rampant--the wealthy (insured) fare far better than the poor (insured or not). This is discrimination in its ugliest form.

I applaud your success following the tenets of "personal responsibility." And I heartily endorse personal responsibility. But when you are poor, or uneducated, or unemployed, or overwhelmed, "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" may not work because it necessarily assumes that you have boots.

Posted at 8:54AM on Aug 19th 2007 by Melody