The Detroit Free Press is running a nice piece by columnist Drew Sharp about golfing pro and Type 1 diabetic Scott Verplank. Titled "Golfer Verplank an inspiration to fellow diabetics," Sharp observes that athletes with diabetes are in a unique situation. "Athletes are taught to fight through pain, to develop a higher threshold for it. But diabetics don't get that luxury, because maintaining the proper blood glucose equilibrium is mandatory," Sharp writes.

Verplank is forty-two years old and hails from Texas. According to his Wikipedia entry, he was honored in 2002 with the Ben Hogan Award, which is given by the Golf Writers Association of America to golfers who continue with the game despite a major illness or injury. Talking about his ability, as a sports pro with diabetes, to positively influence the lives of others, especially youngsters, Verplank remarked: "If what I went through can inspire even one kid to run his own life and not let diabetes run his own life, then it was all worth it." He says determination is key, adding: "whenever you can find positives out of the challenges thrown at you in life, it makes you stronger." I don't know much about golf, but this is an ethos that Verplank clearly lives, with the columnist Sharp describing him as "the ultimate grinder."

One last thing: I was checking out readers' comments on this article and this one made my jaw drop: "Verplank is not an inspiration. I have diabetes and I get know [sic] hope from some lame golfer that [sic] is mediocre at best." Wow. How mean-spirited can you be?

In future, not filling prescriptions issued for a chronic health condition could earn you a follow up from your insurance company. The Detroit Free Press reports that some Michigan health plans are starting to track whether or not patients on diabetes meds, antidepressants, or on drugs for asthma and heart problems are filling their prescriptions. When they identify patients who are not following through with their doctors' prescribed treatments, they may mail a reminder notice or even notify their doctors. The thinking is that many patients just need a little education on the importance of their prescription meds and the fact that many take a while to start working.

Invasive? Maybe. But the big insurers are concerned to do all they can to get their clients healthy. They realize that preventative care and sticking with prescribed treatment plans are both critical to getting people healthy and, therefore, reducing the necessity for insurance payouts. For example, this particular article cites a study which said that up to twenty percent of hospital and nursing home admissions result simply because patients are not taking their prescriptions or they are taking them incorrectly.