There have been two stories in the news and Scott Johnson shared both of them on Facebook. Once was a diabetic woman who got beat up by cops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LfNjwVQcp4&utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=bufferf8ace&utm_medium=facebook
And one was about a man who killed a child: http://abcnews.go.com/US/diabetic-driver-fatally-hit-girl-previous-accident/story?id=19677565&utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer03d79&utm_medium=facebook
Here’s how type 2 usually works. The patient slowly gets more and more insulin resistant over time. At some point, they show up at the doctor’s office and they have accumulated diabetes symptoms over several years. Remember, it’s a gradual onset, nothing dramatic or sudden. So they didn’t realize they were having problems. They are seeing a typical primary care physician who is over worked and has 15 minutes per patient. Most say, oh, we can fix this with diet and exercise, and send them home with a diet. If they are lucky they get an A1c, but are not told the results. Most are over 10.
And guess what the biggest symptom of high blood sugar they are having? Sugar cravings!! Can they stay on that diet. NO! (Remember, I live this and have the sugar thing going on right now).
If they are lucky they will go back to the doctor a couple of times before the doctor gives them a pill. Oh, and they probably haven’t seen a meter yet either.
The good news, is first pills thrown at newly diagnosed diabetics rarely cause lows. They also don’t do anything about highs, remember that blood sugar craving.
Oh, and when they are given the meter, they are only given one test strip a day. Typical protocol is to test two mornings a week, two days before lunch, two days before dinner, etc. Is this going to give anyone any worthwhile data?
They are really lucky if they ever see a CDE and ever given any real education on diet and exercise.
Why am I not this kind of diabetic? My dad was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 42, died of congestive heart failure of 48. I was also diagnosed at 42.
Good news. I’m 53 right now.
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