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Grrr!! BBC sweeping statement!

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
I agree that it's not just the BBC that misrepresents the facts on Diabetes, particularly Type 2. I once sent an e-mail to a well known womens magazine because they ran an article which actually said that ALL Tpye 2 were obese and that it was their own fault they had sucumbed to the condition. It then went on to recommend Lighter Life diet to avoid becomming Type 2 in the first place as well as to 'deal' with the condition. It was a full 2 page article, most of it in this vein, so they couldn't use the excuse of shortage of column space for not reporting this better.

I've found, since I was diagnosed, that Type 2's are often represented as the Pirriahs of the Diabetes world, a drain on the NHS and personally made to feel like one of life''s failures. Even now, as I face going on insulin I'm being treated by my GP as though it's my fault it's come to this. Of course I'm not feeling bad enough about it in the first place!

As for suggesting Lighter Life, seeing as this dangerous regime involves going into Ketosis on purpose in order to lose weight quickly...it beggars belief that this so called health expert was advocating it for anyone let alone diabetics!

I'm still new to this forum so I better explain that I'm 53 year old normal weight woman with an active lifestyle and a healthy diet. I have a history of kidney desease (since the age of 15) and the same GP can't quite understand why my kidneys aren't worse than they actually are at present because I was told years ago that I was only months from dialasis and I'm still not at that stage. I put that down to my lifestyle. They can't have it both ways. Rant over. XXXXX
 
I get really annoyed at the 'Obesity gives you diabetes' nonsense.

Quick Google suggested (DoH 2003) 9.1 million clinically obese people in the UK, plus a further 15 million people who were classed as overweight. This number was expected to rise by 2010. Can't be bothered to look for current data.

Not really a scientist, but if the causal link was that clear cut it would be fair to expect 'most' obese/overweight people to develop T2, rather than the relatively small (10%) proportion, that do.

"Ooooh you caught your diabetes by being overweight you know...."
"Did I really... you must be one of the lucky 90% of people that that rule doesn't apply to then."

Seems to me that for the unlucky 10% the weight gain is a symptom of metabolic breakdown, not a cause of it.
 
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everydayupsanddowns said:
I get really annoyed at the 'Obesity gives you diabetes' nonsense.

Quick Google suggested (DoH 2003) 9.1 million clinically obese people in the UK, plus a further 15 million people who were classed as overweight. This number was expected to rise by 2010. Can't be bothered to look for current data.

Not really a scientist, but if the causal link was that clear cut it would be fair to expect 'most' obese/overweight people to develop T2, rather than the relatively small (10%) proportion, that do.

"Ooooh you caught your diabetes by being overweight you know...."
"Did I really... you must be one of the lucky 90% of people that that rule doesn't apply to then."

Seems to me that for the unlucky 10% the weight gain is a symptom of metabolic breakdown, not a cause of it.
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And a great big FAT Bravo to that!!! 🙂 It's what I've been saying for years! XXXXXX
 
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who is paying for this mentoring, is it the government or our gp's or as usual coming out of our pockets.
 
The most anoying thing for me is people who seem to think that eating sugar causes diabetes! They say that it is because I ate too many sweets - which is nonsense of course
 
HartHen61 said:
who is paying for this mentoring, is it the government or our gp's or as usual coming out of our pockets.
Click to expand...

I bet it will be another postcode lottery and most of us will never see it. Sigh. XXXXXX
 
Natalie123 said:
The most anoying thing for me is people who seem to think that eating sugar causes diabetes! They say that it is because I ate too many sweets - which is nonsense of course
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I know! Happens all the time. And this will never get any better because people are told every time Diabetes is covered in the media that it is 'caused' by being overweight.

sweets = weight gain = diabetes

And don't even get me started on how insulin is used as a plot point in films/dramas 😡.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
I get really annoyed at the 'Obesity gives you diabetes' nonsense.

Quick Google suggested (DoH 2003) 9.1 million clinically obese people in the UK, plus a further 15 million people who were classed as overweight. This number was expected to rise by 2010. Can't be bothered to look for current data.

Not really a scientist, but if the causal link was that clear cut it would be fair to expect 'most' obese people to develop T2, rather than the relatively small (10%) proportion, that do.

"Ooooh you caught your diabetes by being overweight you know...."
"Did I really... you must be one of the lucky 90% of people that that rule doesn't apply to then."

Seems to me that for the unlucky 10% the weight gain is a symptom of metabolic breakdown, not a cause of it.
Click to expand...

But on the flip side, Mike. There are those like me where the excess weight IS a direct contributory factor of diabetic symptoms. Granted, I suppose that I was genetically pre-disposed (my Mum was T2 and my brother is as well. Neither of my two sisters are though, but they've been careful with their weight).

As soon as I lost the weight, I improved my symptoms greatly.

However, I do agree with you that there may be other aspects to the causal links. I accept that it may not be as simple as I suggest for everyone. Well, the figures you quote show that!

Andy 🙂
 
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Andy HB said:
As soon as I lost the weight, I improved my symptoms greatly.
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I think that's almost my point Andy. I'm way out of my depth here really, but anecdotal evidence like yours only strengthens my feeling that for those with a T2 disposition the weight gain is in no small part caused by their uncontrolled BG levels in a worsening and downward spiral.

Too much carb for your system, high BG levels, body thinks Oh Eck! Better store that as fat, weight rises, insulin resistance, more insulin, less efficient use, BG still high, more storage... repeat until diagnosed.

I'm not saying it's not linked, I just don't buy it as entirely causal.

You modified your diet, became more active and lost weight, you began to use insulin more efficiently, modified your diet to regulate BG levels, no excess BG to be stored as fat (so weight loss rather than gain). Feels to me like the change of diet plus exercise (leading to lower BGs) and weight loss were interlinked, and the combination has enabled you to come off meds.

Out of interest, how are your sisters 'being careful with their weight'? Avoiding sweet stuff and moderated carb intake?
 
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everydayupsanddowns said:
I think that's almost my point Andy. I'm way out of my depth here really, but anecdotal evidence like yours only strengthens my feeling that for those with a T2 disposition the weight gain is in no small part caused by their uncontrolled BG levels in a worsening and downward spiral.

Too much carb for your system, high BG levels, body thinks Oh Eck! Better store that as fat, weight rises, insulin resistance, more insulin, less efficient use, BG still high, more storage... repeat until diagnosed.

I'm not saying it's not linked, I just don't buy it as entirely causal.

You modified your diet, became more active and lost weight, you began to use insulin more efficiently, modified your diet to regulate BG levels, no excess BG to be stored as fat (so weight loss rather than gain). Feels to me like the change of diet plus exercise (leading to lower BGs) and weight loss were interlinked, and the combination has enabled you to come off meds.

Out of interest, how are your sisters 'being careful with their weight'? Avoiding sweet stuff and moderated carb intake?
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I see it differently (again anecdotally). I didn't suddenly put weight on before the T2 diabetes kicked in. So I'm not persuaded, personally, of the weight gain caused by diabetes approach. For me, I think it is more like being overweight finally caused insulin resistance to kick in due to whatever mechanism is involved (this is what the Diabetes X-Pert course suggests and I have no reason to doubt it from personal experience). Actually, I lost over a stone when my diabetes kicked in.

Then weight loss caused an improvement in insulin resistance and voila! Reduced diabetic symptoms.

My sisters don't moderate their carbs in any way. They're bread and pasta junkies. But, I have to say that their diets are very well balanced and they do eat normal portions and do a lot of exercise naturally in their day to day lives.

Andy 🙂

p.s. I can see the logic in the alternative that you suggest tho. Perhaps both are correct? (or both wrong!!) :D
 
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Someone said on a post earlier/yesterday about T1s having a predsposition to diabetes and it being triggered at some point by virus/trauma.

SImilarly T2. Genetic predisposition triggered by lifestyle choices. FOr some it may be obesity causing insulin resistance and for others it may be something else that causes resistance, causing weight gain.

Maybe. Or something. :confused: :D

Rob
 
Clearly, there are many different reasons why people get diabetes (and why some people don't). My neighbour got diagnosed a year or so ago and he's perfectly slim and leads a healthy life. He's 70 and Type 2. Weight and inactivity are risk factors, but if they were the main ones then you'd expect millions more to become diabetic. What Mike suggests is probably true for a proportion of diagnosed people - that their weight gain is due to their body's inability to process glucose efficiently. What Andy says is probably true for a proportion too - they are predisposed genetically and failure to lead a healthy lifestyle precipitates diabetes.

Type 1s can also vary enormously, human beings are immensely complex and I think we can sometimes forget that.
 
I was half watching as I was getting ready this morning and didn't think it was that bad actually, I heard them mention type 2 several times and also that family history is a risk factor.
 
Blythespirit said:
I bet it will be another postcode lottery and most of us will never see it. Sigh. XXXXXX
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The story is about a 5 year study aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes developing in those thought to be at risk (on basis of age, BMI and family history), so it will be a while before it is rolled out beyond Norfolk. see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12764852 for more details.
 
Robster65 said:
Someone said on a post earlier/yesterday about T1s having a predsposition to diabetes and it being triggered at some point by virus/trauma.
Click to expand...


That is my understanding and seems to be the most likely explanation, but hey nobody is sure and only time will tell.
 
sofaraway said:
I was half watching as I was getting ready this morning and didn't think it was that bad actually, I heard them mention type 2 several times and also that family history is a risk factor.
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I had no complaints about the rest of the story, just that statement - the rest of it was good.
 
Carly got diabetes before she was 2 years old, she was breastfed till she was diagnosed so bad lifestyle!?!? I gave her the best start and she still got diabetes so get real and get your facts right to BBC
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
I get really annoyed at the 'Obesity gives you diabetes' nonsense.

Quick Google suggested (DoH 2003) 9.1 million clinically obese people in the UK, plus a further 15 million people who were classed as overweight. This number was expected to rise by 2010. Can't be bothered to look for current data.

Not really a scientist, but if the causal link was that clear cut it would be fair to expect 'most' obese/overweight people to develop T2, rather than the relatively small (10%) proportion, that do.
Click to expand...

not necessarily. Smoking causes lung cancer but the vast majority of people who smoke do not have lung cancer. In the same way cancer is a multifactorial disease that has genetic components. Despite this, few people would have a problem with the phrase 'smoking causes lung cancer'
 
toby said:
The BBC never seem to get anything right with regards to diabetes.🙄
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Wow, to stop people from getting type 1 or 2, maybe everyone should work for the BBC then, as no one seems to have it there and so can't give an opinion on Diabetes 😉 oh dear, oh dear and oh dear:( Sheena
 
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