Does having insulin dependant diabetes make for a better society?

[Amity Island]

Hi everyone,

I had one of those moments this evening, contemplating in a quiet moment.

I was thinking that, in a many ways, having diabetes does change the way you live your life and it can make very positive changes. For example, you are more likely to eat healthily, more likely not to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco, more likely to stay out of trouble (who would want to be in prison with diabetes?) be more likely to avoid stressful/confrontational situations, probably have a greater appreciation for life etc the list goes on.....so it could be said that being a well controlled (insulin dependant or not) diabetic, society benefits.

Any thoughts please?....

 

[trophywench]

You could make the same claim about eg prostate cancer which my husband like far too many other blokes, has had. We joined a local charity which we then offered to become Trustees of, which not only spreads the word and educates folk, is a support network for affected men and their partners/families but also lays on mass PSA testing sessions for any chap that wants to give us their blood. We regularly get 5 -10% 'red' letters sent out after such events.

It's ongoing because ALL types of treatment usually result in side effects - most of them unwanted, personal type ones, and we ARE saving lives.

It's a good job for the likes of us that we do have a generous society!

 

[nonethewiser]

Society does benefit if folk with diabetes are well controlled, it takes strain off NHS budget treating complications due to uncontrolled diabetes & unhealthy lifestyles.

Still as BennyG says cost is still huge for those like ourselves who need insulin meds to control condition.

Stress confrontational situations are part of life so cannot be avoided despite diabetes, last few years of my life has been extremely stressful but life goes on.

 

[Amity Island]

I like your over optimistic view of the benefits to society from being a good diabetic. Like treating other long term illnesses the benefits to society are limited and the costs high.

We benefit from the generosity of society. Diabetes costs the state and society a huge amount of money. A full 10% of the NHS budget disappears down the diabetes plug hole.
If you eat nicer food, then good for you, but I don't really see who benefits beyond yourself. Same goes for quitting smoking or avoiding alcohol, it's not at all obvious society will see any benefit. If you want society to take notice you might want to be a bit more proactive, do a charity run, teach, volunteer, invent something useful. But being optimistic isn't a bad place to start.

Thanks Benny for replying. It was an unusual (thought) question really I made and didn't expect any replies at all! lol.
In my experience of life, I've nearly always found that people who have struggled, have gone through difficult experiences and challenges nearly always come out the other side a better person for it and it may not be until some time has passed that you realise that your attitude has changed. So the point I was making was that if you are diabetic and you accept it and all that it throws at you from day to day, I thought that it would make for a better society, given the large number of people who have diabetes or other life changing/challenging illnesses etc. Having an illness does change your perspective on life, life is too short to not make the most of it. I also think it makes you more likely to be more accepting of others and to offer help, not the other way around.

 

[Amity Island]

You could make the same claim about eg prostate cancer which my husband like far too many other blokes, has had. We joined a local charity which we then offered to become Trustees of, which not only spreads the word and educates folk, is a support network for affected men and their partners/families but also lays on mass PSA testing sessions for any chap that wants to give us their blood. We regularly get 5 -10% 'red' letters sent out after such events.

It's ongoing because ALL types of treatment usually result in side effects - most of them unwanted, personal type ones, and we ARE saving lives.

It's a good job for the likes of us that we do have a generous society!

Hi Jenny,
I think you make a good point about how, as a result of being affected by or knowing someone who has a health problem you became trustees of a charity. I mean, how many people become trustees of a charity when they have no understanding or experience of the health issues they are fighting for? It's as a result of personal hardship or struggle that people get involved and start helping others.

 

[mikeyB]

Diabetes can never benefit society as a whole, for the simple reason that we T1s would be dead without insulin at a young age. Insulin allows us to breed, and spread our defective genes throughout society. That’s why T1 is increasing in incidence. By any standard, that’s a burden on NHS costs.

 

[Amity Island]

Society does benefit if folk with diabetes are well controlled, it takes strain off NHS budget treating complications due to uncontrolled diabetes & unhealthy lifestyles.

Still as BennyG says cost is still huge for those like ourselves who need insulin meds to control condition.

Stress confrontational situations are part of life so cannot be avoided despite diabetes, last few years of my life has been extremely stressful but life goes on.

Thanks for your reply Nonethewiser.
I can't deny the fact of the enormous cost to the country spent treating diabetes, but that doesn't take away the fact that people with diabetes are less of a burden in may other ways.

 

[Docb]

Diabetes can never benefit society as a whole, for the simple reason that we T1s would be dead without insulin at a young age. Insulin allows us to breed, and spread our defective genes throughout society. That’s why T1 is increasing in incidence. By any standard, that’s a burden on NHS costs.

Ah, but if you had succumbed at a tender age then we would never have had the benefits of your wit and wisdom, and that would be a loss to all and easily offset your cost to the NHS. 🙂

 

[Amity Island]

"I don't really see who benefits beyond yourself"
For example, if "you" don't drink as a result of having diabetes, then you won't be one of those who needs others to carry you home from the pub or one of those who ends up in an alcohol fuelled fight every weekend or one of those who drink drive. Or you might decide as result of having diabetes that instead of having 12 pints of lager you only have 3.
For example, if "you" don't smoke as a result of having diabetes, then you won't be one of those people who blows smoke in your face as you walk into a restaurant, you won't be one of those in hospital with a smoking related illness, you might find you have a bit more money to give to charities.
There's many examples how by having diabetes it can have a very positive benefit to those around you.

 

[trophywench]

I cannot envisage a world where people actually think like that AI.

I think you inhabit a different one to me!

Anyway I firmly have diabetes as everyone here obviously knows yet I still have the foul habit - smoking - in question. A bit like the daft woman who told me the day after I was diagnosed that I'd have to stop taking the birth control pill. I've never been that daft so I deliberately asked Why? Is that going to cure it then? Oddly she couldn't answer that.

Smoking has no effect whatsoever on my diabetes - it does of course affect every other part of my body and I know that. But absolutely NOT my insulin producing cells in my pancreas, cos they dropped dead in 1972. Should I have the Risk Indicated heart attack, they'll still be dead!

 

[Amity Island]

I cannot envisage a world where people actually think like that AI.

I think you inhabit a different one to me!

Anyway I firmly have diabetes as everyone here obviously knows yet I still have the foul habit - smoking - in question. A bit like the daft woman who told me the day after I was diagnosed that I'd have to stop taking the birth control pill. I've never been that daft so I deliberately asked Why? Is that going to cure it then? Oddly she couldn't answer that.

Smoking has no effect whatsoever on my diabetes - it does of course affect every other part of my body and I know that. But absolutely NOT my insulin producing cells in my pancreas, cos they dropped dead in 1972. Should I have the Risk Indicated heart attack, they'll still be dead!

Hi Jenny,
Think like what? That disease, struggle or difficult times can bring about a turning point in peoples lives? I'd be the first to admit that some people no matter how much they suffer, how much they lose, they never get to that turning point.

 

[trophywench]

Think that if I give up smoking I would plan to use the money I save to be philanthropic.

No - such bad habits are ONLY successfully beaten by SELFISHNESS - ie the person absolutely has to want to do it FOR THEMSELVES. Not for the unknown persons passing them outside the pub door. OTOH personally I've never deliberately stood where any 'innocent' passer by would have to inhale my tar and nicotine - because neither do I want to inhale it - what orrible chest infection is anyone, be it you or the Queen, going to breathe out at me?

 

[Bloden]

I’m a nicer, happier, more productive person since I quit drinking...so my diabetes has been beneficial for me and those around me - not sure about society as a whole tho! Interesting question...😛

 

[Dave W]

Well, I guess as I sit here enjoying a glass of malt and a ciggy, that my treatment so far has cost society a good few bob and now I’m insulin dependent and using CGM it’s costing a fair bit more.
I didn’t ask for or invite diabetes as I led a very active life and was never overweight and ate healthily. As far as I know there’s no genetic links involved as I’m T2 (maybe LADA or T3c). I did have a momentary shudder when I read an earlier post about T1s breeding as it, at the instant, made me think ‘eugenics,’ but I’m sure that was not what was intended.
I suppose the financial equation for the NHS/Society is that we spend now in order to reduce the costs of treating complications later, and that money spent on educating the public about how to avoid T2 by diet and exercise is money well spent.

Jenny, more power to your prostate testing education elbow. If I’d been a bit better educated I’d have saved the NHS a few more quid and myself a month of treatment and many weeks of after effects. Not to mention a fair bit of probing where the sun don’t shine 😱

 

[trophywench]

Dave we pay a commercial rate to the hospital lab for 'our' blood tests. It's £9.84 apiece. However the NHS will not do the test as a matter of course because as you probably know, it is not definitive. However if more men got it done as a matter of course when they hit 45 ish, and then kept track of it every couple of years, they'd know immediately if it ever shot up, wouldn't they? In which case - off to their GP right now please - and tell them why.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Still as BennyG says cost is still huge for those like ourselves who need insulin meds to control condition.

There is certainly cost to medications, but actually it pales into insignificance compared to when diabetes goes wrong. All the checkup appointments, retinal screenings, tablets and oral meds, meters, strips, injections, syringes, needles, fancy insulin pumps and CGM account for only 20% of the diabetes budget. 80% is spent when diabetes has gone wrong, either in the short term (A&E visits and DKA, or through long-term complications).

I like the positive spin @Amity Island - and it's something I often mention to new members when they first arrive. Getting a diabetes diagnosis sometimes acts as a bit of a catalyst for people to begin making real positive changes to their lifestyle, diet and levels of activity.

For newly diagnosed T1s, I've also always quite liked this animation, Diabetes Makes Your Stronger

 

[Amity Island]

There is certainly cost to medications, but actually it pales into insignificance compared to when diabetes goes wrong. All the checkup appointments, retinal screenings, tablets and oral meds, meters, strips, injections, syringes, needles, fancy insulin pumps and CGM account for only 20% of the diabetes budget. 80% is spent when diabetes has gone wrong, either in the short term (A&E visits and DKA, or through long-term complications).

I like the positive spin @Amity Island - and it's something I often mention to new members when they first arrive. Getting a diabetes diagnosis sometimes acts as a bit of a catalyst for people to begin making real positive changes to their lifestyle, diet and levels of activity.

For newly diagnosed T1s, I've also always quite liked this animation, Diabetes Makes Your Stronger

Thanks Mike for your reply and understanding the spirit of what I was saying.
In terms of the costs you mention, this is why a cure is so important.