its all our fault thanks DUK

[bev]

http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/02/parents-blamed-for-high-diabetes-rates-3334465/

Hi all,

This article really is disturbing - so its all our fault as parents that our children have Type 1 - thankyou DUK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😱😡

Alex was ill for 13 days and our GP said it was good he was eating and drinking as it meant he wasnt dehydrated and it was good that he was wetting the bed as it showed everything was working well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If I hadnt (out of exasperation with the GP) taken Alex to a walk-in-centre then I dread to think what could have happened - he was close to collapse. Even his racing heart and horrible taste in his mouth wasnt enough to alert the GP!😡Bev

 

[Northerner]

I suspect it's the Metro's version of the state of affairs rather than DUK's bev, yet another example of poor reporting twisting the message for sensationalism

 

[bev]

I suspect it's the Metro's version of the state of affairs rather than DUK's bev, yet another example of poor reporting twisting the message for sensationalism

Hi Northerner,

Wow - they have changed the heading already! People power - or rather CWD power! The heading had read 'parents to blame for diabetes' but soemone has had an ear-bashing and within minutes it has been changed!🙂

The heading should have read 'GP's missing signs of Type 1 need more training'.🙂Bev

 

[Caroline]

I think the Metro is part of the same newspaper group as the Daily Fail...

 

[Northerner]

Hi Northerner,

Wow - they have changed the heading already! People power - or rather CWD power! The heading had read 'parents to blame for diabetes' but soemone has had an ear-bashing and within minutes it has been changed!🙂

The heading should have read 'GP's missing signs of Type 1 need more training'.🙂Bev

Absolutely, it is far more shocking that many HCPs don't know the symptoms It was a stupid statement to make anyway - spotting the symptoms early doesn't mean that somehow you can stop the diabetes developing

It would be interesting to know how many of the 25% of children who end up seriously ill at diagnosis end up that way after a doctor has dismissed the symptoms.

 

[fencesitter]

Infuriating article even with the headline corrected 😡

 

[Robster65]

Was chatting to Joe Freeman on twitter (he highlighted it too) and DUK have been in touch with them apparently.

It could rank as one of the laziest, sensation-seeking headlines ever. No attempt to understand the real story, but look for some angle that isn't there and distort the words to fit.

I'd love to have seen Leveson's recommendations implemented for science stories alone. 😡

Grrrr.

Rob

 

[Rivki061]

I suspect it's the Metro's version of the state of affairs rather than DUK's bev, yet another example of poor reporting twisting the message for sensationalism

I think that the Metro is part of the Daily Mail and that would explain quite a bit about the standard of the reporting.

 

[Caroline]

Just read the article in the Metro. It is very misleading and confusing.

 

[Northerner]

Apparently Metro will be printing an apology tomorrow.

 

[Twitchy]

I think it would be more to the point if the metro gave a big fat donation to the jdrf too!!! 😡

 

[Dory]

Hi Northerner,

Wow - they have changed the heading already! People power - or rather CWD power! The heading had read 'parents to blame for diabetes' but soemone has had an ear-bashing and within minutes it has been changed!🙂

The heading should have read 'GP's missing signs of Type 1 need more training'.🙂Bev

Ahem, yes that ear-bashing may have been me....?! I sent the following via email this morning:

'I am writing to complain about your article in today?s Metro about Type 1 diabetes (?Parents blamed for high diabetes rates? by Nadia Gilani).

Clearly Nadia does not know of anyone with Type 1 diabetes otherwise she would never have even titled the article in such a way, let alone continue with writing the article itself.

As a type 1 diabetic of 23 years now (I was diagnosed at the age of eight after my mother luckily did know to spot the symptoms early) I am irate at this article. I, as well as other type 1s, will be able to tell you that type 1 diabetes is not caused by lifestyle but believed to be genetic. Even the diabetes UK website states this! So why does Nadia?s article suggest that it is the parents who are to blame?

I read the diabetes UK article that Nadia refers to in her article and was dumbfounded as to how she can dare make the outlandish claims she does in her article, having so incorrectly interpreted the diabetes UK article. What that simply states is that it is important that parents recognise the symptoms early and that lack of awareness of this is one of the reasons that children coming into hospitals with diabetes already have diabetes-related illnesses:

"At the moment, poor understanding of Type 1 diabetes symptoms is one of the main reasons that far too many children are already seriously ill by the time they are diagnosed?

What it DOES NOT state, at any point, is that type 1 diabetes is caused by parents not recognising the symptoms and that parents are the reason for the high number of type 1 diabetics in the UK ? which is exactly what Nadia?s article is implying As above, this is a scientifically incorrect statement. I am no editor, but even I can read the short piece from diabetes UK and ascertain that the only points the article seeks to make are:

1. Type 1 diabetes is not linked to lifestyle, scientists believe it has links with genetics
2. Parents should learn the main four T symptoms to help a swifter diagnosis (and thus reduce the risk of diabetes-related health complications)
3. It is important for the NHS to provide good quality care for these diabetics, as the article suggests not enough children are getting the necessary diabetes-related health checks.

I am disgusted that she has used the quote ?Too many children are not getting the recommended checks and have high blood glucose levels? when linking this to her prior gist that parents are to blame for type 1 diabetes developing, as if suggesting that it is the parents? fault that the checks are not being done. Clearly the article implies that this is due to the inadequate administration in the UK healthcare system; this can be very easily seen as the quote comes from the section of the article entitled ?lost in the system? ? referring to the healthcare system losing patients between the juvenile-adult patient transition.

I would request that you withdraw this article immediately, noting to readers that the article was factually incorrect in its assumptions. If you want a factually correct article then I will quite happily write one for you ? all I need is the word limit.'

 

[Twitchy]

Nice ear bashing Dory! 🙂 Did they take you up on the offer?

 

[Dory]

Thanks!

No. I may go freelance instead 😎

 

[Twitchy]

Ha ha, yes! Maybe we should all inundate them with articles on the traumatic effect of slipshod journalism on our mental health as diabetics!

 

[Dory]

Ha ha, yes! Maybe we should all inundate them with articles on the traumatic effect of slipshod journalism on our mental health as diabetics!

brilliant idea!

 

[bev]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/diabetes-uk-report-hundreds-of-children-1434367

Hi Dory,

Great reply to them well done!🙂It seems this isnt the first time this nonsense has been published - the link above was back in November - (not that this is a newspaper really) - and it comes across as its all our fault again - but no mention of GP'S and their role in this? I completely support the new campaign on how to spot Type 1 diabetes - but arent they missing the bigger picture? Medical Professionals nationwide continue to miss the signs - I know of a 16 year old girl who recently died after having a 'mystery virus' for three weeks - turns out she was Type 1 - and what is even more shocking is that her older brother has it too and the GP still didnt check her BG!😱Bev

 

[Dory]

thanks! Yes over the years I've had no end of bad NHS care (starting from when I was young and the doctors, not being able to get my HbA1c down, assumed it must have been my with a bad diet (despite my protestations) and so kept increasing my units per day for about 5 years, until one bright spark realised I was insulin resistant) and it's so frustrating that diabetics have such poor health support. I'm still waiting for a phone appointment from my DSN scheduled back in November to discuss some (not now!) new IT software for my pump. Excuse given? They lost one of the DSNs and the PCT did not replace her.

Disgusting - but at least I now have this site to get advice from 🙂

 

[bev]

apology

This is the apology from DUK - I dont do Facebook so copied it from CWD.🙂Bev

'Thanks for all your comments on the article that appeared in the Metro this morning. They have already changed their online article, and they've just let us know that they'll be printing a correction in tomorrow's edition.

The article was disappointing to see, however we're pleased that they acted on this so quickly. We forwarded them many of your comments which helped highlight the issue, so thank you everyone for taking the time to post about it.

Whilst it would be a great help, it is not possible for us to proof read articles in which we are quoted before they're published. We do provide press releases to media outlets when we have a story, and make sure these are clear and factually accurate. These are then used by journalists to create their stories, although in this particular instance the story that was published differed to the message we sent out.

In 2011 we produced and sent out a guide for journalists on how to best report on diabetes which we continue to promote to them which we hope will help people better report on diabetes.'

 

[Northerner]

Thanks bev. I think it is very poor journalism when they ignore the effect that their failure to comprehend the importance of what they are reporting on They really ought to realise that, especially with health issues, it's important not to distort the message.

Unfortunately, throughout my working life I've encountered people who are just too inept at their jobs to realise the harm their ignorance might result in, and as Leveson shows, the press are prime offenders