Diabetes prescriptions rise to 40m

By Michelle RobertsHealth editor, BBC News online

The number of prescriptions for treating diabetes in England has topped 40 million, figures show.

This is a 50% rise in six years and a 6.1% (2.3m) rise on the number of items prescribed in 2010-11, data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre reveals.

In England, 2.5m people have been diagnosed with diabetes and the number is expected to reach 4.2m by 2025.

Health officials are warning of the financial impact on the NHS.

This growth in diabetes drug prescription numbers is faster and greater than for prescriptions overall, where items have increased by 33%.

The net cost of diabetes drugs, including treatments for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, also rose by just under 50% in the six years between 2005-06 and 2011-12.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said it was a wake-up call to all concerned.

"We face the real possibility of diabetes bankrupting the NHS within a generation.

"This is why we need to grasp the nettle on preventing Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90% of diabetes cases.

"We need a government-funded awareness-raising campaign on the risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes and we need to get much better at identifying people at high risk so they can be given the support they need to prevent the condition."

HSCIC chief executive Tim Straughan said: "Our figures show diabetes is having a growing impact on prescribing in a very obvious way - from the amount of prescriptions dispensed to patients in primary care to the annual drugs bill costs to the NHS.

"Other reports we produce, such as our National Diabetes Audit and the Quality and Outcomes Framework, also demonstrate the impact of diabetes is widespread in all areas of the health service, from pharmacy to hospital care.

"When all this information is considered together, it presents a full and somewhat concerning picture of the increasing impact of this condition."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19259795

John Lennon Imagine.

A comment. When this started playing, and John's voice took over from all the wonderful kids singing, i stopped cooking my dinner - turned, looked at the tv, listened, and tears fell down my face. Just a beautiful moment. So special. Dear London, THANK YOU SO MUCH for an amazing Olympics. Proud Irish man. Says it all.

GlaxoSmithKline Worlds Biggest Hypocrites ?

After the most brilliant sporting occasion I have ever witnessed, (and will never witness again in my life time) the 2012 Olympic Games, I am in awe of the talent and almost super human effort team GB put in. We are used to seeing the thugs that masquerade as sportsmen aka the England football team fail miserably, who can forget the last World Cup ? OK you probably want to forget that pitiful display of mediocrity, but Team GB lifted the nation to a point I thought was long gone. Team GB restored the pride in being British. They showed our once great nation, whose Empire was so large the sun never set, has still got some life in it.

The men and women in team GB, are a shining example of what can be done when we try, and are magnificent roll models for the young. People from all over the world, of all colours, races and religions, coming together and living together in peace and goodwill. The games at times were very emotional, who will ever forget the deaf children and the video backdrop of John Lennon singing Imagine ? If you had not shed a tear before, that must have cracked you up, if not, I would check your pulse if I were you. So, the games are over, let’s hope the Para-Olympics is as well supported, my money is on it will, and be a spectacular success. 

What a great pity, our politicians and captains of big industry, do not possess the integrity and leadership we have seen from our Olympians. Almost all are corrupt and greedy, failure is rewarded with multi million pound bonuses and knighthoods, lying and cheating is now common place, and we do nothing. Almost every day another banking scandal of huge proportions is exposed. Food companies spend hundreds of millions on keeping the truth about their poisonous food out of the public domain and big pharma gets fined by the billions of dollars. Which brings me to the thread title above. GlaxoSmithKline Worlds Biggest Hypocrites ?

GlaxoSmithKline have been proud to announce they have been awarded the contract as ‘Official Laboratory Services Provider for the London 2012 Olympic games‘. You may have seen the adverts on TV over the last few weeks. Glaxo want to remove the corruption, lying and cheating out of sport, maybe they should start with themselves. The drug and doping pales into insignificant when you look at the likes of Glaxo. Athletes cheating might win a medal they did not deserve, Glaxo kills people for money and get away with a fine that is an overhead to them.

Games over, normal service on this blog is being resumed.

Eddie

http://www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases/2012/2012-pressrelease-1181067.htm

Benefits of statins are exaggerated and not always the best way to prevent heart disease, study claims !

NHS spends £450million a year on cholesterol-lowering drugs

Most are prescribed as a preventative measure for heart disease, however experts admit they find it difficult to predict who is at risk.

By CLAIRE BATES

Statins are not the best way to prevent heart disease, according to new research.

The cholesterol-lowering drugs are taken by seven million people in the UK, costing the NHS £450million a year.

Conventional medical wisdom states they are a good 'cure-all' treatment for heart disease, but making dietary changes could be a more effective tactic, say scientists.

Professor Kausik Ray, of St George's Healthcare Trust in London, said statins are an effective treatment for many people with heart problems, especially if they have already had a heart attack or stroke.

However, this accounts for only a small amount of patients who are actually prescribed statins. The majority are given to people seen to be 'at risk' of the disease.

Professor Ray says it is very difficult to predict who is at risk.

He told Mail Online that cost was the biggest driver to prescribe statins to people at lower and lower risk from heart disease.

He said: 'Statins are cheap and fairly safe. The costs of the drugs are as low as £1.30 a month compared to £24 a month a few years ago.

'However, the cost from heart disease for hospital admissions, investigations, stents and bypasses is huge.'

He added to The Sun: 'For people with no family history of heart problems and others deemed a low risk, other approaches should be used, like eating a good diet full of fish, lean meat, vegetables and low in saturated fat.'

He is one of the experts who has taken part in a documentary due to be released in September, called 'Statin Nation.' 

The director Justin Smith claims the benefits of statins are routinely exaggerated and that the pharmaceutical industry is partly to blame.

He told Mail Online: 'Creating a drug is a costly and lengthy process so they are encouraging more patients to take existing drugs.'

More...

• Drugs companies 'are putting profits ahead of medical discoveries', claims hard-hitting report

Mr Smith worked for four years as a personal trainer and nutritional coach before writing the book '$29 Billion Reasons to Lie About Cholesterol' in 2009.

He said he made the crowd-funded documentary because he believes doctors are being provided with too much information that favours the drugs industry.

However, Professor Peter Weissberg, from the British Heart Foundation, contested this saying: 'The most commonly used statins are off patent, which means the drug companies no longer have any financial incentive in expanding the market.

'It is the medical community who is pushing for wider use of statins since they are convinced by the evidence this will reduce heart attacks and strokes in the future.'

Mr Smith also pointed to a 2008 study by Allender et al in Coronary Heart Disease Statistics, which found the heart disease rate did not decline between 1994 and 2006 in men aged 65 to 94 yet high cholesterol levels dropped by 40 per cent.

He added that average cholesterol levels in the UK are low when compared with the rest of Europe,  yet the UK has one of the highest rates of heart attacks

Mr Smith said: 'I hope that the film will prompt more people to ask their doctor questions like: if I take this cholesterol medication, how much longer might I live?

'This question is important because most people will not receive life extension from statins.'

He added that negative side-effects of statins were not given enough prominence.

However, Maureen Talbot, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'Statins are now a very important part of the lives of millions of people and play a vital role in both lowering cholesterol and helping prevent heart attacks
.

'Their importance shouldn’t be underestimated and the potential risk of side effects are outweighed by the proven benefits. The use of statins is the main reason why fewer people have high cholesterol levels now compared to 20 years ago.

'Your body will always make cholesterol so if you stop taking a statin it’s likely your cholesterol levels will rise. So, if you’re prescribed a statin make sure you take it every day because they’re most beneficial when you take them on a long-term basis. If you develop side effects see your GP as the medicine or dose can be changed. '

But she added: 'It’s worth remembering though that you may be able head off the prospect of being prescribed statins by eating a healthy balanced diet, keeping physically active and maintaining a healthy weight and body shape.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2185962/Benefits-statins-exaggerated-best-way-prevent-heart-disease-study-claims.html#ixzz23BXAYvol

Graham

Age-Related Cataract Is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes and Statin Use

Abstract

Purpose. Diabetes has been shown to be a risk factor for age-related (AR) cataract. As statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) are now commonly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes, their impact on AR cataract prevalence should be considered. This study determines associations between AR cataract, type 2 diabetes, and reported statin use in a large optometric clinic population.

Methods. In all, 6397 patient files (ages <1–93 years) were reviewed. Overall prevalence of statin use was calculated for patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 452) and without diabetes (n = 5884). Multivariable logistic regression analysis for AR cataract was performed controlling for patient sex, smoking, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and statin use.

Results. The prevalence of statin use (in patients aged >38 years) was 56% for those with type 2 diabetes and 16% for those without diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with nuclear sclerosis (OR = 1.62, 1.14–2.29) and cortical cataract (OR = 1.37, 1.02–1.83). Statin use was associated with nuclear sclerosis (OR = 1.48, 1.09–2.00) and posterior subcapsular cataract (OR = 1.48, 1.07–2.04). The 50% probability of cataract in statin users occurred at age 51.7 and 54.9 years in patients with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively. In non-statin users, it was significantly later at age 55.1 and 57.3 years for patients with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively (p < 0.001).

Conclusions. In this population, statin use was substantially higher in patients with type 2 diabetes and was associated with AR cataracts. Further long-term study is warranted to recommend monitoring of crystalline lenses in patients with type 2 diabetes benefiting from statins.

Full Study 

http://journals.lww.com/optvissci/Fulltext/2012/08000/Age_Related_Cataract_Is_Associated_with_Type_2.12.aspx

Graham

Scientists find new human species.

The discoveries suggests that at least three distinct species of humans co-existed in Africa.

The research adds to a growing body of evidence that runs counter to the popular perception that there was a linear evolution from early primates to modern humans.

The research has been published in the journal Nature.

The finds back the view that a skull found in 1972 is of a separate species of human, known as Homo lowcarbus anticus. The skull was markedly different to any others from that time. It had a relatively small brain and long flat face.

This find is the latest in a growing body of evidence that challenges the view that our species evolved in a smooth linear progression from our primate ancestors. Instead, according to Dr Meave Leakey of the Turkana Basin Institute in Nairobi, who led the research the find shows that there was a diversity early on in the evolution of our species.

"Our past was a diverse past," she told BBC News, "our species was evolving in the same way that other species of animals evolved. There was nothing unique about us until we began to make sophisticated stone tools."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19184370

Self Indulgence

With Julie gone for a week and another 3 weeks to go with her mum in Malacca, Malaysia I was beginning to pine for the taste of South-East Asian food. Julie had left jars of prepared sambal chilli paste, dried shrimp, tau foo and various other spice pastes in the fridge. I decided to use her mum’s recipe for nonya laksa. Prepared all the ingredients, prawns etc simmering away and went to the fridge for the shirataki noodles. I searched the fridge/freezer in the kitchen and the garage. I searched the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen and the garage. None to be found. I did find egg noodles. I decided to use them. I threw in a generous quantity, measured my BG – 4.9- and tucked in to my favourite SE Asian street food. Measured BG at one hour 8.1 at two hours 8.4, poured large scotch and allowed myself a rather self-indulgent funk

I say self-indulgent because viewing Channel 4 “Lost Children” soon snapped me out to realise how lucky some of us are. I can do no better than quote an extract from a review in today’s Guardian.

“Lost Children … looked at what can happen when teenage hormones flood the body of an emotionally battered boy. Josh was taken from his heroin-addicted mother at the age of three and placed in more than 20 different homes before he was six, when he and his little sister Demi were adopted by Sue, a social worker prepared to handle a difficult child. "You think a lot of attention and love will be enough," said Sue. But Josh is now 14 and it seems she was wrong. After a good start at a special school run by Barnardo's for those who have been excluded from the mainstream system, his behaviour deteriorated there and at home. His drug use escalated and valuable objects started to go missing from the house. Sue's voice got smaller, weaker, sadder by the minute. Eventually, agonisingly, the adoption broke down and Josh returned to the care system”

John

Normal-Weight People With Type 2 Diabetes Have Higher Death Risk: Study

In surprise finding, odds of dying twice as high if weight is normal at diagnosis

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Aug. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Normal-weight people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have more than twice the risk of dying from heart disease and other causes than their overweight peers with the disease, a new analysis indicates.

Although type 2 diabetes is normally associated with people who are overweight and lead sedentary lifestyles, the metabolic disorder can affect those who are normal weight. In the study, about one in eight people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were of normal weight -- and it appears the disease may be more aggressive in people who aren't overweight when they're diagnosed.

"We were somewhat surprised to find that people who have type 2 diabetes who were normal weight at the time of diagnosis had higher rates of mortality than those who were overweight or obese," said study author Mercedes Carnethon, associate professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago.

"Overweight and obesity confers certain protective effects in end-stage renal disease and heart failure. It's called the obesity paradox," Carnethon explained. She added, however, that being overweight or obese is far more harmful than protective overall.

Extra weight is associated with the development of many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. People who have type 2 diabetes and are overweight still have an elevated risk of complications, and one of the most effective treatments for type 2 diabetes is to lose weight.

Results of the study appear in the Aug. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis included five long-term studies done from 1990 to 2006. The research looked at more than 2,600 people who were diagnosed with diabetes. Half of the study participants were male. All were over age 40, and about two-thirds were white.

Weight status was measured using the body-mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.99 is considered normal weight, while anything over 25 was considered overweight or obese.

Depending on the study, between 9 percent and 21 percent of participants were normal weight when diagnosed with diabetes. Overall, 12 percent of the study participants were normal weight at diagnosis.

Nearly 450 people died during the study -- 178 from cardiovascular disease and 253 from other causes. Another 18 died of unknown causes.

After the researchers adjusted the data to control for factors such as waist circumference, smoking status, demographic factors and blood pressure and cholesterol levels, they found that people who were normal weight when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had more than twice the risk of dying from heart disease than their overweight counterparts. They also had a 2.32 times higher risk of dying from any other cause compared to their overweight peers.

Although the study suggests an association between weight and death risk among those with type 2 diabetes, it does not establish a cause-and-effect link between the two.

Carnethon said it is not clear why normal-weight people have a higher risk of dying. She said it may be that the genetic profile in thinner people who develop type 2 may be different. It also may be that some doctors don't treat type 2 diabetes in thinner people as aggressively as they do in heavier people, or that the available treatments don't work as well in thinner people.

"Type 2 diabetes is bad in everyone, but this study shows it may be worse in non-obese people. They may have a different genetic component," said Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "Or it could be that BMI isn't as reliable a test for mortality risk in people who have a lower BMI as it is for those with a higher BMI."

The bottom line, Carnethon said, is that "type 2 diabetes in the absence of obesity doesn't mean a lower risk of bad outcomes. Right now, about 5 percent to 15 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are normal weight, and that proportion overall is going up. Physicians need to take this group seriously and treat them as aggressively."

Carnethon recommended exercise -- particularly resistance training -- as a good way for thinner people with type 2 diabetes to lower their blood sugar. Exercise is also quite helpful in lowering blood sugar levels for people who are overweight with type 2 diabetes -- as is losing weight.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/08/07/normal-weight-people-with-type-2-diabetes-have-higher-death-risk-study

Graham a skinny Type 2

Is Sport a Health Hazard ?

For the last few days I have been glued to a sofa, the most strenuous thing I have achieved is opening bottles of wine, and working a TV remote control. I must be getting fatter and more unfit by the hour, but hey, someones gotta do it.

I’m a sport nut and Team GB have blown my brains out with their talent and awe inspiring attitude of never give up. Only the massive populations of China and the US have more medals than us. The naysayers were forecasting the games would be a failure and we were not ready, but they have been proved wrong, it’s been perfect and has run like clock-work. The only downside has been Paul McCartney. With John Lennon he was arguably one of the best popular musical writers of the last century, but jeez he is well past his sell by date. If I hear Hey Jude again this year I’ll probably throw up. It was a poor way to finish the opening ceremony, and there he is in the Velodrome croaking the song again. Macca NO MORE  PLEASE! 

On a serious note, wouldn’t it be great if we can keep this sport momentum going after the games. The younger generation have some fantastic facilities and roll models to look up to. The games have cost a massive amount of money to set up, but if kids all over the country get involved with sport, and a half way decent diet, we may be able to stem the tide against obesity and type two diabetes in the young. 

My generation are has beens, let’s hope the next generation learn from our mistakes. One thing is for sure, the kids need to keep well away from the junk being flogged by two of the main Olympic sponsors. They won’t become gold medal winners on Coke and Big Macs.

Eddie

PS. I have just been told the talent less and gruesome Spice Girls are lined up for the closing ceremony. Maybe I could take Hey Jude one more time. Come back Macca all is forgiven.

Low-Carb Experts: John Briffa, MD - Segment One

Segment 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvo--GBvwWI&feature=youtu.be

Segment 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCzMejO-C4M&feature=youtu.be

Segment 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZo9SJTZvvk&feature=youtu.be

Segment 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LqOITAgdHU&feature=youtu.be


Graham

Type 2 diabetes: normal glucose levels should be the goal !

(Medical Xpress) -- Emory University researchers say normal glucose levels should be the goal for management of patients with early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes.   

In a commentary published online today in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Lawrence S. Phillips, MD, and Darin E. Olson, MD, PhD write that “although T2DM is a major public health problem, few clinicians screen routinely to detect this problem early or manage hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) aggressively if it is found.”  They say there is now evidence these practices should change.

The researchers based their statement on several pieces of evidence:  A recent report from the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) in The Lancet which showed there was less development of T2DM in those patients with prediabetes who were able to reduce their blood glucose to normal levels. 

“How the normal glucose levels were achieved did not seem to matter,” says Phillips, a professor at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and in the division of endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine.  

“The benefit was comparable if patients used diet and exercise or took a diabetes drug – but there was more benefit if normal glucose was achieved several times compared to just once.” 

Additional evidence included observations that T2DM and prediabetes adversely impact individuals and the healthcare system; progression from prediabetes to T2DM can be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes or pharmacotherapy; preventing or delaying progression to T2DM is likely to improve important health outcomes; there are plausible biological mechanisms for the benefit to the body’s insulin-producing cells of maintaining normal glucose levels; and targeting normal glucose levels can be undertaken at little risk of harm to patients.

From the combined evidence, the researchers are making three recommendations for clinicians and healthcare systems:

1) Screen to identify patients with early T2DM and high-risk prediabetes (fasting glucose ≥110 mg/dl or two‑hour oral glucose tolerance test glucose ≥140 mg/dl).  This screening would identify an estimated 22 percent of adults in the United States based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006.  Screening should be systematic and aimed at patients who are at risk on the basis of age, weight or other characteristics and testing should be repeated, if negative, at a cost-effective frequency—about every three years.

2) Treat high-risk patients aggressively, beginning with an intensive lifestyle intervention (diet and exercise), and intensifying treatment progressively with addition of drug therapy as needed to achieve normal glucose levels.

3) Conduct a randomized, controlled trial in patients with early T2DM and high-risk prediabetes to evaluate the benefits, risks and costs of patient management aimed at achieving normal glucose levels.

“The trial we call for is needed to provide optimal evidence, but we believe that the time to begin changing medical practice is now,” says Olson, an assistant professor at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and in the division of endocrinology at Emory University School of Medicine.

Prediabetes and T2DM are metabolic disorders that are due to inability of the body’s insulin-producing cells to make enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels in the normal range. Over time, these disorders can lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage, heart attacks and strokes.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Many patients with prediabetes go on to develop T2DM. 

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-diabetes-glucose-goal.html#jCp

Graham

Empathy for a fellow diabetic, from CarbsRok aka SarahQ aka SueM.

Pump failure

by Cbrennan » July 30th, 2012, 10:33 am

I have been on the pump for a year now and after a great start for the first few months I have encountered problems I never had with the pen e.g Keytones More recently my pump has broken for the second time with Button Error Medronics believes it is because of a hairline fracture and because I wear it next to my skin some possible moisture has got into it Has anyone else had similar problems

Cbrennan

Posts: 5

Joined: June 20th, 2012, 1:35 pm

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Re: Pump failure

by CarbsRok » July 30th, 2012, 11:19 am

Nope no problems for me.
But if your pump has a crack then they need to replace it.

CarbsRok

Posts: 530

Joined: January 28th, 2009, 9:35 pm

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Re: Pump failure

by Cbrennan » July 30th, 2012, 6:45 pm

Yes they are sending me a new one tomorrow The hospital however believe it is more to do with the body scanner at the airport as both pump failures have happened within a few days of going through scanners at airports

Cbrennan

Posts: 5

Joined: June 20th, 2012, 1:35 pm

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Re: Pump failure

by CarbsRok » July 30th, 2012, 7:21 pm

Cbrennan wrote:Yes they are sending me a new one tomorrow The hospital however believe it is more to do with the body scanner at the airport as both pump failures have happened within a few days of going through scanners at airports

Well what do you expect then? I'm surprised Medtronic are replacing the pump. You must know assuming that you have read your manual that pumps do not go through scanners.

CarbsRok

Posts: 530

Joined: January 28th, 2009, 9:35 pm

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Re: Pump failure

by Cbrennan » Today, 8:36 pm

Medronic have told me all year that yes my pump is able to go through body scanners

Cbrennan

Posts: 5

Joined: June 20th, 2012, 1:35 pm

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Re: Pump failure

by CarbsRok » 2 minutes ago

Cbrennan wrote:Medronic have told me all year that yes my pump is able to go through body scanners

You must be the only one who they gave that information to then 
http://www.ehow.com/about_6119054_airpo ... pumps.html even medtronics own site says no go through airport scanner with your pump.
Infact this applies to all insulin pumps as far as I know.

Perhaps read your manual!




She reminds me of Sister Ratchet in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Eddie

Intensive cardiovascular risk management in diabetes ‘has no effect’

"Intensively managing risk factors in patients newly diagnosed with diabetes in primary care does not have any significant effect on their cardiovascular outcomes compared with usual care, concludes a UK study.

The study found patients treated to tough HbA₁c, cholesterol and blood pressure targets did not have significantly different risks of cardiovascular events after five years compared with those receiving standard diabetes care from GP practices.

The study provides further evidence to undermine moves to intensify diabetes treatment early on and provides evidence that standard GP care may be sufficient to prevent an increase in cardiovascular risk.

Routine care consisted of a standard pattern of diabetes care according to current recommendations applicable in each centre. All patients with a cholesterol level over 3.5mmol/l were prescribed a statin"

“Intensively managing risk factors in patients newly diagnosed with diabetes in primary care does not have any significant effect on their cardiovascular outcomes compared with usual care, concludes a UK study”

Was this intensive therapy brought about by a high med approach as in the ACCORD study ? Perhaps drugs such as Actos and Avandia were used. For type two diabetics the only proven and safe drug is Metformin. Met can bring about a reduction in HbA1c of 1.5% max. The correct diet and exercise can reduce HbA1c by 5% safely. I know of hundreds of diabetics who have achieved this.  

“All patients with a cholesterol level over 3.5mmol/l were prescribed a statin”

How low does the medical profession want to go ? Three, two mmol/l. Check out the diabetes audits for the last five years, the HbA1c numbers are appalling, and no improvement whatsoever. Intensive drug therapies for type two diabetics is not and will never be the answer. 

I am beginning to think the unthinkable, most, but not all medics, are clueless, when it comes to treating type two diabetes.

Eddie

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/newsarticle-content/-/article_display_list/14372496/intensive-cardiovascular-risk-management-in-diabetes-has-no-effect?sp_rid=MjI4MDQ1Mzg1NjUS1&sp_mid=39537136&spMailingID=39537136&spUserID=MjI4MDQ1Mzg1NjUS1&spJobID=152864155&spReportId=MTUyODY0MTU1S0

Ya gotta larf !

by Administrator » 12 minutes ago

Hi everyone, just a word on the "I agree", "+1" type posts.

Bear in mind that these can come across in a "see, you're wrong Mr/Ms X" (especially when they come in numbers).

We're seeing ever more of these posts and I've got a bit tired of seeing them as a casual observer.

Any questions, please PM me.

Many thanks
Benedict

Administrator

Site Admin

 

Posts: 729

Joined: April 4th, 2008, 10:47 am

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Re: 2 for the price of 1 - not for us

by borofergie » 3 minutes ago

Administrator wrote:Hi everyone, just a word on the "I agree", "+1" type posts.

Bear in mind that these can come across in a "see, you're wrong Mr/Ms X" (especially when they come in numbers).

We're seeing ever more of these posts and I've got a bit tired of seeing them as a casual observer.

Any questions, please PM me.

Many thanks
Benedict

+1 

Leading Low-Carb Researcher Accused of “Telling Half-Truths”

Madness reached new heights today over at my favourite forum diabetes.co.uk. Regular watchers and members have had four years of nonsense from the few lowcarb antis, but today the Professor Emeritus of lunacy, the one and only Sid aka ‘the pharmacist’ Bonkers, took stupidity to a new level. Sid you probably know loves rubbishing lowcarb high fat.  Sid tells us it’s all down to portion control. While sitting in his armchair scoffing celebration chocolates, cornflakes, digestive biscuits and enough meds to croak a horse, he appears to be in a constant state of carb and drug induced semi-consciousness. Sid well known for comments such as “Dr Kendrick, high fat, lipids etc quack quack quack here we go again” went for the jackpot today when he posted this comment.


“I would humbly suggest that Phinney has been found out for only telling half truths where the whole truth didn’t back up his argument, and yet you are quite happy to believe everything he says without question. Why do you seem to see it as such a crime for someone to believe their consultant over some internet guru?” 


Another forum member challenged the Bonkers one and stated.


“Since it's not fair to try and discredit a leading researcher on a public forum without presenting any evidence, I thought I'd give Sid the opportunity to tell us why he thinks that Phinney has been "telling half-truths when the whole truth didn’t back up his argument". This member received no answer from Sid, no surprise there then, and started a new thread called. “Leading Low-Carb Researcher Accused of “Telling Half-Truths”


Well that brought about severe sphincter tightening by the forum admin and the thread swiftly disappeared. On the thread Ketosis the lowcarb anti proved yet again a profound lack of knowledge re basic human metabolism. Nobhead tried to skew the agenda with this post.


“What Are the Risks Linked to High Protein, Low-Carb Diets?
High protein, low-carb diets can cause a number of health problems, including:


Kidney failure. Consuming too much protein puts a strain on the kidneys, which can make a person susceptible to kidney disease.
High cholesterol . It is well known that high-protein diets (consisting of red meat, whole dairy products, and other high fat foods) are linked to high cholesterol. Studies have linked high cholesterol levels to an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Osteoporosis and kidney stones. High-protein diets have also been shown to cause people to excrete a large amount of calcium in their urine. Over a prolonged period of time, this can increase a person's risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones. A diet that increases protein at the expense of a very restrictive intake of plant carbohydrates may be bad for bones, but not necessarily a high-protein intake alone.
Cancer. One of the reasons high-protein diets increase the risks of certain health problems is because of the avoidance of carbohydrate-containing foods and the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants they contain. It is therefore important to obtain your protein from a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Not only are your needs for protein being met, but you are also helping to reduce your risk of developing cancer.
Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low-carb diets can cause your body to go into a dangerous metabolic state called ketosis since your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. During ketosis, the body forms substances known as ketones, which can cause organs to fail and result in gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can also dull a person's appetite, cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day.




I wonder if the above explanation of the risks associated with ketogenic diets is why diabetes consultants are concerned when their patients are in ketosis or following a ketogenic diet?” 



The obvious question, when have the low carb high fat diet members ever pushed for a high protein diet ? Never is the answer to that question. Perhaps Nobhead does not know the difference between fats and proteins. I am being serious, not so long ago he admitted on the forum after using insulin for years, he did not even know how to store insulin, or realise straight out of the fridge the response time was different from insulin at room temperature. Are you getting my drift, these chumps such as Bonkers, Nobhead and Dr. Jopar PhD have not the slightest knowledge of basic metabolism, but feel they are the fonts of all knowledge.


Time after time the lowcarb antis make complete and utter fools of themselves. They have never had anything to offer, other than promote the catastrophic diets pushed by the NHS and DUK, while they sit back downing the carbs and pushing the meds. Highly respected Doctors such as Bernstein, Kendrick, Wortman and Phinney are rubbished on a regular basis, by a bunch of buffoons who hide out using anonymous forum names. The antis have nothing to offer, and are clearly a sad bunch that have been dealt a bad hand in life, and carry a huge chip on their shoulders. They are failures, don’t let them bring you down.


Eddie