Pre-Diabetes at one third of all Americans . . . The True Pandemic

[Ronancastled]

First result on Google for "USA Pre-Diabetes" is the following

Approximately 88 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes. Of those with prediabetes, more than 84% don't know they have it. Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

I would extrapolate from that figure that 20 million of UK citizens are in the same boat.
Why is this not a bigger thing amongst the heath community ?

It's mind boggling that governments have spent untold billions on Covid yet never raised an eyebrow at diabetes bar noting it as a higher risk factor if becoming infected.

Has the diabetic community missed an opportunity during this pandemic to raise the profile of the prevalence of pre-diabetes ?

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

t's mind boggling that governments have spent untold billions on Covid yet never raised an eyebrow at diabetes bar noting it as a higher risk factor if becoming infected.

Just using India as an example, they have 400,000 new cases of Covid a day, with 4000 deaths daily, I think India's main priority is to spend money on covid than Pre Diabetes at this point in time.

I am sure this apples to the rest of the world, I know any spare vaccine / oxygen etc is sent to the poorer countries in our region, rather than use the money on other diseases here in Australia. I am happy with te Federal government doing that so Covid can be eradicated.

 

[VashtiB]

I agree but think that the standard medical view is that it is a progressive illness so no need to do anything until a diagnosis and then expect the progression.

I guess also that for a lot of places the real medical issue is the virus and it would be difficult to change the focus to anything else. I'm not sure what the figures are for things like heart attacks and strokes are but they are probably not sufficient to change the focus. I also wonder how many see diabetes along with heart attacks and strokes and a number of other conditions as sort of 'self inflicted' so less reason to do anything about them.

Hopefully with the vaccine becoming available the world will eventually be able to come to a better 'normal' position. I speak from a place of great privilege living in Australia. Our numbers are so different to lots of others. Not because we have done anything great as such but our remoteness and space gave us a huge advantage. I hope that we all here learn more thankfulness.

 

[jjraak]

.....Why is this not a bigger thing amongst the heath community ?

Has the diabetic community missed an opportunity during this pandemic to raise the profile of the prevalence of pre-diabetes ?

Mmhh....

Is it because EATWELL, over the past few decades, has been proven to stop T2D dead in its tracks..so no worries if a third of the population is heading for a progressive disease, ..we got a cure for that.

Well it must be, if so many doctors KEEP prescribing it, surely

Perhaps the mantra of "Follow the science" during covid, should also start being applied when it come to T2D ?

As for missed opportunities, I'd semi agree.

( Though it must have been hard to be heard over the sound of all the ALARM BELLS being tung during Covid.)

Whilst the above two posters are correct.

If there's an immediate danger Fire etc, you take steps to deal with that first, then concern yourselves with less pressing needs, like your other health issues.

I do also think, the battle might now have been intensified between those who maybe are more aware of just how big a deal T2D has become over the last few decades and how many it potentially impacts...

Versus

Those with vested interests in keeping people sick, to make money aka
"The Status Quo"

Money talks, so I don't expect major changes, sadly

Would be nice to think we COULD have a pretty large cohort with which to test the viability of LCHF v EATWELL, if those conducting it, simply bothered to ask some of us on here.

The ones already braving the fire to try to battle their own treatment of T2D, would I think be a large enough group to yield valid data

Sounds simple to me, offer the minimal extra testing involved, get surgeries to follow the numbers.
5 years time there would be enough data to show LCHF blows EATWELL out of the water.

They haven't done it yet.
Makes you wonder WHY ?

So HCP, noticed it .yep

Alllowed to do much about it... nope

Missed opportunity..?

maybe but Its AFTER the event lessons are learned

So i'd say it IS something to build on.

 

[AJC128]

I’ve recently read “Healthy Eating, the Big Mistake “ by Dr Verner Wheelock. It is about how modern medicine has got it wrong with regards to the causes of diabetes, cholesterol, obesity, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Basically points out the the current “Healthy eating plans of the USA, UK and other countries is based on flawed scientific research, conflict of interest between researchers, funding bodies/ pharmaceutical/ food industries etc. Each chapter has a long list of research documents to refer to, if you want to do you own research. It advocates the low carb high fat diet, and has the research to back it up.

One of the chapters questions why does the Health Profession advocates high carbs to the diabetic community, when the breakdown of carbs by the body produces glucose in the blood, when that is what you should be trying to reduce not increase! Also, that the medical community treat type 2 as a progressive disease that can’t be cured, when evidence shows that it can be reversed, if you reduce carb intake. The author uses a great analogy about comparing the progression of type2 to a house with a flood from the plumbing that can’t be fixed.

The book has made me think about my own diet, though I am not diabetic, both my parents were type 2, which increases my risk and my family has a history of cancer, and I am classed as obese, and I do eat a lot of carbs, so I am planning to read more, and reduce my carb consumption.

 

[In Response]

I have sadly noticed that even potatoes and parsnips in the UK are covered with modified starch to make them crispy outside.

No modified starch on fresh vegetables.
Perhaps that's another example where we should teach people to cook rather than throw frozen, prepared food in the oven or deep fat fryer. Makes you far more aware of what you are eating, doesn't have to take much more effort, often cheaper and can be fun and sociable.

 

[ziggy_w]

Hi all,

I agree with most of what has been said above.

Imo, another contributing factor might have been the gradual increase in prediabetes and T2D over the last decades, so that the year-on-year change was never this dramatic. So, many younger health professionals may never remember a time when this wasn't a common problem and it never raised alarm bells (in contrast to Covid19, which went from nothing to a huge problem in maybe half a year).

 

[bulkbiker]

I’ve recently read “Healthy Eating, the Big Mistake “ by Dr Verner Wheelock. It is about how modern medicine has got it wrong with regards to the causes of diabetes, cholesterol, obesity, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Basically points out the the current “Healthy eating plans of the USA, UK and other countries is based on flawed scientific research, conflict of interest between researchers, funding bodies/ pharmaceutical/ food industries etc. Each chapter has a long list of research documents to refer to, if you want to do you own research. It advocates the low carb high fat diet, and has the research to back it up.

One of the chapters questions why does the Health Profession advocates high carbs to the diabetic community, when the breakdown of carbs by the body produces glucose in the blood, when that is what you should be trying to reduce not increase! Also, that the medical community treat type 2 as a progressive disease that can’t be cured, when evidence shows that it can be reversed, if you reduce carb intake. The author uses a great analogy about comparing the progression of type2 to a house with a flood from the plumbing that can’t be fixed.

The book has made me think about my own diet, though I am not diabetic, both my parents were type 2, which increases my risk and my family has a history of cancer, and I am classed as obese, and I do eat a lot of carbs, so I am planning to read more, and reduce my carb consumption.

You might find "The Obesity Code" by Dr Jason Fung a useful read too.. A bit of intermittent fasting along with the satiety benefits of a low carb diet often can lead to fairly painless weight loss that can be maintained over time.

 

[bulkbiker]

Just using India as an example, they have 400,000 new cases of Covid a day, with 4000 deaths daily, I think India's main priority is to spend money on covid than Pre Diabetes at this point in time.

I am sure this apples to the rest of the world, I know any spare vaccine / oxygen etc is sent to the poorer countries in our region, rather than use the money on other diseases here in Australia. I am happy with te Federal government doing that so Covid can be eradicated.

There are still another 23,000 people dying in India every day of something else.
COVID centric thinking seems to avoid the actuality that other things can kill people, and do.
Context in talking about daily numbers of deaths is very important and often ignored at the moment.

 

[Lamont D]

I have food intolerance.
I would be ill every day if in the last twenty years I had followed the eat well diet and many others.

Oh, that is right!
I did follow that diet that nearly killed me.
It wasn't until I was told that i didn't have diabetes and I had RH, that I woke up and 8 years ago I started Keto. I am surprisingly not ill no more, in fact I am really healthy.

There is a lot of nonsense talked about how we feed ourselves, we have to import most of our food, and the cheapest option is usually processed food, so that the most of us can actually buy some food.
If we had to go to a food bank and prediabetic, then the likelihood of getting fresh healthy low carb food will not be high on anyone's list.

I was told by many dieticians that I had to eat complex carbs, I was also told by my clubs nutritionist, that the reason why we need to eat complex carbs, was the fact we need glucose derived from carbs to make sure that our brains are getting enough glucose for brain function.
When I told him, that for me, any carbs make me ill and have hypos. And not eating carbs, gives me better brain function and healthy.

This has been well established in the Keto community and of course some doctors and specialists.

We on the RH forum are still getting posts from diagnosed patients and getting told to eat carbs. Logic doesn't seem to matter if there are those who have an interest in not getting the right message out there.

Keep safe

 

[Dark Horse]

The government has produced a policy paper on tackling obesity (which is a risk factor for diabetes):- https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...g-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives

 

[KK123]

The government has produced a policy paper on tackling obesity (which is a risk factor for diabetes):- https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...g-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives

But it's still promoting the so called 'eatwell' plate.

 

[zand]

The government has produced a policy paper on tackling obesity (which is a risk factor for diabetes):- https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...g-adults-and-children-to-live-healthier-lives

Oh dear. That old chestnut again. Correlation is not causation. The answer is to test insulin levels when people start to gain weight, if insulin levels are raised chances are they are in effect T2 already. Waiting perhaps decades later to diagnose T2 when the patient's pancreas can't keep up and the BGs rise is madness. Also madness is telling someone to drink diet drinks, eat whole wheat carbs and cut out animal fats in favour of vegetable oils. This is the advice I followed. This is why I am very obese now. I was insulin resistant first, then I got fat.

 

[lucylocket61]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/15/how-to-cure-type-2-diabetes-without-medication

Fear not - Prof Taylor has the answer!!!

 

[lucylocket61]

Oh dear. That old chestnut again. Correlation is not causation. The answer is to test insulin levels when people start to gain weight, if insulin levels are raised chances are they are in effect T2 already. Waiting perhaps decades later to diagnose T2 when the patient's pancreas can't keep up and the BGs rise is madness. Also madness is telling someone to drink diet drinks, eat whole wheat carbs and cut out animal fats in favour of vegetable oils. This is the advice I followed. This is why I am very obese now. I was insulin resistant first, then I got fat.

I have given up screaming into the void that the weight gain is a SYMPTOM of type 2 diabetes, not a cause. No one is listening. Sigh.

 

[Lamont D]

I totally agree @zand.
There are scientists and endocrinologists who have told me about the logic about the viscous circle of carbs and sugars, inflammation, higher than normal blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, higher circulating insulin, gaining weight and visceral fat., leading to prediabetic and levels, more carbs, more inflammation, blood levels go up again, more useless insulin, higher insulin resistance, and so on until as zand said that, this will ultimately lead to T2, hyperinsulinaemia, insulin resistance, weight gain, NAFL, dysregulation of hormones, typically more insulin, and of course health problems.
You won't die of type two diabetes, but to the complications of the effects of having diabetes.mainly pneumonia.
This the doctors know, the logical process is to break the circle, and there is only one way, despite all the meds, if your body hasn't totally been deprived of insulin and you need injections. Most T2s can control the condition with avoiding carbs and eating low carb.
How many people does it take to suffer major health problems before the medical elite, will change their advice about carbs. If you are bulimic, you will have an eating disorder, T2, could be described as an eating disorder, logically because what you eat, effectively harms you.
The same could be said of RH.
The word is getting out there, but those in charge are ignoring the truth, for whatever reason, they have no idea of the consequences in the years ahead, covid has highlighted the problem of health care and prevention, the government have had blindfolds on and are deaf to the proof being shouted by logic.

I'm not holding my breath over this.

Stay safe.

 

[jjraak]

How many people does it take to suffer major health problems before the medical elite, will change their advice about carbs. If you are bulimic, you will have an eating disorder, T2, could be described as an eating disorder, logically because what you eat, effectively harms you.
The same could be said of RH.
The word is getting out there, but those in charge are ignoring the truth, for whatever reason, they have no idea of the consequences in the years ahead, covid has highlighted the problem of health care and prevention, the government have had blindfolds on and are deaf to the proof being shouted by logic.

Beautifully Put....BRAVO.

 

[TriciaWs]

There are issues with the definition used by the CDC, and even more in trying to look at changes over time in the USA as they moved the goalposts. I'm sure that the prevalence has gone up as diets, including the so-called eatwell plate are damaging but by how much?

https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/8/1468

 

[Lamont D]

There are issues with the definition used by the CDC, and even more in trying to look at changes over time in the USA as they moved the goalposts. I'm sure that the prevalence has gone up as diets, including the so-called eatwell plate are damaging but by how much?

https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/39/8/1468

What this forum has always impressed upon those who join, is the policy of treating each individual as a special individual condition. Labels are for the bean counters and pencil pushers, I am carb intolerant, that sums it up as I can find., and is in plain English. There are T2s, who also have a poor insulin response. And they have a different degree of intolerance to different foods, even though we are one species, because of many environmental and geographic differences, someone who has T2 in America, his story is so different to someone who has T2 in India.
You only have to look at the variation in meds across the world, each do a different function, to help lower blood levels, they do not cure, it is dependent on your individual situation which meds you may require. What food you eat and many other factors. Which includes gut biotic and the balance of good and bad bacteria.
However, logically, if you are getting symptoms of being prediabetic, the journey of this condition can be controlled and avoiding sugar AND carbs, from the start should be the initial treatment for all those with the condition. So simple, so logical, and it doesn't cost healthcare a penny.
You have to understand, that along with prediabetes most patients have other conditions and have long term disabilities.
This is another reason why we don't diagnose. There are too many reasons why patients get diabetes and it would be so wrong and irresponsible to try to do so.

The major problem is within medicine and who is paying who and influence.
The drug companies don't have any ethics and have exploited the rise in T2 diabetes.

Stay safe.

 

[NicoleC1971]

First result on Google for "USA Pre-Diabetes" is the following



I would extrapolate from that figure that 20 million of UK citizens are in the same boat.
Why is this not a bigger thing amongst the heath community ?

It's mind boggling that governments have spent untold billions on Covid yet never raised an eyebrow at diabetes bar noting it as a higher risk factor if becoming infected.

Has the diabetic community missed an opportunity during this pandemic to raise the profile of the prevalence of pre-diabetes ?

I agree. The pandemic represents a collision of metabolic syndrome (India is a case in point with a high prevalence of diabetes) with the virus in that those who are obese with compromised immunity, which includes the elderly, are the most affected.
As to why it isn't more of a focus right now? I'd speculate that public health/politicians/the media panicked and panicked each other into immediate action in order to be seen to be 'doing something'. Reducing the chronic illness burden would be a longer term project that would involve disrupting big pharma and big food's business model, something which is politically too hard perhaps. Given the cost of the pandemic (vaccine development, destruction of economies, health services and lives of the young) I would also think that improving our overall health and immune health, should be a priority once the immediate panic is over.