@Scardoc
Do you think people chose to become t2 diabetics?
For that matter, do you think people chose to be overweight and obese?
Do you think the message that obesity is associated with increased risk of disease and mortality is one that is not widely broadcast?
Do you think that we live in a society that makes obesity fashionable?
Do you not think that most obese people have probably been trying for years to lose weight and somehow failed?
Have you wondered why that is? Surely it can't be because they are all weak or ill disciplined or greedy or whatever other character flaw you perhaps wish to attribute to them?
Could it be because the obesity is not a cause but another symptom of a bodily dysfunction (insulin resistance) that causes both the obesity and diabetes? As insulin dependent diabetics will testify, excess insulin causes weight gain. An insulin resistant t2 or pre t2 individual naturally has elevated plasma insulin levels.
Could it be that a "healthy" high carb low fat diet, the cure advocated for the obesity/diabetes epidemic has failed to address the issue and possibly made the problem worse?
Could it be that the pressures of modern living, long working hours in often sedentary work, highly processed time saving pre packaged meals have also contributed to the problem?
I have no issue with more education towards highlighting the benefits of a better diet and more exercise.
I do fear though that the image you paint of t2 diabetics as happily eating their way to obesity and diabetes, in total unconcerned bliss and making no attempt to alter course until they find themselves diagnosed, is one that does not fit the vast majority of t2s.
I may have no problems with education but I do object to stigmatization and blame.
Nobody deserves diabetes and diabetes is not a punishment.
I agree that people need to take responsibility for their lives and health but taking responsibility is not the same as accepting blame.
Every single person that finds his way to this forum is given plenty of encouragement to take responsibility for his own health, be proactive and effect beneficial lifestyle changes to improve his diet, exercise regime and weight.
I fail to see what additional responsibility that person would take by trying to convince him that he is to blame for his disease.
Responsibility is positive, forward facing and empowering, while blame is the exact opposite: negative, backward looking and often incapacitating and counterproductive.
Pavlos