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The Diabetes epidemic

I'm very glad I forgot this was on and went on a lovely walk instead
 
I didnt watch as busy reading.but I was never hugely over weight and did it mention family history. My nana my mam and my older sister all had or haave diabeties.
 
A very good point was raised on Question Time last night when discussing the failings of NHS in Wales that's worth keeping in mind here. Issues which are scrutinised and publicised will get dealt with.
 
I thought it was not too bad an effort bearing in mind the programme had to strike a balance between being informative and at the same time not being dull. It's target audience will be the great British general public whose medical knowledge will not be up to the standards of some of those who post on this forum.

The epidemic is of Type 2 Diabetes, it seems that Type 1 is no more epidemic than it was 100 years ago.

The reason for the epidemic is by and large that we eat and drink more than we need to, and we eat too much of the wrong sort of foods. The programme graphically highlighted the dangers of the disease, e.g. amputations, strokes and early deaths. People have now been warned.

By the by, if I had followed the NHS recommended diet rather than my own indulgent diet, I am pretty certain I would not have become diabetic.
 

I think they presented the stats well but case studies were too stereotyped. I wish they would distinguish between naturally low fat goods and industrially lowered fat foods


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Diagnosed prediabetic Easter 2014. Just left to get on with it, no guidance or help from GP. Every day I'm learning something new.
 
Luna21 said:
To be fair they did say it was about the type 2 epidemic at the start of the show.
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Even so, there is more than one type of diabetes, which many people do not know and therefore just assume that all diabetics fall into this category that the ITV programme reported on!
 
Yes, it would have taken just a minute (at that programme's level) to explain the difference in broad terms - could have done that instead of the pointless studio intro and outro to the programme. The Newcastle diet bit was OK but most people would see that as too drastic. A pity someone didn't shout from off-camera at the end "don't eat the rice!"

But if it raises some awareness and results in some people getting themselves checked that should be a positive - but then most will still accept the healthy plate route and increasing drugs, apart from the small minority who find their way to here. Nothing much else will change until NICE see the reality about carbs.
 
The drug companies don't want us to lower carbs as they won't sell so many remedies


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

Diagnosed prediabetic Easter 2014. Just left to get on with it, no guidance or help from GP. Every day I'm learning something new.
 
Debmcgee said:
The drug companies don't want us to lower carbs as they won't sell so many remedies
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Quite. And the food companies don't either because it's easy profit for them.
 
I just saw the programme as an attempt to raise awareness of type 2 diabetes amongst the general population and wasn't intended to be an attempt to show how to control it. It focused on the dangers of diabetes and how serious an illness it is, and what signs to look out for such as rotund waist lines and genetics - if those exist, go to the docs. I'm sure there will be many people now making appointments - and that is a good thing. They also made the point that many people, even those already diagnosed, have absolutely no idea that getting type 2 is any worse than getting a cold. I know this to be true judging by the initial reactions of my family and friends when I was diagnosed.
 
Decided to watch it before bed last night, I thought it was an interesting programme and not what I was expecting, it highlighted perfectly well the ticking time-bomb that is diabetes.

It didn't just mention obesity as a cause for type 2 as it also mentioned hereditary, ethnicity. & age being a major factor on who might go on to develop the condition. The Risk Assessment Score carried out by DUK in their road-show highlighted something like 70% of those who took part had a high risk of developing type 2, that for me was enough reason why wide-spread screening needs to be introduced asap.

The gent who was an amputee brought home the realities of uncontrolled diabetes, as did the gent who unfortunately lost his life due to major complications, felt for them both especially the widow and family of the gent who lost his life.

I would have liked to have seen more about the marvellous work that Prof Taylor is doing in reversing type 2 with his low-calorie diet, however the programme was only on for 30 mins and there was so much to cram in, pity it wasn't on for a hour or shown over 2-3 nights for a better coverage.

Overall a good programme, albeit too short, if it motivates just a 100 people to take lifestyle issues seriously, prompts them to get tested or risk assessed for diabetes then it's been a success, I'm sure if I fell into any of those categories and didn't already have diabetes it would make me sit-up and think.
 
I have just picked this up on itv.com. I don't know whether it was the vpn or internet speed playing up, but I had perfect audio, with a still picture. So, I guess I only got a proportion of the messages in the broadcast, but, I was actually pleasantly surprised. Of course, I couldn't see the people having their waists and other risk factors assessed, so they may have all been overweight?

But, I had the opportunity to listen without visual distraction. It didn't really touch on T1, but in 30 minutes, there would have been a danger of getting even fewer messages across. I felt the prediabetes messages were pretty positive! with Maitland himself reinforcing the need for dietary change. The assessor even made the distinction, when going through the questionnaire, that there are risk factors which we are unable to change; age, ethnicity, genetics, then going onto the lifestyle factors.

The programme was to talk about the Diabetes epidemic, not the treatment of diagnosed diabetes, with the exception of the Newcastle Diet piece. The Newcastle sound bites were short, but let's face it, that would be a programme all of its own. It did however highlight the apparent golden window of opportunity for fundamental intervention in the early (up to 4 years) of the disease, resulting in "reversal". I use the inverted commas, as I have reservations about that. I feel it achieves a metabolic reset, without removal of the non-lifestyle risks, obviously. That's the pedant in me surfacing.
 
I watched it with anticipation, but to be honest it came across tome as a wake up call to many. As a lot of the people tested did have larger waist's and this could lead to type 2 diabetes, also family history, younger people and ethnic groups mentioned as well.
The man who lost his life was badly controlled and the male amputee had been a heavy drinker, but others have said it would appear NOT to be all weight, diet and lifestyle, as it was years ago ( it was fat and over forty).
I felt he programme was far too short, 30 minutes wasn't enough, I would of liked to of seen it over two consecutive nights with the second programme as a question and answer time. With all type's of people with type 2, different genders, age, life style,work, diets etc, asking questions to different medical professionals about the governments guidelines, or a reduced carb diet that works for them or ask why they became type 2 and some newly diagnosed just left to 'just get on with it',? just those types of the run of the mill questions, but not in a GP's surgery or the DSN's, but on the big screen!! Something's going to give and something's got to happen sooner rather than later and I for one would love to be there
 
Perhaps we should all (type 2 and 1's) try and tweet Johnathan Maitland!! Or contact ITV

Tell him, that type 2 is controllable etc and wish his Aunty had found that out!!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Just watching it on itv.com
I want one of those hba1c machines!

I'm very happy for this men that "got rid" of t2 and now can eat a rice on "healthy diet"! Too bad they don't mention carbs at all.
 
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it told us how serious db is and then told us we could cure ourselves in no time at all doing the newcastle diet, as a matter of fact

its like saying wear a condom so you don't catch aids, but if you do, don't worry we have a pill for it
 
Andy12345 said:
it told us how serious db is and then told us we could cure ourselves in no time at all doing the newcastle diet, as a matter of fact

its like saying wear a condom so you don't catch aids, but if you do, don't worry we have a pill for it
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And it may be correct if they diagnosed it soon enough (or whilst still pre-diabetic. However the NHS don't do spend to save (except for vaccinations)
 
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