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The Numbers Debate - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

T

Tristan_Llyr

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Hi Everyone!

Thanks for visiting my post. My name is Tristan, I'm a Type 1 Diabetic that was diagnosed last October, 19 y/o. This topic has bound to have sparked up long before I was diagnosed, but I came across an online petition today that asked the International Diabetes Fedaration and ADA to consider revising the names of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. The petition has gathered some considerable publicity since it began in April with over 5,000 signatures so far.

From a personal point of view, I definitely agree with the issues that are raised with this topic, and that clarity is vital in helping the general public understand the difference between each type, without mentioning the media. In the 10 months or so since my diagnosis, I've come across plenty of people, friends and strangers, that don't understand the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and time after time I've had to explain the differences and explain how my condition isn't curable etc. Also, with other lesser-known, more distinguishable types of Diabetes such as Gestational and LADA, surely it's just as important (if not more) to give more accurate names for the two most recognisable types.

But enough of my opinion, what do you think? This petition encourages Type 1 to be renamed as Beta Cell Autoimmunity (BCA) Diabetes, and for Type 2 to be renamed Insulin Resistance Onset (ICD) Diabetes. Do you agree with these names? Or can you think of better examples? Or do you disagree completely with the idea?

Here is a link to the petition if you wish to read further or submit your support:
http://www.change.org/petitions/rev...abetes-to-reflect-the-nature-of-each-disease#

Once again thank you very much for reading, and your replies are very grateful.
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

Whenever I tell people I'm diabetic, I always say I'm insulin dependent diabetic. For some reason, people seem to understand that better.

Also, and I know this from experience, while a name change is good, it isn't as easy as just changing the name. People still will call it type one and type two.

Personally, I feel that more awareness of the differences would be beneficial. How about some advertising campaign about the differences. Or, more importantly, a campaign about how to help type one diabetics in a hypo. Something along the 'I'm diabetic, not drunk' campaign.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

Hi Amberzak, yes usually when I say I'm diabetic I'm met with the question "Do I take insulin?" which makes it a little easier to explain haha. Aye, I'd say insulin dependant diabetes is kind of an unofficial secondary name for type 1 A campaign about hypo's would definitely do us good! When I was telling my closest friends what to do in the case I have a bad hypo after my diagnosis, for a while they asked me if they had to inject me with insulin!
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

Nothing wrong with the way it is now, changing the names will only confuse people more
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

There are plenty of Type 2's who are insulin dependent too

I have surgical diabetes, my tattoo says 'insulin dependent diabetic' I'm not Type 1 or Type 2, there are so many variants & I think name changes will confuse things further.
Any understanding is better than none! I had someone say to me the other day "I hear you're in the same club as me, I've just eaten 2 Big Macs though..." He was diet only Type 2, doesn't test or look after himself.... I should've said "No, but you'll be in my club before you know it!"
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

There was a lot about this petition on some forums.There was an 11 page thread on Tu diabetes; Petition to Revise Names of T1&T2 to Reflect the Nature of Each, which you might like to google . There are comments; pro and con, by people diagnosed at many ages with very different onsets.

I disagree with the petition because it stereotypes and I believe is in places factually wrong (see the above forum thread for examples) . It doesn't reflect the fact that there in fact many different causes/aetiologies of diabetes .

We all share the same possible complications caused by high glucose levels.

Having said that, I would probably have felt the same as you when first diagnosed; at that time I spent a lot of time telling all and sundry about why, in spite of being in my 50s, I had T1 not T2 diabetes.
Since then I've learned a lot and I've also learned that in general people don't actually want or need to know the details. It is a good thing that the seriousness of diabetes, of any type is recognised.

Before you sign, I would ask you to read a few blog posts from people with T2, T1 and LADA about the matter.

http://tminustwo.net/2013/04/15/association/
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2013/04/the ... betes.html
http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=6908
http://diabeteshandsfoundation.org/lets ... -together/
(these links seem OK, don't try the links on the blogs because unfortunately a couple don't work and one gave me a virus warning; it didn't when I first read it)
Diabetes Mine includes a plea from Scott Strange, his blog is down at the moment so I'll quote it
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

I too don't believe that trying to stereotype either Type1 or Type2 or anything else in between, would help the public to understand the condition any more than they already do. Let's be honest - if you haven't got the condition or it doesn't affect you or your family, the majority of people just aren't that interested.

For instance, does every diabetic know the difference between all the differing types of Arthritis? I doubt it, and they are all very different - some are auto-immune others are age related, and they are all managed differently and can affect both children to OAP's.

I am Type 2, but almost positive that I have this condition because I have many auto-immune diseases and have often been on steroids, plus I had gestational diabetes, twice. So what do you want to classify me as? Who knows where I might end up, possibly needing insulin if all my beta cells give up the ghost in the future, but I will still be a Type 2, according to the present ways of diagnosing Diabetes.

It seems to me that many Type 1's want to distance themselves from those diagnosed as Type 2, as it sometimes seems that some (not all of course) feel that many Type 2's brought this condition upon themselves, ie they were to 'blame'. Considering that medical science still has not found the definitive reason why some people get Type 2 diabetes, I do feel that this thinking is unfair, and it does not help anyone who has to live with Diabetes.

Surely, we should all try and educate the public about diabetes full-stop, without trying to complicate matters? As a previous poster has said - the complications of all diabetes are the same, so we are actually 'all in it together'! :wink:
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

I agree. And everyone is individual, even with the same condition. I am type one, and I eat a lot of carbs. I have a friend who is type one also who doesn't eat anything sweet.

My issues have nothing to do with the different types. It's the general misconceptions people have. Things like everyone who's diabetic must have eaten too much sugar in younger years. Or that diabetics can't eat any sugar. Or that it's easy to treat the diabetes.

Doesn't matter if you are type one or type two, its not easy to treat. Not as easy as just taking a tablet or injection.

Changing the names will to nothing because people will still just hear the word diabetes.

I just explain to those who want to listen, and ignore the arrogant people who think they know better. At the end of the day, it's my illness. I will treat it how I want to. I get advice from those who know about it, but when I hear things like 'my father is diabetic and he can't eat cakes' I just say 'well, everyone is different. My treatment allows me to'. If they keep going on at me, I just say its my life.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

I have just read the article, it wasn't what I was expecting. These two mothers have written a well thought out and a balanced petition.

The women haven't said one type of diabetes is worse than the other or tried to make another type any less or more important than another one. I found it a very interesting read and informative.

I also thought if I had, say, a breathing/ lung condition and I was telling another person of what lung condition I had, or how and why I got it,( if that was the case) I would say I have Asthma, COPD, Cancer, Emphysema, bronchitis or pleurisy. Or an eye condition, there are many of them, so then I would name the eye condition that I have.

The petition needs an awful lot of signings.

Best wishes RRB
 
Thanks everyone for your replies so far, all of your comments have definitely opened my mind on the matter. If it were to ever go ahead though, I wouldn't want a divide between both types of our condition, and to be perfectly honest it won't happen if we don't let it happen, after all it is us that are diabetic and share our experiences and lessons to each other first-hand, regardless whether we're T1 or T2. It's the general public's point of view that's my main concern. Regarding stereotyping, wouldn't you think that adequate names would pave the way to abolishing stereotypes by promoting a better understanding of the differences between T1 & T2?
 
Re: The Numbers Debate - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

Only if done properly. I don't like the assumption that all type two diabetics are diabetic because they ate too much sugar. It's simply not always true.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
T1/T2 is a crude and very limited way of describing the enormous variety of causes behind a particular syndrome. It is infuriating that the medical profession still divides diabetics up in this way. But the issue here seems to be about public awareness. The public has no grasp of the different causes of diabetes – why bother giving them a differently-phrased distinction that they will still not understand? What it is useful and potentially very important for them to know is the practical question of whether the individual diabetic is taking insulin, the dangers that this may involve, and how to treat a hypo. The distinction between whether or not a diabetic is taking insulin is the one that matters to the DVLA – shouldn’t this be the basic distinction that is made in public life, so that the issue of cause/lifestyle etc does not arise? Just a thought..
 
Re: The Numbers Debate - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes

I would rather there were more subdivisions.
Pancreas doesn't produce insulin
Pancreas doesn't produce much insulin or too slowly
Cells are slow to use the glucose even in presence of insulin
Liver/pancreas balance out of kilter.

That would get away from the diabetes=high bg. Would also mean diagnosis of the underlying cause.

Them a second value for insulin/medication/diet controlled.

That would make me type 3c I guess or 2c.
Type 1 would become type 1a.



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
There are many categories and yes they are as far as possible defined by causes when known, but they aren't always used.You can't have 3c, its already used to classify those with 'pancreatic' diabetes (and that one is used by specialist doctors)
This is from the ADA but is the same as the World Health Organisation.
diabetes.http://care.diabetesjournals.org/conten ... nsion.html
 
I have T2 diabetes and I dont care what anyone else thinks about me, or diabetes for that matter.

The vast majority of diabetics dont understand much about diabetes, in fact few doctors seem to know much about it either for that matter so why would anyone imagine that the great unwashed would change their perceptions by a name change or new categories of something they couldnt care less about in the first place, the media have painted us all as lazy idle self harmers, so what, does it really affect you on a day to day basis?

If diabetics of all types worried more about looking after themselves and less about stereotypes they would probably be a lot happier and maybe better controlled too.

Being overweight, drinking and smoking are all risk factors for heart and cardio problems but the general public dont assume everyone who has a heart attack is a lazy idle porker do they? The media has a lot to answer for, but I really couldnt care less.
 
Re: The Numbers Game - Type 1 & 2 Diabetes



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