Why measure waist?

Random thoughts (too little work today).

At the (hospital) diabetic clinic they've started measuring everyone's "waist" (measured around bottom of rib cage). I've seen the notice pinned up for staff, it applies to ALL patients in that clinic. The measurement also goes on the clinic letter to the patient's GP.

I note recent publicity about large waist size being a risk factor for T2 and the ideas about apple-shaped bodies being worse than pear-shaped, but I struggle to understand the reason for measuring this in diabetic clinic. What will be gained from it? Will they start asking my bra cup size next?

I've been T1 for 35 years. OK my current waist size is bigger than at diagnosis and I've gained weight since. So what - I was 8 and weighed less than 3 stones.

OK maybe they'll ignore T1 data. But measuring people attending diabetic clinic gives skewed data as most of them are already diabetic (assuming they don't get carried away and measure accompanying relatives as well).

Expect the headlines in the Daily Mail - shock hospital study finds 100% of people with big waists are diabetic!

Will GPs now get extra cash for the %age of patients with small waists???

Sue

Hi SilverAndEbony

You're right. Would make sense if GPs, or hospital general medical clinic, were measuring all patients' waists. I can understand it as something to indicate risk to joe public.

But I wouldn't think waist measurement contributes much when you already know the person's diabetic and have info about their other risk factors for heart disease (weight/BMI, BP, cholesterol, exercise habits, diet, diabetic control) and the trends thereof - as is the case in a hospital diabetic clinic.

Sue

ally5555 said:

This measuremnet is being pushed by Diabetes UK - i am wading my way thro the new nice up date not sure if it is inthere. It is seen as an indicator for heart disease risk .

TBH I hat the way they weigh and measure patients - I am slim but dont want everyone to see what my weight is - tell me a female who does.

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Aaaahhhhh the dreaded protocol!

I'd be interested to see what NICE have to say about it. A search for 'waist' on Diabetes UK website only brought up references to risk of developing type 2 diabetes - pretty meaningless for diabetic clinic population (except maybe the staff).

Maybe it's a new diagnostic tool - cheaper than blood tests?! We'll be getting postings from confused people who've been told they're diabetic when they breathe in but not when they breathe out!

There again, if waist measuring is a predictor of heart disease its cheaper for the NHS than an exercise ECG. All the risk factors I can control (including my waist!) are in the preferred range but I'm still considered high risk for heart disease, yet I've never been offered an exercise test or resting ECG.

Sue

ally5555 said:

mm i agree they prob have all the info they need.

Mind you if it isnt measured properly then it could be way out! I think there are details on how to measure on DMUK website.

So its prob a bit like wt measurments that are out - taken on useless scales!

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Absolutley. And BP measurements taken when I've just rushed over from my office and climbed the stairs to clinic, then interpret them against "after 5 mins seated" guidelines. Not that BP measurements under the stress of diabetic clinic are accurate anyway.

Diabetes UK say: "When measuring waist circumference, the measurement should be taken at the mid-point between the top of the hip bone and the lowest rib." [my italics] Whereas the clinic nurse was measuring the bottom of the rib cage.

Next time I'll ask if the nurse wants to measure my leg length and record it as my waist measurement just to make really sure :wink:
Sue

lovaduck, they've always weighed, and still do, not only waist measurement. Strangely they insist on weighing and checking BP and waist, but rely on me telling them my height. I could simply adjust my height to compensate for any weight gain!

Some years ago on insulin that didn't suit me I kept losing weight, looked like a stick insect, kept losing more weight and it showed in my fingers cos all the spare weight had gone from everywhere else. Diabetes nurse told me this was impossible and not to weigh myself! (I could've had cancer!) BMI was at bottom of healthy range but I was in a bad way.

Years later (after insulin issue resolved) other medication made me gain weight, clothes now 3 sizes bigger and I felt like a stranded whale.

Yet according to BMI I was fine throughout!